In Extremo

Germany’s In Extremo (Latin for “at the edge”) deliver a powerful, melody-driven amalgam of folk and heavy metal that incorporates a standard hard rock lineup of vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, in addition to folk instruments from the middle ages like bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, harp, and shawm. Known for their medieval themes, lyrics, and instrumentation, colorful aliases, and period outfits, the band’s songs are both originals and traditionals, the latter often in medieval languages such as Latin or archaic dialects of German. Since debuting in 1997, In Extremo have grown in popularity, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, via chart-topping outings like 7, Mein Rasend Herz, and Sängerkrieg. Though their eclectic instrumentation has remained largely unchanged through years, the late 2000s and 2010s saw the group leaning harder toward the heavy metal end of the sonic spectrum.
Founded in 1995 in Berlin and formed over the course of the next two years, the band comprises Das Letzte Einhorn (born Michael Robert Rhein, vocals), Der Lange (Sebastian Oliver Lange, guitar), Die Lutter (Kay Lutter, bass), Dr. Pymonte (André Strugala, bagpipes), Flex der Biegsame (Marco Ernst-Felix Zorzytzky, bagpipes), and Specki T.D. (Florian Speckardt, drums). Former members include Die Rote Füchsin (Conny Fuchs, bagpipes, 1995-1996), Thomas der Münzer (Thomas Mund, guitar, 1995-1999), Sen Pusterbalg (bagpipes, 1995-1997), Der Morgenstern (Reiner Morgenroth, drums, 1995–2010), and Yellow Pfeiffer (Boris Pfeiffer, bagpipes, 1997-2021). In Extremo made their recording debut in 1997 with the five-track single “Der Galgen,” followed by the full-length debut album Gold (aka In Extremo Gold; reissued with bonus tracks in 2006). Subsequent albums included their commercial breakthrough, 7 (2003), as well as Mein Rasend Herz (2005) and Raue Spree 2005 (2006), all of which were Top Five hits on the German albums chart. The band also scored a series of modestly successful hit singles, most notably the Top 40 hits “Küss Mich” (2003) and “Nur Ihr Allein” (2005).
In 2008, In Extremo scored their first German number one album with the release of Sängerkrieg. Citing musical differences, drummer Der Morgenstern departed in 2010, though the band continued on and released 2011′s Sterneneisen, followed a year later by a live version of the record, 2012′s Sterneneisen Live. The 2013 album Kunstraub introduced new drummer Florian "Specki T.D." Speckardt, and proved that the group’s German fans were still behind them — the set peaked at number two on the German sales charts. 2015 saw the release of the massive, career-spanning, 13-track box set 20 Wahre Jahre, and in 2016, the band issued their 12th studio long-player, Quid Pro Quo. Boris Pfeiffer (aka Yellow Pfeiffer) died in Wandlitz, Germany, shortly after attending a rally protesting COVID-19 restrictions on January 24, 2022; he was 53 years old. ~ Jason Birchmeier