Holy Moses was officially formed in Aachen, Germany in 1980 with Jochen Funders on guitars and vocals, Ramon Bruessler on bass, and drummer Peter Vordenstein. They played their first live show in the town of Stolberg, where they began causing a significant buzz in the heavy metal community for their incredibly heavy, fast, and tight style and various other actions of the band's fanclub. However, this lineup was very short lived, and only lasted about a year, after the band played their first anniversary show by opening for Venom.
A new guitarist was soon found, in Andy Classen, formerly of the band Disaster. A vocalist named Iggy was soon found as well. Iggy was soon fired from the band due to drug problems and musical differences with the band. Andy soon came up with the idea to bring in his girlfriend at the time, Sabina Hertz for the vocals. Originally, Sabina does not want the job and singing in a very throaty and almost demonic sounding style of singing to make sure she does not get in the band. This had an inversive effect, and Ramon (the band's main songwriter at the time) was extremely pleased with the performance of Sabina, and the only permanent member of the band who has appeared on every album to this day finally joins. The band then plays their first shows with Sabina in November of 1981.
Some more lineup changes came after this (including Sabina's brother singing with the band for a few weeks after she temporarily left but then returned), and it also became more progressive and technical ability with heightened musicianship from Classen. With the lineup of Ramon on bass, Sabina on vocals, Andy on guitars, and new drummer Herbert Dreger, the band records their first album Queen Of Siam. Produced by Ralph Hubert of Mekong Delta, the album stands out among its contemporaries for its extremely heavy and tight musicianship and technicality. However, the lineup does not last. Due to a lack of commitment for the band, Dreger is fired and replaced by a then nineteen year old Uli Kusch (later of Helloween) on drums. After that, Ramon, the one original member left in Holy Moses leaves the band to pursue his academic carrier. It is now fully managed by Sabina, and all songs are written by Andy and Sabina, who is married to the guitarist and becomes Sabina Classen (the name she uses to this day).
The band then recorded its next album Finished With The Dogs and received rave reviews by metal critics and music magazines the world over. The album attracted the attention of Warner Brothers Records, one of the biggest record labels in the world. In 1987, Holy Moses strikes up a deal with the label and heads on tour with DRI.
The band only got bigger from there, especially with the recording of the album The New Machine Of Lichtenstein, a highly successful thrash metal concept album. Holy Moses then goes on their biggest tour yet, playing alongside Forbidden and Sacred Reich. Problems with Warner Brothers however make the band leave the label. Also around this time, Uli Kusch leaves the band. Former Living Death drummer Atomic Steif would fill in the band for a while, but would not record anything with them, due to a proposition to join the prominent German thrash metal band Sodom.
In 1992, the band recorded Reborn Dogs. However, after the album was finished recording, they disbanded. Andy, who has become a songwriter and producer, makes an album with the Holy Moses name called "No Matter What the Cause". It causes a severe problem with Andy and Sabina, who later that year get divorced. A few years later, the female vocalist forms Temple Of The Absurd, which releases two albums. However, due to several setbacks, the band breaks up after two albums. Andy and Sabina become friends again and start writing up new music. In 2001, the two reveal that Holy Moses is back.
The first album for the reunion to be recorded was 2002's Disorder Of Order. Though Andy did not actually play on the album, all the songs were written by him. The band then embarked on tour for the rest of that year and most of 2003. Andy then states that he will no longer be able to write songs for Holy Moses, as he has become too involved with producing other band's material. He then selects his friend Michael Henkel to become Holy Moses's new main songwriter. The first album that Hankel has recorded with the band was 2005's "Strength, Will, Passion".
Since 2006 Reckless Tide guitar player Oliver Jaath joined Holy Moses as bass player.
For the first time since 2003, Holy Moses will tour Europe as opening acts for the Florida death metal band Obituary. In 2007, Atomic Steif rejoined the band as a permanent member and will play on Holy Moses's next album.
In 2008 the band did a succesful tour with Obituary and Avatar. Later that year Thomas Neitsch joined the band as permanent bass player and Olli Jaath switched to second guitar. Holy Moses has been confirmed to play in the Wacken Open Air festival in August 2008.
I Will
Holy Moses Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Killing souls for a better day
Hostile foces will break away
At the place where Satan rules
I will - the changes in me
I will - what you never can be
I will - the changes in me
I will - get out of here
Set my black soul free
It's tearing me - it's killing me
Mortal remains evil domain
Winning game goes down to drain
Fragile hopes inside your brain
Across the lake of bloody lies
A single sign of life appears
A serenade of satans order
Stigmata of a spiritual domain
The way to show I am not insane
Set my black soul free
Wasted years of dark insanity
Slaughtering dreams from agony
Tragic melody of lost souls
In the dark age of decay
The lyrics to Holy Moses's song "I Will" are dark and foreboding, speaking of twisted misery, killing souls, and mortal remains. The theme of the song seems to center around deep pain, both physical and emotional, and the desire to escape it. The lyrics mention hostile forces breaking away and the place where Satan rules, perhaps suggesting a struggle against evil or an internal battle against personal demons.
Throughout the song, the singer repeatedly asserts "I will" as a sort of personal mantra. They declare that they will undergo changes and become something that their listeners could never be, and they will get out of their current situation and set their black soul free. They speak of a serenade of satan's order and stigmata of a spiritual domain, suggesting perhaps that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to escape their current circumstances.
The song seems to be a meditation on power, both personal and more sinister. The lyrics mention winning games going down the drain and hopes within the brain becoming fragile. There is a sense of despair and desperation that permeates the lyrics, suggesting that the singer feels trapped and desperate for a way out. Ultimately, "I Will" is a dark and haunting song that explores themes of personal power, pain, and the desire for freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Twisted misery handle tragedy
The difficulties and sorrows that have been dealt are being managed with a contorted and tormented state of mind.
Killing souls for a better day
Destroying or corrupting people's inner selves in the hopes of achieving a brighter tomorrow.
Hostile forces will break away
Aggressive and antagonistic powers will dissipate and dissolve.
At the place where Satan rules
In the location where the demonic and malevolent presides.
I will - the changes in me
Through my will and determination, I will alter myself.
I will - what you never can be
My transformations will surpass what others think is possible for themselves.
I will - get out of here
I will escape from this current state of being.
Set my black soul free
Release my darkened spirit from its binds.
It's tearing me - it's killing me
The internal struggle is causing immense emotional and psychological pain.
Mortal remains evil domain
The corporeal remnants exist in a space of wickedness.
Winning game goes down to drain
The struggle for victory ends in a hopeless failure.
Fragile hopes inside your brain
The delicate optimism within one's mind.
Across the lake of bloody lies
Over the expanse of deceit, betrayal, and carnage.
A single sign of life appears
A solitary indication of vitality emerges.
A serenade of Satan's order
A song or melody in honor of the devil's authority.
Stigmata of a spiritual domain
The symbols and markings of a divine realm.
The way to show I am not insane
Demonstrating that my actions are not rooted in madness or delusion.
Wasted years of dark insanity
Many lost and fruitless periods consumed by mental chaos and disorder.
Slaughtering dreams from agony
Destroying the aspirations of oneself or others due to immense suffering.
Tragic melody of lost souls
A mournful song expressing the pain and sorrow of departed spirits.
In the dark age of decay
During a time of societal and cultural decline, filled with corruption and degeneration.
Contributed by Peyton A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.