German, poetic lyrics are the trademark of New German Death Art. Well-known bands of this genre are Das Ich, Goethes Erben and Relatives Menschsein. In their songs, the musicians deal with typical Gothic themes: death, loneliness, isolation, criticism of religion and world-weariness. Transience is a big theme that is also reflected in the bands' outfits and stage performances. Madness and despair are portrayed visually and musically - sometimes surrealistically.
Coining this genre was the music label Danse Macabre - specifically also Bruno Kramm of Das Ich - which released the first bands of the New German Death Art in the early 1990s, the name of the new genre being invented by music journalists. After the "Neue Deutsche Welle", it was now to be the "Neue Deutsche Todeskunst". Incidentally, artistic works from the Middle Ages and the Baroque period can certainly be described as "old death art". Vanitas motifs were already a popular stylistic device back then.
Musically, the New German Death Art is electronic. In contrast to neo-classical music, classical instruments are generated with synthesizers. Otherwise, electric guitar, electric bass, sound effects like bells and samples and drum computers are also part of the game. Today, you can hardly find any new bands of the genre in the black scene. However, Das Ich, Lacrimosa, Sopoer Aeternus and a few other bands are holding the fort.
