Since 2015 Deutschland’s foursome Null Positiv have spent the last five+ years building their fan base and sound led by the loud roar and soothing tongue of vocalist Elli Berlin. Delivering a neck-snapping combo of guttural growls and smooth, clean singing also armed with hair that can whiplash from a distance.
Guitarist Bene Gugebbauer, bassist Manu Altendorfer and drummer Flo Schnablo make the sounds that shred alongside Berlin’s memorable presence. From head contorting, body thrashing pit starters to subtle, serious melodic songs and ballads, bringing the words of their motherland and mother tongue to new, sometimes non-German-speaking audiences proving music is still the universal language.
Since inception they’ve made a debut EP, two full-lengths and a live DVD at Wacken Open Air. In a year that won’t be forgotten by anyone they’ve released their third album Independenz, with 12 new tracks to hammer in the brain as album cover hands rip out from within.
The band name translates to Zero Positive in English, Berlin says it’s a blood type but has many meanings. “The name is about the blood type zero positive. Blood unites us as humans, nobody could exist without it. It flows within everyone and is always red. We would like our music to be like that, flowing through and uniting the listeners.”
Though they’re slowly infiltrating American shores, they haven’t ventured overseas yet, “We love to see our American fan base growing every day but unfortunately we haven’t had the chance of playing there, yet.”
Independenz is a sharp, loud, smash and slash to the face listen, with hands literary ripping faces open creating more space for music “Since the album revolves around independence in the sense of autonomy and freedom, the cover shows the struggle of trying to break free of the (mostly self-created) claws of your own mind.”
Whether it’s the opening smash of “Freiheit,” the ominously melodic sleep deprived chords of “Insomnia,” Gib mir ein Zeichen’s/Give me a Sign’s mile a minute pace or the slower creepy crawl pace of Blutdiamant/Blood Diamond Null Positiv stamps their mark in your ear.
Independenz is a record about breaking free of personal barriers and limitations into true self-freedom. “It’s all about the different kinds of freedom and the lack thereof,” she explains. “The mind gets tangled in different problems and experiences, diminishing the degree of freedom, resulting in a self-established barrier for learning and growth. We want to give some courage to overcome these obstacles and emphasize the importance of an open mind free of fear. True freedom begins in our minds and thoughts. Without it, you lead a remote controlled life.”
First new video Freiheit/Freedom screams of self-expression and restriction as fire artists, contortionists, bodies wrapped for travel and Berlin wrapped in chains flash across the screen, along with an In This Moment-like podium. Several viewings are needed to take everything in saying this is Null Positiv in 2020.
Newest single “Independenz” presents a calmer, more artistic vibe. You gotta have yin with the yang.
Berlin says more videos are coming but you’ll have to wait and see. With a clank-noted haunting beginning Blutdiamant /Blood Diamond shows the softer side of the band but Berlin says it’s not a ballad. “It’s not really a ballad to be honest but like “Independenz” and “Deine Haut” it is partially on the lighter side of the album.”
In August they played an early slot at this year’s streamed M’era Luna festival in Hildesheim, Germany. The show was on the second day of a two-day sleepless adrenaline soaked adventure, but totally worth the experience. “The day before we played a headliner show then traveled to the festival directly afterwards, without sleeping, since we were on early,” she remembers. “In the end the adrenaline on stage more than made up for all the hours of sleep lost. The atmosphere was great and we got an awesome welcome by our fans and a crowd dedicated enough to come out early. We made many new friends that day.”
They have a handful of shows this fall with safety precautions being taken to avoid spreading exposure. “The organizers will have to adhere to local restrictions. We haven’t been to other countries since the whole thing started. I believe that all countries face similar challenges. With all this uncertainty it’s just important not to let fear or anger rule our thoughts.”
To date Wacken Open Air have been their biggest show and crowd and consider it a major career highlight though every festival has had its own memorable moments and charm. “Some festivals were a little bit smaller but still very special like the Gefle Metal Festival in Sweden or Rock Am Stück in Germany.”
In 2019 they played festivals with two cat-like models dressed in leather on stage. “I have integrated them in our new show because they do a great job and I love to have certain show elements for our fans.”
They’ve received positive feedback from European tours and continued praise worldwide. Berlin best expresses herself in her native language. “Since it’s my mother tongue I feel it’s the best way to really be lyrical.”
Whether singing clean in German, English or ripping out a deep lunged gutter growl Berlin has had formal vocal training but says nothing beats the lessons learned on stage. “I went through typical vocal training. The best training is being and singing on stage. This is where you develop consistency and power.”
Their previous offering, 2018’s Amok gave us the video for Turm der Angst/ Tower of Fear featuring the band playing, highlighted in the revolving glow of a rotating fan light with Berlin walking the dark halls of an abondened building giving off strong isolation and asylum vibes. She says the words on the wall behind her are lyrical excepts, “I wanted to highlight them because I personally met many people that have sealed themselves in their own tower of fear.”
The cover art for Amok has a basic but very striking image, “It’s supposed to represent a psycho in a straightjacket because the album is about problems and illnesses of the mind. Blood splatters are involved.”
There’s a YouTube video of her covering “The Sound of Silence” in English and there’s “Scars” on Amok that don’t need translation for those interested.
Their 2017 effort Koma featured 12 songs including the song and video for Hass/Hate with its eerie, haunted house jump scare vibe and shadowy, strobe effect. Berlin explains the long haired, long-nailed figure in black. “It represents the personified hate that controls the strings of the people who are nothing but string puppets, if they give in to it.”
One of their earlier videos from 2016’s Krieger EP Friss dich auf/Eat Yourself Up has a multi-layered appeal from horror inspired aesthetic to grindhouse/snuff vibe. Berlin elaborates, “It’s a song against greed, which is surrounding and haunting me throughout the video trying to seduce me. In a sense it’s the emptiness of one’s soul that you try to fill with literally anything. If we give in to greed, it will eat us up from the inside because there is no real satisfaction and therefore no limit.” Greed, demonstrated in the video is indeed, a strong, seductive creature.
Krieger also featured Zukunft Ungewiss/Future Uncertain with a very post-apocalyptic, Mad Max vision on an island adventure off the fury roads of Spain. “It’s about the end of civilization and those who are still here who say “no matter what comes, we have to keep going.” We shot in the desert and volcanic parts of the island of Lanzarote in Spain.”
Fans can argue which songs are heavier than others though Berlin says it depends on your definition of heavy, picking “Wo Rauch ist ist auch Feuer/Where there is Smoke there’s Fire” as a personal favorite.
To American and global audiences Doro Pesch is one of the most recognizable female German metal singers. While New York based industrial metal duo Hanzel und Gretyl sing partially in German. Berlin prefers to leave band and sound comparisons to the press. “Every voice has its peculiarities. It depends on the ear of the listener to make out the differences.”
Regarding a still well-used term the gender of the person holding the mic shouldn’t matter in band description, “Our band consists of four musicians, one of which is a woman. Just because I sing I wouldn’t call it that. It’s female fronted, but I ask myself why does that matter and why does this label exist in the first place? The music should count. However, if somebody wants to put us in that drawer I don’t mind.”
Berlin swings some serious braids around on stage and on camera. Though they’ve never whiplashed a fan, band members aren’t necessarily safe. “I’ve never measured that, although it may happen that Bene and Manu get hit in the face on stage by them.” It’s a small price to pay to be on stage.
As for other German-performing bands, Berlin assumes there are maybe two or more people that haven’t heard of Rammstein. “We also like Unprocessed or Caliban (for those that like heavy/progressive stuff). Germany has much metal to offer.”
For the rest of the year and next they’ll press forward with shows and promoting Independenz worldwide. “Thank you to all readers for checking out our new album and keep an eye out for new videos! Don’t let fear cloud love, see you soon!!” #wearenullpositiv
