I’m Jonas, founder and author of Der Härtegrad.
My love for the genre started in the classic way: from my first AC/DC album, it went on to Maiden, Judas Priest, and so on.
But early on, I also got my hands on a copy of Dimmu Borgir’s Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia, and by the age of 14, I had already found my way into Black Metal.
Over the years, it has grown to become one of my favorite styles. For me, there’s hardly another subgenre that can express emotions—predominantly the darker ones—so vividly.
So don’t be surprised if the content here often comes with a heavy dose of blackness.
But don’t get me wrong: I’m neither an elitist nor a gatekeeper, and over the course of my musical life, I’ve learned to appreciate something in almost every genre.
Der Härtegrad is my attempt to do this diversity justice—honest, in-depth, and without embellishment.
So prepare for a mix of everything metal has to offer.
Eternal Hails, Jonas