Bethlehem (German band)
Bethlehem is a German extreme metal band from Grevenbroich, formed in 1991 by Jürgen Bartsch and Klaus Matton. Before starting Bethlehem, Bartsch and Matton used to play in a German thrash metal band Morbid Vision. Many of their lyrics revolve around sickness, morbidity, suicide, death and madness, and may to some extent be personal to the band.
History
Bethlehem was formed by Jürgen Bartsch in 1991. They recorded a few demos in the early 90s before releasing their debut album Dark Metal in 1994, which featured Andreas Classen on vocals. On their second full-length album Dictius Te Necare, Classen was replaced with Rainer Landfermann on vocals. Landfermann's vocals were particularly extreme, described by critics and fans alike as "one of the sickest and most extreme voices you'll ever hear from a human being". On S.U.I.Z.I.D. his place is taken by Marco Kehren from the band Deinonychus. Guido Meyer de Voltaire, the vocalist from Schatten aus der Alexander Welt and Mein Weg, is also well known with his band Aardvarks. Andreas Classen, vocalist on Dark Metal also did vocals for Shining, Dark Creation, Paragon Belial, Made of Iron, Kadathorn, and Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult. Over the years Bethlehem modernized their style and so the early black and doom metal influences are now hardly present, the band favouring a more Neue Deutsche Härte and electronic approach. In 1998 Bethlehem collaborated on the soundtrack for the American underground movie Gummo with the tracks "Schuld Uns'res Knöcherigen Faltpferds" and "Verschleierte Irreligiösität".On 27 August 2025, founding member and bassist Jürgen Bartsch died following a long illness. He was 62.
Members
Current members
- Florian "Torturer" Klein – drums, samples
- Yvonne "Onielar" Wilczynska – vocals
- Ilya Karzov – guitars
Former members and cooperations
- Jürgen Bartsch – bass guitar, keyboards, guitars
- Klaus Matton – electric guitars
- Rainer Landfermann – vocals
- Jonathan Théry – vocals
- Reuben Jordan – guitars
- Guido Meyer de Voltaire – vocals
- Andreas Tekath – Session-keyboards/piano
- Marco Kehren – vocals
- Markus Lossen – drums
- Cathrin Campen – vocals
- Steinhoff – drums
- Andreas Classen – vocals
- Oliver Schmidt – session keyboards
- Reiner Tiedemann – electronics, remixes
- Niklas Kvarforth – vocals
- Steve Wolz – drums
- Olaf Eckhardt – guitars
- Sven "Velnias" Galinsky – guitars
Discography
Albums
Dark Metal Dictius te necare Sardonischer untergang im eichen irreligiöser darbietung Schatten aus der Alexander Welt Mein weg A Sacrificial Offering to the Kingdom of Heaven in a Cracked Dog's Ear Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia Bethlehem Lebe dich leer- ''The Gospel According to Alexander''
EPs
Reflektionen auf's Sterben Profane Fetmilch Lenzt Elf Krank Suicide Radio Alles Tot- ''Stönkfitzchen''
Splits
Wraithen / Bethlehem Gestern Starb Ich Schon Heute / Have a Nice Fight- ''Suizidal-Ovipare Todessehnsucht''
Demos
Bethlehem- ''Thy Pale Dominion''
Other publications and cooperations
"Deathophobia I", Force Productions "Requiem", Exhumer Productions "Nuclear Blast Soundcheck Series – Volume 8", Nuclear Blast "Gummo" "Metal Explosion Volume 8", Adipocere Records "To Live Is Ever To Be In Danger", Red Stream "Upon A Mighty Bloodred Stream Volume 1", Red Stream "To Magic...", Prophecy "Legacy 04/01", Legacy- ''"To Magic 2", Prophecy''