The band at the time was inspired by the post-punk scene and specifically acts like "Siouxsie and the Banshees, Killing Joke and Bauhaus who were having a big influence on us, in some ways stylistically but also in the energy that they gave".

Depeche Mode, longtime friends and label mates of the band, invited them to open for the European leg of their successful Music For The Masses Tour in 1987.

[6] In 1989, they teamed with German EBM pioneers Die Krupps to rerecord their 1981 single "Wahre Arbeit - Wahrer Lohn" as "The Machineries of Joy".

Their fourth album, Ebbhead (1991), showcased a more traditional songwriting style with an emphasis on melodic choruses was produced by Alan Wilder from Depeche Mode and Flood.

McCarthy was a regular collaborator with Alan Wilder's Recoil project, and he records with French electronic producer Terence Fixmer as Fixmer/McCarthy.

A first track, "Once You Say", with Depeche Mode songwriter Martin L. Gore on backing vocals, was played in June 2007 by Dave Clarke in his White Noise show on VPRO's 3 Voor 12.

Nitzer Ebb's early tracks also made inroads to techno culture, notably in Richie Hawtin's 1999 DJ mix, Decks, EFX & 909.