Origins and early style (1996–2002)
Der Blutharsch was founded in 1996 by Albin Julius Martinek (1967–2022), originally conceived as a side project to The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath a Cloud. The name refers to historical Swiss mercenary groups and can be translated as "congealed blood". All Der Blutharsch material was released on Julius’s own label, WKN (Wir Kapitulieren Niemals), a name that translates from German as “We Will Never Surrender.” [2] [3]
In 1996, Der Blutharsch debuted with a self-titled picture disc limited to 250 copies. Early releases, such as Der Sieg des Lichtes Ist des Lebens Heil! (1998), were grounded in dark ambient, making extensive use of historical samples, post-industrial drones, and atmospheric soundscapes. By the late 1990s, with albums like The Pleasures Received in Pain (1999) and The Track of the Hunted (2000), the project’s sound had shifted toward a more dynamic and bombastic martial industrial, blending neoclassical instrumentation with experimental elements and imagery inspired by Germanic and European history. [4]
Initially a one‑man electronic act, Der Blutharsch expanded to include two or three performers, adding martial drumming and spoken or shouted vocals—shown in the video Gold Gab Ich Für Eisen (1999) and later in God Blast America! (filmed 2002, released 2011). During this period, Julius also collaborated with prominent figures in the post-industrial and neofolk scene, including Death in June on Take Care & Control (1998), [5] Operation Hummingbird (1999), [6] and the live album Heilige!, [7] with Deutsch Nepal on the split single Apöcalyptic Climäx 2 (1999), [8] and with Boyd Rice on the joint project Wolf Pact (2002). [9]
Shift to psychedelic rock (2003–2022)
Over time, the project transitioned into a full band format, incorporating acoustic instruments and female vocals. Permanent members came to include Marthynna, Jörg B., and Bain Wolfkind. [10] With Time Is Thee Enemy! in 2003, the project pivoted to psychedelic rock, largely shedding martial industrial elements—though remnants persisted in promotional visuals. Live performances and artwork began to reflect psychedelic pop‑art influences, abandoning earlier historical themes. [11] A significant live performance took place at the Incubate Festival in Tilburg in September 2009. [12]
From 2010 onwards, the project was rebranded as Der Blutharsch and the Infinite Church of the Leading Hand, marking a shift in identity and creative direction. [13] [14] In its later years, the band also engaged in notable collaborations, most prominently with American neofolk musician King Dude on A Collaboration (2011) and Black Riders on the Storm (2022); [15] with French occult-rock group Aluk Todolo on A Collaboration (2011); and with New York psych-rock band White Hills on Desire (2012). [16]
Albin Julius continued to lead the project until his death on 4 May 2022, at the age of 54. The cause of his death was not made public. [17]
