The band's musical adventures first began in 1982 when McCarthy and Harris, along with drummer David Gooday, formed the group whilst still at school in Chelmsford. Listening to the likes of Abwärts, Neubauten, Malaria, DAF, Cabaret Voltaire, Killing Joke and Bauhaus among many others the boys began experimenting with synthesizers and samples culminating in the release of four singles on their own Power Of Voice Communications label (a joint venture with Pet Shop Boys producer Phil Harding) before Daniel Miller was impressed enough to sign them to his own label Mute.
Nitzer Ebb's debut album, 1987's brooding 'That Total Age', displayed a brutalist yet polished élan. Following the powerful opening singles 'Murderous' and 'Let Your Body Learn', the band's club reputation was truly secured with the release of 'Join In The Chant', which in a version remixed by Phil Harding, became a staple in Britain's acid house and techno clubs.
Having won over club-land the band turned their attentions to the live arena and at the invitation of label mates Depeche Mode, supported them on their huge Music for the Masses tour. Meanwhile original drummer Gooday departed to be replaced for live performances by Julian Beeston, whilst McCarthy and Harris returned to the studio with producer, Flood, to record the follow up to 'That Total Age' for the album that would eventually become 'Belief' and set in progress a highly creative partnership that would extend over four albums.
The new album once again retained the musical and visual aggression of their previous work. Yet 'Belief' also hinted at the band's growing ability to display a sense of wit, imagination and sheer caustic comment within their music. There were no sacred cows in terms of subject matter or indeed the band's merciless capacity for piss taking.
Upon its release 'Belief' not only attracted much domestic critical praise but also saw their stock rise in Europe. In part this was aided by the series of remixes provided by the band for the singles 'Control I'm Here', 'Hearts & Minds' and 'Shame'. Along with additional mixes by William Orbit they helped maintain the band's popularity in the clubs and encourage the burgeoning fascination in Europe with what was then known as EBM (Electronic Body Music).
In 1990 the band and Flood once again returned to the studio with every intention of upping the ante even further. The resulting album 'Showtime' showed further evidence of the band's progression, combining their trademark energy with a growing musicality that added menacing depths to tracks such as 'Getting Closer' and 'Lightning Man'. The album also spawned a most improbable, though brilliantly effective remix of 'Fun To Be Had' by George Clinton, the visionary behind two of the greatest freak-funk bands ever - Parliament and Funkadelic.
Arguably the success of this collaboration acted as a spur for the band's next release, the EP 'As Is'. This saw McCarthy and Harris working with four different mixers to reveal the different musical aspects at work within band. Their collaborators included Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke, a recording artist whose musical aggression was even more noted than their own, and Alan Wilder, then of Depeche Mode, who applied his noted production skills to enhance the melodic potential within the band.
It was this potential that the band sought to develop on their 4th album, 'Ebbhead'. Released in 1991 the album was a full-blooded affair and with Alan Wilder joining Flood in the production hot seat it was perhaps no surprise to hear the rich musical instrumentation now firmly part of the band's armoury. Any suggestion though that the Ebb were somehow softening up were blown away by the full on pulverising assault of 'Godhead', an assault that had by now successfully overcome audiences in the US.
Though it appeared that the main external battles had been won, the band were arguably now having to battle with the internal tensions that naturally had arisen following a decade sustaining an intense level of shared creativity. Four years in the making 'Big Hit' finally made the light of day in 1995. The diverse and experimental nature of the band was still there, and in the lead-off single 'Kick It', the Ebb showed that they could still easily conjure up those moments that would batter the listener into submission yet make it a strangely rewarding process at the same time. Unfortunately, the band's decicion to update their sound with grunge-inspired guitars fails throughout most of the album, as the big rock-styled choruses proved incompatible with the band's signature electronics. Once ahead of their time, but now left behind, Nitzer Ebb found their last release headed straight to the cutout bins.
The cracks that appeared between McCarthy and Harris during the making 'Big Hit'--as well as longtime producer Flood's inattentiveness to the group's material--proved to be decisive and shortly after its release it became clear that another album would not be forthcoming. In fact it would take seven years before the band could bring themselves to talk to each other. Perhaps it was this enforced silence that encouraged critics to reassess the precocious impact and originality of the band, as a number of subsequent artists lined up to cite them as a major influence, or less honourably, simply exploiting the Ebb's musical template for their own individual gain. Whilst such a situation may be a cause of great annoyance to most bands, the Ebb maintain a healthy level of stoicism. As they say, “That's the problem with being ahead of the game - the pioneers get the arrows and the settlers get the land.”
In the end of 2005 when the quantity of requests for new Nitzer Ebb live acts went beyond the limits McCarthy and Harris met to discuss the possibility of reunion. Since the beginning of 2006 they started to give concerts and since summer Nitzer Ebb are on reunion tour. A 2CD compilation of best tracks and a bunch of remixes "Body Of Work" was released in may and later, in july, a remixes album "Body Reworked" followed. For the tour Nitzer Ebb hired a new drummer - Kourtney Klein, mostly known for her work in CombiChrist. In august of 2006 it was officially confirmed that Nitzer Ebb are working on the new material. The recording actually started in March 2007. New record is going to be produced by british producer Jagz Kooner and should be issued, according to Douglas McCarthy, at spring 2008.
Murderous
Nitzer Ebb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Youth
Youth
Youth
Youth
Youth
Youth
It's time to know
It's time to live
It's time to know
It's time to live
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Shout golden shouts
Much better now
We're stronger now
Much better now
We're stronger now
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Shout golden shouts
Now don't be lazy
With the pleasure of sin
Don't be lazy
With the pleasure of sin
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
Where is the youth
Where is the gold
Where is the youth
Where is the gold
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
Think of the beauty
Think of your pride
Think of the beauty
Think of your pride
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
Don't back away
Don't back away
Don't back away
Don't back away
It's there, it's there for you
It's there, it's there for you
Don't back away
Don't back away
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
Hear, hear what we say
Said hear, hear what we say
Let passion spend
Let passion spend
Let your passion spend
Let your passion spend
(youth)
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Shout golden shouts
Better now, stronger now
Better now, stronger now
Now don't be lazy
With the pleasure of sin
Don't be lazy
With the pleasure of sin
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
It's time, it's time to know
It's time, it's time to live
Don't back away
Don't back away
Don't back away
Don't back away
Think of the beauty
Think of your pride
Think of the beauty
Think of your pride
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
Where is the youth
Where is the gold
Where is the youth
Where is the gold
Now hear, hear what we say
Said hear, hear what we say
Let passion spend
Let your passion spend
Let passion spend
Let your passion spend
Now don't be lazy
With the pleasure of sin
Don't be lazy
With the pleasure of sin
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
Lift up your hearts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
The lyrics to Nitzer Ebb's song "Murderous" are a call to action for the youth to rise up and make their mark on the world. The repetition of the word "youth" throughout the song serves to emphasize this message. The lines "It's time to know / It's time to live" suggest that the youth need to become active and engaged in their lives, rather than simply going through the motions.
The repeated phrase "shout golden shouts" can be interpreted as a directive to speak out and make their voices heard. The lines "Think of the beauty / Think of your pride" suggest that the youth have something to fight for and are capable of achieving great things. The warning "Don't be lazy / With the pleasure of sin" implies that the youth need to be careful not to be complacent and to focus on their goals.
Overall, "Murderous" is a powerful anthem that urges the youth to take control of their lives and make their voices heard. It is a call to action that encourages listeners to be active and engaged in the world around them, rather than simply watching from the sidelines.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is the youth
Questioning the whereabouts of the young people
Youth
Repeatedly emphasizing the importance of the younger generation
It's time to know
Encouraging people to gain knowledge
It's time to live
Urging people to start actively living their lives
Shout golden shouts
Encouraging people to vocalize positive messages
Lift up your hearts
Encouraging people to feel optimistic and inspired
Much better now
Acknowledging improvement in the present moment
We're stronger now
Recognizing increased strength and resilience
Now don't be lazy
Discouraging complacency and inaction
With the pleasure of sin
Warning against the allure of temptation
Where is the gold
Questioning the whereabouts of valuable resources
Think of the beauty
Encouraging people to appreciate beauty around them
Think of your pride
Encouraging people to feel proud of themselves
Don't back away
Encouraging people to face challenges head-on
It's there, it's there for you
Reassuring people that opportunities exist for them
Let passion spend
Encouraging people to put their heart into their pursuits
(youth)
Reiterating the importance of the younger generation
Better now, stronger now
Continuing to acknowledge present improvement
Now hear, hear what we say
Emphasizing the importance of listening
Let your passion spend
Encouraging people to use their passion towards their goals
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CristianIdarraga
♪♫ Where is the youth
Youth
youth
It's time to know
it's time to live
it's time to know
it's time to live
Shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
lift up your hearts
shout golden shouts
Now don't be lazy
with the pleasure of sin
don't be lazy
with the pleasure of sin
Shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
lift up your hearts
lift up your hearts
Where is the youth
where is the gold
where is the youth
where is the gold
Shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
don't back away
don't back away
It's there, it's there for you
it's there, it's there for you
Don't back away
don't back away
shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
Shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
Lift up your hearts
lift up your hearts
♪♫
Hear, hear what we say
said hear, hear what we say
Let passion spend
let passion spend
let your passion spend
let your passion spend
(youth)
shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
lift up your hearts
shout golden shouts
Better now, stronger now
better now, stronger now
Where is the youth
where is the gold
Where is the youth
where is the gold
Now hear, hear what we say
said hear, hear what we say
Let passion spend
let your passion spend
Let passion spend
let your passion spend
Now don't be lazy
with the pleasure of sin
don't be lazy
with the pleasure of sin
Shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
lift up your hearts
lift up your hearts
Shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
shout golden shouts
@danrodrigues3531
I saw these guys open up for Depeche Mode on the Black Celebration tour and was blown away. I immediately became a fan...
@kingbee1971
Book of Love opened for DM in '86 in my hometown. I saw NE open for DM's Violator tour in 1990 however. Mind blowing.
@maestroh2986
Me too, I saw them on the same tour in Montreal
@TaraTheAndroid
Nitzer Ebb opened for DM in Europe 1988, USA 1990 and Europe 2010
@igotmysaucestraight
"Don't Be Lazy, With The Pleasure of Sin" that quote hits hard on so many levels
@Statstistician
I love this band as much now as I did in high school! Those basslines and rhythms are incredible. Timeless.
@gezvanian5838
35 years and still sparks amazing electricity! Thankful for this anthem of my youth <3
@dmbassa
SAME!
@DanniV86
Can I just say that blasting Nitzer Ebb in my car is one of my favorite things.
@tante_kringe
I blew out my cars speakers with ebm and I don’t regret it