With their albumHimmelfahrt, released at the turn of the millennium, Megaherz proved that they weren’t afraid of change. While their earlier work often captivated listeners with its dark, cold atmosphere,Himmelfahrtopened the door to more melody and an almost epic scope. It is the album that allowed the band’s sound to “mature” without sacrificing its characteristic intensity.
This development is particularly evident in songs like “Windkind” or the emotional ballad “Tausendmal du.” Here, Megaherz display Megaherz vulnerability rarely found in the often testosterone-driven genre of NDH. Yet the heavy tracks are still present: The title trackHimmelfahrtpounds forward with its usual ferocity and showcases the band at their technical best. The synthesizer work has become more refined, the song structures more complex, and the production overall more transparent and modern.
Lyrically, the album makes heavy use of religious and mythological metaphors, yet consistently brings them down to a human level. It deals with redemption, pain, and the longing for something higher. For many fans,Himmelfahrtis considered the most creative work of the Wesselsky era, as it strikes the perfect balance between industrial aggression and atmospheric depth. It is an album that inspires reflection while simultaneously inviting headbanging. WithHimmelfahrt,Himmelfahrt Megaherz set Megaherz standard for modern songwriting in the realm of hard rock that garnered attention even beyond the genre’s boundaries.