Sep
24,
2026
By Amy Phillips
Naming a record after a made-up German word is a bold move. But are we surprised to see bold moves from Electric Callboy? A band that has never been interested in following the conventional rules of music-making, or allowing language, genre or expectations to stand in the way of a good time.
Their new record TANZNEID sees the German six-piece bring metal, dance music, electronic beats, breakdowns and enormous hooks into one rollercoaster ride of eclectic sonic chaos.
Press Pass LA music journalist Amy Phillips caught up backstage with vocalists Kevin Ratajczak and Nico Sallach during the final stretch of the band’s Australian tour to discuss their boundaryless sound, the unlikely origins of TANZNEID and collaborating with Southern Californian rock royalty.
Trying to describe Electric Callboy neatly is challenging. Even The Offspring frontman Dexter Holland reached for the hybrid term “technocore” to describe the band.
“Our sound and new recored is a mixture of dance music and metal. There are guitars and breakdowns, but there’s also a very strong electronic component,” Sallach explains.
“We always try to mix together everything we like. It doesn’t matter what genre it comes from it’s always possible that it could appear in one of our songs. That’s the freedom we have as a band.”
That freedom runs throughout TANZNEID. Rather than restraining their competing influences, Electric Callboy have created a place where crushing riffs can coexist with pop melodies, electronic chaos and a strong sense of humour.
The record also features The Offspring on “Let the Good Times Roll” a collaboration that began after Holland discussed Electric Callboy during an interview.
“I remember thinking, ‘My childhood hero, Dexter Holland, is talking about our band. What is this life?’” Ratajczak said.
“Dexter was literally the reason I bought my first guitar. I wanted to learn the riffs from Americana. Now we have a song together. It’s amazing.”
Even the album’s title reflects Electric Callboy’s refusal to play it safe. The invented word came from actor Uke Bosse while filming the “Elevator Operator” video.
“We had to stand still and wait in the elevator while everybody else was dancing. He said he was getting ‘Tanzneid’/ “dance envy” because he was jealous of the people dancing and wanted to join them.”
Although people warned the band that international audiences would struggle to pronounce or understand it, that only strengthened their resolve.
“We never listen to people who try to tell us what to do with our creative work,” they said. “We still really like the title.”
As for the perfect way to experience TANZNEID, the instructions are simple.
“Get your ass in the car. Start driving, turn the music up as loud as you can and enjoy yourself.”
And passengers are welcome —with one condition.
“Listen to it alone in the car or with people who are awake and ready to celebrate with you. It’s a vibe.”
TANZNEID does not ask listeners to choose between dancing, laughing, singing or throwing themselves into a mosh pit. Electric Callboy invite us to do all of it, and their infectious personalities and energy will be felt by those who listen to TANZNEID for years to come.
