Electric Callboy, formerly Eskimo Callboy, is a German electronicore band formed in Castrop-Rauxel in 2010. Initially noted for their serious lyrics and post-hardcore sound, they underwent a line-up and name change during the early 2020s and have since garnered mainstream attention for their comedic songs, live shows, and music videos. They also occasionally perform DJ sets under the name Electric Bassboy.
History Early releases and Bury Me in Vegas (2010–2013)
The band's debut EP, Eskimo Callboy, was self-released in 2010 and was distributed via EMP. The band later re-released the EP via their then recording label Redfield Records. The band was a support act for groups like Bakkushan, Callejon, Ohrbooten, We Butter the Bread with Butter, and Neaera. At festivals, the group shared the stage with acts like Casper, Distance in Embrace, and Rantanplan. In 2011, they played at Traffic Jam Open Air and Mair1 Festival. Their debut album Bury Me in Vegas was released worldwide via Redfield Records on 23 March 2012.osnametal.de: Eskimo Callboy:Heute Veröffentlichung des neuen Albums (German) Between 28 and 30 September 2012, the band toured Japan on the Geki Rock Tour, then toured China and Russia.ibanez.de: Eskimo Callboy on tour
In October and November 2012, the band opened for Callejon on their tour through Germany and Austria.partyausfall.de: CALLEJON - Band auf Blitzkreuz Tour im Oktober 2012 (German) During the final show of the tour, at Live Music Hall in Cologne on 10 November 2012, nine fans were injured after pieces of the ceiling fell onto the moshpit area.Marco Götz: Metal Hammer: Callejon: Verletzte und Konzertabbruch nach Decken-Einsturz - Tour-Ende mit Schrecken(German) The concert was stopped and rescheduled to take place at E-Werk in Cologne on 23 February 2013, for which the band could not appear due to touring with The Browning, Close to Home, and Intohimo through Europe.partyausfall.de: ESKIMO CALLBOY - GET DRUNK OR FUCK OFF EURO TOUR 2013 mit THE BROWNING, CLOSE TO HOME und INTOHIMO (German)metal.de: Get Drunk Or Fuck Off Tour (German)
On 17 November 2012, the band announced after a concert in Düsseldorf that they were parting ways with their drummer Michael Maletzki, who was replaced by David Friedrich. In April 2013, the band toured the United States for the first time alongside Kottonmouth Kings and Deuce. In August, the band made an appearance at Wacken Open Air,Wacken Open Air: |url=http://www.wacken.com/en/woa2013/main-bands/billing-2013/bands-2013/eskimo-callboy-2013/ Eskimo Callboy] as well as returning to the Geki Rock Tour in Japan. The band won the Up And Coming Award at the German Metal Hammer Awards, held in Berlin on 13 September 2013.
We Are the Mess, Crystals, The Scene, Rehab, and departure of Biesler (2013–2020)
The band started recording their second album, We Are the Mess, at Kohlekeller Studios with producer Kristian Kohlmannslehner in autumn 2013. The album was released on 10 January 2014 via Redfield Records and Warner Music Japan. The band played five shows in Germany supported by Annisokay. We Are the Mess peaked at No. 8 on Germany's official long-play charts and No. 64 in Austria. The band also toured in Japan to promote their album.Frank Engelhardt: Fuze Magazine #44 (March/April 2014): Eskimo Callboy: Metal-Atzen, pages 22-23 (German) In March, the band toured Europe supported by Iwrestledabearonce, Her Bright Skies, and To the Rats and Wolves.
In August 2019, the band released the single "Hurricane" from their fifth studio album Rehab, which was released on 1 November. Following the release of Rehab, the band embarked on their Rehab European Tour 2019. On 12 February 2020, they announced that lead singer Biesler would be leaving the band. He soon after announced his new project Ghostkid, formed with former members of To the Rats and Wolves.
Tekkno and addition of Nico Sallach (2020–2024) On 24 April 2020, co-lead singer Kevin Ratajczak announced that the band had found Biesler's replacement, which was confirmed to be Nico Sallach (former frontman of To the Rats and Wolves, who toured with the band seven years prior) on 4 June. On 19 June, the band released the song "Hypa Hypa", with its accompanying music video signalling a more comedic direction for the band and becoming their most-viewed YouTube video. On 24 July, the band released the song "Hate/Love". On 11 September, the band released the EP MMXX.
On 3 September 2021, the band released the song "We Got the Moves", whose music video overtook "Hypa Hypa" to become their most-viewed YouTube video. On 3 December, the band released the song "Pump It". On 6 December, the band announced that they had applied to represent Germany in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest with "Pump It", but ultimately were not included in the final list of participants.
In December, the band announced that they were removing a selection of their old songs from all platforms due to lyrics that had "become increasingly problematic in modern times". In March 2022, they announced that they had changed their name from Eskimo Callboy to Electric Callboy after learning that "Eskimo" can be seen as an outdated term and slur for the Inuit and Yupik people. They subsequently re-released the artwork from their previous albums with their new name. On 8 April, they released their first song under their new name, "Spaceman" featuring rapper Finch. On 15 April, they announced their next album Tekkno, to be released on 9 September 2022.
On 8 July 2022, the band released a song called "Fuckboi" alongside American metalcore band Conquer Divide. On 19 August, they released the song "Hurrikan" (unrelated to their old song "Hurricane"), and the release date for Tekkno was changed to 16 September 2022. Tekkno entered the German charts at No. 1 in the first week after release, the highest ranking any of their records achieved. In the following week, they had to postpone their UK and France tour as well as cancelling their participation on the US Level-Up Tour with Attack Attack! due to Sallach suffering from a jaw and ear infection.
Departure of David-Karl Friedrich, addition of Frank Zummo, and Tanzneid (2024–present) On 23 May 2024, the band released the single "Ratatata" alongside Japanese metal band Babymetal, which was used by WWE as the theme song for that year's Bash in Berlin event. During the band's tour in Australia, former Sum 41 drummer Frank Zummo filled in on drums when Friedrich departed unexpectedly due to illness.
On 24 January 2025, the band released the single "Elevator Operator". On 29 April, Friedrich announced his departure from Electric Callboy after 13 years with the band, stating his intention to pursue a new direction in life. The band confirmed they would perform the upcoming tour with a new drummer, with Zummo eventually returning. On 23 May, the band released the single "Revery". On 31 October, the band announced the 20252026 Tanzneid World Tour and released the song "Tanzneid" with a music video featuring Zummo on drums for the first time. On 16 April 2026, the band announced their upcoming seventh studio album, Tanzneid, set for release on 7 August 2026. Along with the announcement, they also released the single, "Hypercharged", in collaboration with the Brawl Stars mobile game. On 5 June 2026, they released the single "Let the Good Times Roll" featuring The Offspring, with the song premiering on SiriusXM’s Octane channel the day before.
On August 10th 2026, Zummo confirmed through Instagram he was the official drummer for Electric Callboy going forward.
Musical style and influences The band's musical style can be described as electronicore, metalcore, melodic metalcore, post-hardcore, comedy rock, dubstep, and electro. The musicians named bands like Asking Alexandria and Attack Attack! as their musical influences. Their singer stated that the musicians don't feel like being a part of the "hardcore music scene".Thomas Renz: FUZE Magazine Nr. 33 Apr./Mai 2012, page 37: Reviews
Their lyrics deal with themes such as getting drunk, parties, and sex.Kai Butterweck: Laut.de: Bury Me in Vegas von Eskimo Callboy (German) The band call their music "Porno Metal". In an interview with the German magazine FUZE, vocalist Sebastian Biesler said that their lyrics only use clichés in a satirical way. German Metal Hammer magazine published a positive review of the band, writing, "This is why Eskimo Callboy is enjoyable: because they dismiss themselves and let the fun rule".Florian Krapp: Review for Eskimo Callboy – Bury Me in Vegas at Metal Hammer issue 04/2012. (German)
Band members
Current Daniel "Danskimo" Haniß – lead guitar (2010–present) Daniel Klossek – bass, backing vocals (2010–present) Kevin Ratajczak – lead vocals, keyboards, programming (2010–present) Pascal Schillo – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2010–present) Nico Sallach – lead vocals (2020–present) Frank Zummo – drums (2026–present; touring musician 2024, 2025–2026)
Former Michael "Micha" Malitzki – drums (2010–2012; guest 2022) Sebastian "Sushi" Biesler – lead vocals (2010–2020) David-Karl Friedrich – drums (2012–2025)
Timeline
Discography Studio albums +List of studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positions Certifications GER AUSPeaks in Australia: Tekkno: Tanzneid: AUTPeaks in Austria: As Eskimo Callboy: As Electric Callboy: BEL(FL) BEL(WA) FIN NLD SWI UK Bury Me in VegasReleased: 23 March 2012 Label: Redfield Format: CD, LP 65 — — — — — — — — We Are the MessReleased: 10 January 2014 Label: Redfield Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 8 — 64 — — — — — — CrystalsReleased: 20 March 2015 Label: Spinefarm Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 6 — 54 — — — — 70 — The SceneReleased: 25 August 2017 Label: People Like You, Century Media Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 6 — 14 — — — — 89 — RehabReleased: 1 November 2019 Label: Century Media Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 16 — 65 — — — — — — TekknoReleased: 16 September 2022 Label: Century Media Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 1 66 3 9 123 13 27 6 — IFPI FIN: Gold IFPI AUT: Gold BMVI: Gold Tanzneid Released: 7 August 2026 Label: Century Media Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 1 11 2 8 3 10 16 4 62
Extended plays + List of extended plays Title EP details Eskimo CallboyReleased: 3 September 2010 Label: Tone Df, Redfield Format: CD MMXXReleased: 11 September 2020 Label: Century Media Format: CD, digital download, streaming
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak positions Certifications Album GER AUT UKRock USHard Rock USMain.Rock "Is Anyone Up?" 2011 — — — — — Bury Me in Vegas "We Are the Mess" 2013 — — — — — We Are the Mess "Best Day" 2015 — — — — — Crystals "MC Thunder" 2017 — — — — — The Scene "Hurricane" 2019 — — — — — Rehab "Nice Boi" — — — — — "Prism" — — — — — "Hypa Hypa" 2020 77 — — — — BVMI: Gold IFPI AUT: Gold IFPI SWI: Gold MMXX "Hate/Love" — — — — — "We Got the Moves" 2021 93 — — — — Tekkno "Pump It" 31 — — — — "Spaceman" 2022 31 — — — — IFPI AUT: Gold "Fuckboi" — — — — — "Hurrikan" — — — — — "Ratatata" 2024 55 66 22 6 — Tanzneid "Elevator Operator" 2025 54 73 27 7 — "Revery" — — — — — "Tanzneid" — — — — — "Let The Good Times Roll" — — — 921
Covers + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Original artist Year Peak positions GERUS Hard Rock Digi. "California Gurls" Katy Perry 2010 — — "Cinema" Benny Benassi and Skrillex 2013 — — "Everytime We Touch" Cascada 2023 95 — "Crawling" Linkin Park2025 — — "Still Waiting" Sum 41 — 8 "Maniac" Michael Sembello 2026 — — "You Say Run" Yuki Hayashi —
Music videos