The German band Eisregen combines elements of death metal and black metal into a hard-hitting, morbid, and occasionally controversial sound. Vocalist Michael "Blutkehle" Roth, guitarist/bassist Michael "Bursche" Lenz, keyboardist Daniel "DF" Fröbing, and drummer Ronny "Yantit" Fimmel formed the band's initial incarnation in 1995 in the village of Tambach-Dietharz, Germany. The band released two demo recordings in 1996 — Promo 96 and Das Ende des Weges — and added a violinist, Theresa "2T" Trenks, to the lineup one year later. The full-length debut album Zerfall was released in 1998, followed later that same year by Krebskolonie. German authorities banned the sale of Krebskolonie due to its lyrics, which were claimed to be misogynistic and heedlessly cruel. Albums like 2000's Leichenlager, 2001's Farbenfinsternis, and 2004's Wundwasser followed, although Leichenlager and Wundwasser were both banned by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons in Germany. Despite the ban, Wundwasser managed to chart at Number 87 in Germany, marking the first in a long line of Eisregen albums to reach the charts. Blutbahnen peaked at Number 32 in 2007, giving Eisregen its first taste of Top 40 success, and 2008's Knochenkult reached Number 40 in Germany and Number 61 in Austria. Two years later, Schlangensonne climbed to Number 27 in Germany and Number 39 in Austria, becoming the band's first international Top 40 hit. The band's commercial success intensified during the second half of the 2010s with albums like 2015's Marschmusik (Number 11 in Germany), 2017's Fleischfilm (Number 19 in Germany), and 2018's Fegefeuer (Number 17 in Germany). Eisregen then reached a career-high peak on the German charts with 2020's Leblos, whose placement at Number 6 was matched three years later by the 2023 release Grenzgänger. Abart followed one year later, featuring tracks like "Am Abgrund" and "Ich und mein Bolzenschussgerät."
