OOMPH! is an industrial rock band from the neue deutsche härte scene.
Read Full Bio ↴OOMPH! is an industrial rock band from the neue deutsche härte scene.

OOMPH! consists of:
Robert Flux (guitar, mixing)
Andreas Crap (lead guitar, keyboards)
Leo (live drums)
Hagen (live bass)
Der Schulz (lead vocalist)

The band was formed in 1989 in Wolfsburg, Germany. They are one of the founders of the fusion of hard metal music and industrial sounds known as Neue Deutsche Härte.

OOMPH! owed a lot to Nitzer Ebb in their self-titled debut (1992). OOMPH!'s change of style for the successor "Sperm" (1994), with a more guitar-driven metal sound mixed with their electronic roots, inspired numerous musicians, most famously Rammstein, to follow their lead. (Rammstein have cited OOMPH! in several interviews as their main inspiration.)

OOMPH! released their first album on Jor's Machinery label, then releasing their consecutive albums on its sister-label Dynamica. They stayed with Jor, until his labels disappeared during the acquisition by Sanctuary Records at around 1996/1997.

Following Dynamica OOMPH! finally signed with Virgin Schallplatten. With the benefits of major-label status OOMPH! gained a larger following, and toured with labelmates Skunk Anansie in 1999. Between 1998 and 2001 they released three albums on the Virgin label, fulfilling their contract, but did not continue, feeling that the record company never fully explored their potential.

In 2004 OOMPH! released their first single "Augen auf!" on a new label, this time on Supersonic Records, part of the Sony BMG group of music companies. It marks their first Number One hit ever in Germany, thus eventually bringing forth their major commercial breakthrough. It became part of the FIFA 2005 soundtrack.

The band's ninth record, GlaubeLiebeTod was released in March 2006, including the controversial single "Gott ist ein Popstar" and its follow-up "Das letzte Streichholz", the third single was Die Schlinge.

In 2007, they won the third Bundesvision Song Contest (a contest between the sixteen states of Germany) for Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) with "Träumst du?", which featured Marta Jandová from Die Happy.

While OOMPH! are not widely known within the United States, the band did perform at a New York festival in 1993. In Europe they have performed at M'era Luna, Ozzfest, Dynamo Open Air and Wacken Open Air.

Unter deiner Haut
OOMPH! Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Du hast mich ausgeweidet
Du hast mich ausgehöhlt
Und mir die Seele aus den Rippen geschält
Du hast mich angezündet
Du hast mich ausgebrannt
Und meine Asche in die Hölle verbannt

Ich weiß genau

Dass du mich heute Nacht vermisst
Komm, lass mich in deinen Traum
Auf dass mein Fluch dich heimsucht
Und dein Herz zerfrisst
Ich bin unter deiner Haut

Du hast den Brief gefunden
Er hat dich aufgewühlt
Zum ersten Mal hast du dich schuldig gefühlt
Du hast mich nicht vernichtet
Ich bin noch immer hier
Und heute Nacht hol' ich dich endlich zu mir

Ich weiß genau
Dass du mich heute Nacht vermisst
Komm, lass mich in deinen Traum
Auf dass mein Fluch dich heimsucht
Und dein Herz zerfrisst
Ich bin unter deiner Haut

Ich bin das Gift unter deiner Haut
Ich bin die Schuld unter deiner Haut
Ich bin die Gier unter deiner Haut
Ich bin der Fluch unter deiner Haut
Unter deiner Haut unter deiner Haut

Ich weiß genau
Dass du mich heute Nacht vermisst
Komm, lass mich in deinen Traum
Auf dass mein Fluch dich heimsucht
Und dein Herz zerfrisst
Ich bin unter deiner Haut

Ich bin das Gift unter deiner Haut
Ich bin die Schuld unter deiner Haut
Ich bin die Gier unter deiner Haut

Ich bin der Fluch unter deiner Haut
Unter deiner Haut

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of OOMPH!'s song "Unter deiner Haut" describe a toxic and destructive relationship in which one person has completely consumed and controlled the other. The first verse portrays the extent to which the other person has damaged the singer, describing how they have been gutted, hollowed out, burned, and banished to Hell as ash. Despite this, the chorus suggests that the other person still misses the singer and invites them to haunt their dreams and corrode their heart. The second verse reveals that the singer is still alive and seeking revenge, having left a letter that has made the other person feel guilty. The chorus then repeats, emphasizing that the singer is the poison, guilt, greed, and curse under the other person's skin.

The song is full of visceral imagery that illustrates the psychological and emotional violence of the relationship, using metaphors of bodily mutilation and possession. The lyrics suggest that the singer is seeking not just retribution, but also a kind of intimacy that can only come from being inside the other person's psyche. Furthermore, the lyrics convey a sense of powerlessness and vulnerability on the part of the other person, who is haunted by the singer's presence and unable to escape their influence. Overall, the song paints a haunting and disturbing picture of obsession, control, and revenge.

Line by Line Meaning

Du hast mich ausgeweidet
You have gutted me

Du hast mich ausgehöhlt
You have hollowed me out

Und mir die Seele aus den Rippen geschält
And peeled the soul from my ribs

Du hast mich angezündet
You have set me on fire

Du hast mich ausgebrannt
You have burnt me out

Und meine Asche in die Hölle verbannt
And banished my ashes to hell

Ich weiß genau
I know for sure

Dass du mich heute Nacht vermisst
That you miss me tonight

Komm, lass mich in deinen Traum
Come, let me into your dream

Auf dass mein Fluch dich heimsucht
So that my curse haunts you

Und dein Herz zerfrisst
And eats away at your heart