The group's earliest incarnation included German drummer En Esch and British vocalist Raymond Watts, the latter of whom left and rejoined the group several times over its history. The trio recorded the band's earliest albums in Germany before Konietzko and Esch moved to the United States, where they found much greater success with seminal industrial record label Wax Trax!. German guitarist Günter Schulz joined in 1990; both he and Esch continued with the band until KMFDM broke up in 1999. Konietzko resurrected KMFDM in 2002 (Esch and Schulz declined to rejoin) on Metropolis Records, and by 2005 he had assembled a consistent line-up that included American singer Lucia Cifarelli, British guitarists Jules Hodgson and Steve White, and British drummer Andy Selway. Konietzko and Cifarelli moved back to Germany in 2007, while the rest of band stayed in the U.S. In addition to these core members, dozens of other musicians have worked with the group across its nineteen studio albums and two dozen singles, with sales totaling in excess of two million records worldwide.
Critics consider KMFDM to be one of the first bands to bring industrial music to mainstream audiences, though Konietzko refers to the band's music as "The Ultra-Heavy Beat". The band incorporates heavy metal guitar riffs, electronic music, samples, and both male and female vocals in its music, which encompasses a variety of styles including industrial rock and electronic body music (EBM). The band is fiercely political, with many of its lyrics taking stands against violence, war, and oppression. KMFDM normally tours at least once after every major release, and band members are known for their accessibility to and interaction with fans, both online and at concerts. Members, singly or working together and with other musicians, have recorded under many other names, primarily Watts' PIG, Konietzko's Excessive Force, and Esch and Schulz's Slick Idiot.
KMFDM (Discogs): https://www.discogs.com/artist/11606-KMFDM
KMFDM (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (MySpace): https://myspace.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (Official Site): http://www.kmfdm.net
KMFDM (Reddit): https://www.reddit.com/r/kmfdm
KMFDM (SoundCloud): https://soundcloud.com/kmfdm_official
KMFDM (Store): http://kmfdm.fulfillmentmerch.com
KMFDM (Tumblr): https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/kmfdm
KMFDM (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kmfdmofficial
KMFDM (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/user/officialkmfdm
---Current Members---
Sascha Konietzko – vocals, guitar, bass, programming, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion
Lucia Cifarelli – vocals, keyboards
Jules Hodgson – guitar, bass, keyboards
Andy Selway – drums
Steve White – guitar
---Former Members---
En Esch – vocals, drums, guitar, programming
Raymond Watts – vocals, programming
Günter Schulz – guitar, programming
Mark Durante – guitar, steel guitar
Tim Skold – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, programming
Classic KMFDM Discography (1984-1999)
---Studio Albums---
1984 - Opium
1986 - What Do You Know, Deutschland?
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1989 - UAIOE
1990 - Naïve
1992 - Money
1993 - Angst
1995 - Nihil
1996 - Xtort
1997 - Symbols
1999 - Adios
---Compilations---
1986 - 84-86 (compilation)
1994 - Naïve/Hell to Go (remix)
1996 - Retro (compilation)
1998 - Agogo (compilation)
---Singles---
1987 - Kickin' Ass
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1988 - More & Faster
1989 - Virus
1990 - Godlike
1991 - Naïve + The Days of Swine and Roses (split with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult)
1991 - Split
1992 - Vogue
1992 - Money
1992 - Help Us/Save Us/Take Us Away
1992 - Sucks
1993 - A Drug Against War
1994 - Light
1994 - Glory
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel (The Moroder Mixes)
1995 - Brute
1995 - Trust
1995 - Year of the Pig
1996 - Power
1996 - Rules
1997 - Anarchy
1998 - MDFMK
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
1991 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your House
1992 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your World
1992 - En Esch - Cheesy
1993 - Excessive Force - Blizkrieg
1994 - Excessive Force - Gentle Death
1994 - KMFDM vs. PIG - Sin Sex & Salvation
---Modern KMFDM Discography (2002-present)
---Studio Albums---
2002 - Attak
2003 - WWIII
2005 - Hau Ruck
2007 - Tohuvabohu
2009 - Blitz
2011 - WTF?!
2013 - Kunst
2014 - Our Time Will Come
2017 - Hell Yeah
2019 - Paradise
2022 - HYËNA
2024 - LET GO
---Compilations---
2002 - Strum & Drang Tour Live (live)
2004 - WWIII Live 2003 (live)
2006 - Ruck Zuck (remix)
2008 - Brimborium (remix)
2008 - Extra Vol. 1 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 2 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 3 (compilation)
2009 - Krieg (remix)
2010 - Würst (compilation)
2010 - Greatest Shit (compilation)
2014 - We Are KMFDM (live)
---Singles---
2002 - Boots
2010 - Day of Light
2010 - Godlike 2010
2010 - Light 2010
2011 - Krank
2011 - Amnesia
2014 - Salvation
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
2000 - MDFMK - MDFMK
2001 - Schweinstein - Schweinstein
2001 - Slick Idiot - DickNity
2002 - Schweinstein - Son of Schweinstein
2003 - Slick Idiot - ReDickUlous
2004 - Slick Idiot - Screwtinized
2004 - Lucia - From the Land of Volcanoes
2006 - Slick Idiot - xSCREWciating
2006 - KGC - Dirty Bomb
2009 - Slick Idiot - Sucksess
2009 - Skold vs. KMFDM - Skold vs. KMFDM
2011 - OK●ZTEIN●OK - PROLET●KULT
2014 - En Esch - SPÄNK
Free Your Hate
KMFDM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ingnorance bliss
Better off not asking
What you'd rather forget
And as the vice grip choke holds
All of our freedoms are meeting their end
And for the wars they wage
The beatings will continue
Until morale improves
Free your hate
Crusade in the days of rage
Perilous folly
Rise up against your fate
Free your hate
Crusade in the days of rage
Tireless cunning
Stampede and break your chains
Terror at gunpoint
Torture at large
Enemy combatant
Labeled a threat
Without trial or charge
Repetition of history
Messenger, prophet, martyr for god
All for once and for all
Reclaim your power
The tyrant must fall
The beatings will continue
Until morale improves
The lyrics of KMFDM's Free Your Hate are a commentary on the dangerous nature of silence and ignorance, and a call to action for people to rise up against injustice and oppression. The song starts off with the assertion that silence is golden and ignorance is bliss, indicating that many people would rather not know about the darker aspects of the world they live in. However, the following lines suggest that this kind of thinking is dangerous, as freedoms are threatened and soldiers are killed in wars waged by those in power. The line "the beatings will continue until morale improves" highlights the idea that those in power will continue to exert their dominance over others unless something is done to stop them.
The chorus of the song is a rallying cry for people to "free your hate" and "crusade in the days of rage", indicating that the time for peaceful contemplation is over and that it is time for people to take action against those who would oppress them. The lyrics go on to describe various forms of oppression, such as terrorism, torture, and imprisonment without trial, and ends with a call to action for people to reclaim their power and overthrow the tyrants who seek to control them.
Overall, Free Your Hate is a powerful and provocative song that challenges listeners to think critically about the world around them and take action against injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
Silence is golden
It's better to stay quiet and avoid getting into trouble.
Ignorance bliss
It's easier to be happy when you don't know about the bad things going on around you.
Better off not asking
It's safer to avoid asking questions and stirring up trouble.
What you'd rather forget
Ignoring bad memories is often the best way to move on.
And as the vice grip choke holds
As the powerful become more controlling, they are limiting our freedom.
All of our freedoms are meeting their end
Our individual rights are diminishing as those in power take more control.
And for the wars they wage
Those in power are starting wars that are causing great harm.
Numberless troops lie wounded or dead
The wars have resulted in many casualties.
The beatings will continue
If we don't improve, we will face more punishment.
Until morale improves
The punishments will continue until we do better.
Free your hate
Don't let your anger control you; use it as motivation to fight back against injustice.
Crusade in the days of rage
Fight for your rights and your freedom, even if it means taking drastic action.
Perilous folly
Stupid decisions by those in power are putting us all in danger.
Rise up against your fate
Don't accept your current situation as inevitable; fight for something better.
Tireless cunning
Keep fighting, even when it's difficult, and be smart about how you do it.
Stampede and break your chains
Fight for your freedom and your rights with all your might.
Terror at gunpoint
Fear of violence and danger is being used to control us.
Torture at large
The use of torture, even on innocent people, is becoming more common.
Enemy combatant
People who are wrongly labeled as enemies are being mistreated.
Labeled a threat
People who are not actually dangerous are being treated as if they are.
Without trial or charge
People are being punished without any chance to defend themselves.
Repetition of history
We are making the same mistakes over and over again.
Messenger, prophet, martyr for god
Some people who fight for what is right are viewed as heroes or saints.
All for once and for all
We need to fight for our freedom and our rights now, and do it once and for all.
Reclaim your power
We need to take control over our own lives and not let others dictate our fate.
The tyrant must fall
Those who hold power unjustly must be overthrown.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW SELWAY, JULES HODGSON, Lucia Cifarelli, Sascha Konietzko, Steve White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@humanonormie4910
Lyrics
Silence is golden
Ingnorance bliss
Better off not asking
What you'd rather forget
And as the vice grip choke holds
All of our freedoms are meeting their end
And for the wars they wage
Numberless troops lie wounded or dead
The beatings will continue
Until morale improves
Free your hate
Crusade in the days of rage
Perilous folly
Rise up against your fate
Free your hate
Crusade in the days of rage
Tireless cunning
Stampede and break your chains
Terror at gunpoint
Torture at large
Enemy combatant
Labeled a threat
Without trial or charge
Repetition of history
Messenger, prophet, martyr for god
All for once and for all
Reclaim your power
The tyrant must fall
The beatings will continue
Until morale improves
@I_worship_AxxL
Silence is golden
Ingorance bliss
Better off not asking
What you'd rather forget
And as the vice grip choke holds
All of our freedoms are meeting their end
And for the wars they wage
Numberless troops lie wounded or dead
The beatings will continue
Until morale improves
Free your hate
Crusade in the days of rage
Perilous folly
Rise up against your fate
Free your hate
Crusade in the days of rage
Tireless cunning
Stampede and break your chains
Terror at gunpoint
Torture at large
Enemy combatant
Labeled a threat
Without trial or charge
Repetition of history
Messenger, prophet, martyr for god
All for once and for all
Reclaim your power
The tyrant must fall
The beatings will continue
Until morale improves
@kevinschaeffer6920
I'm 62 yr's old, and l see nothing wrong at all. KMFDM FOR LIFE!
@maynardmaynard5955
The only thing wrong is speakers arent big enough and therefore loud enough for the neighbors in the next town over to hear them
@basedandreal
that’s awesome
@magnusm4
This will forever be the theme song of the Tainted Coil in Brutal Legend.
@CowboyLuigi
HELL YEAH, BRÖTHER!
@thegameknight8916
Tied for Superbeast in that regard.
@xxchloroformedskeletonsxx4153
YES
@PetitionManVEVO
I didn't know KMFDM was in brutal legend!
@PossessedByRepression
I just love how they open this song xD "Ladies and Gentlemen, Hau Ruck."
@coyotebongwater5922
Every KMFDM song has people complaining about edgy teens but I’ve yet to see a single one