H.E.R.R.

H.E.R.R. (Heiliges Europa Römisches Reich) is a Dutch / English band that was founded in 2002 by Michiel Spapé (main composer). Other core members are Miklos Hoffer (vocals/live percussion/lyrics) and, from the second album onwards, Troy Southgate (vocals/live percussion/guitar/lyrics). Musically, they have been described as neofolk, minimalist, neoclassical and martial. They have achieved some distinction within those genres, particularly following the success of their second and third albums, 'The Winter of Constantinople' (2005) and 'Vondel's Lucifer: First Movement' (2006).

Key H.E.R.R. idiosyncrasies include Troy Southgate wearing a striped football shirt to perform 'Hopes Die in Winter' whilst Miklos Hoffer is known to yell down a megaphone during live renditions of 'Zachte Heelmeesters'. The overall style of the group tends to be dark suits or military jackets with shirts and ties.

Troy Southgate has performed vocals for Seelenlicht (Germany), Horologium (Poland), Von Thronstahl (Germany), The Days of the Trumpet Call (Germany), Survival Unit (Sweden), Sagittarius (Germany), Across The Rubicon (Poland), Funerary Call (Canada), Sala Delle Colonne (Portugal), Erich Zahn (Netherlands), Desert Divinity (Italy), Ollin (Poland/US) and Elvatorium (Poland/US).

Michiel Spapé has a side-project called Mirrori.

Collaborators

• Oskar van Dijk (cello)
• Inge Boot (trumpet)
• Maria Southgate (backing vocals)
• Richard Leviathan (Ostara - backing vocals)
• Holger Fiala (Belborn - backing vocals)
• Dev (While Angels Watch - backing vocals)
• Cornelius Waldner (Sagittarius - flute)
• Reinier Jansen (live percussion)
• Christien Havranek (live percussion).

Discography

• Es regnet das Leben heraus (2004, CD, Were-di!)
• The Winter of Constantinople (2005, CD-R, Cynfeirdd)
• The Winter Of Constantinople (2005, Picture-LP, Cynfeirdd)
• The Winter Of Constantinople (2005, CD, Cold Spring)
• Vondel's Lucifer (2006, CD, Cold Spring)
• Fire and Glass: A Norwood Tragedy (2007, MCD, Cold Spring)
• XII Caesars (2009, CD, Cold Spring)

Compilation appearances

• Van Duytschen Bloet ('Es Regnet Das Leben Heraus', 2004, CD, not on label)
• Carpe Noctem Festival I: Sturmgewitter Ziehn Durchs Land ('Constantinople I: Hagya Sophia'/'Requiem For Constantinople'/'Tanz Konstantinopel', 2005, CD, Carpe Noctem)
• Gloria Victis Vae Victis ('An Auditorium in Retrospect Self-Aspect' 2005, CD, War Office Propaganda)
• Hopes Die In Winter ('Hopes Die In Winter'/'Fifteen Tokens'/'Fruhlings Erwachen', 2005, CD, Beast of Prey)
• Instruo Vestri Pro Pugna! ('The Baron Of Urga', 2005, 12" vinyl, Cold Spring)
• Neither Beginning Nor End ('The Fall Of Constantinople', 2005, CD, Cynfeirdd)
• Neo-Form I ('For A Christ-Thorn', 2005, MP3 release, Neo-Form)
• Songs For Aliénor ('Eleanor Of Aquitaine', 2005, 2 x CD, Cynfeirdd)
• Swarm ('Stalingrad', 2006, CD, Cold Spring)
• Where Tattered Clouds Are Stranding [with Von Thronstahl] ('Liberating Spirit', 2008, double-CD, The Eastern Front)
• OEC 100 / The Old Europa Cafe ('A Newer Rome', 2008, 7 x CD boxset, Old Europa Cafe)

Live performances

• 04/09/04 Belgium: Carpe Noctem Festival, Hekelgem (with Von Thronstahl, Days of the Trumpet Call & Dead Man's Hill)
• 15/12/04 Netherlands: LVC, Leiden
• 12/03/05 Netherlands: W2, Den Bosch (with The Protagonist, Olen'K & Das Esseintes)
• 12/11/05 England: Marquee, London (with Von Thronstahl & Kriegsfall-U)
• 12/03/06 Netherlands: Zwareplaatwerkerij, Vlissingen
• 16/04/06 Switzerland: Les Citrons Masques, Yverdon-les-Bains (with Of The Wand And The Moon, Blood Axis & Visions)
• 16/09/06 Netherlands: Het Kasteel, Alphen aan den Rijn (with Allerseelen & Die Weisse Rose)
• 11/08/07 Netherlands: Ekko, Utrecht (with Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Rome & Die Weisse Rose)
• 08/12/07 Germany: Schwanen, Oberschwaben (with Rose Rovine e Amanti & Von Thronstahl)
• 26/09/08 Spain: Barcelona (with Allerseelen, Die Feuerkreiner & Horologium)
• 22/05/09 Netherlands: P60, Amstelveen (with Rome)
• 08/12/12 Estonia: Rahvamaja, Rakvere (with Allerseelen, Parzival & Empusae)

External links

• H.E.R.R. MySpace page
• Troy Southgate's Myspace page
• HERR at IndieBands
• Mirrori Myspace page