Zarathustra is also the title of the first and only album by the German band of the same name, which was formed in Hamburg in 1969. The short-lived group consisted of singer Ernst Herzner, guitarist and singer Wolfgang Reimer, bassist and singer Michael Just, keyboardist Klaus Werner and drummer Wolfgang Behrmann. As the band had established itself over time as a well-known live act in the Hamburg region, they signed a record contract with the Metronome label, which at the time was apparently quite open to signing progressive bands such as Hallelujah, Prof. Wolfff, Os Mundi and Grail. In November 1971, they recorded six tracks of their high-energy heavy progressive rock at Windrose Studios, with Friedrich Bischoff as sound engineer.

This straightforward power-rock album, featuring heavy guitars, a powerful organ and raw vocals – heavily inspired by English bands such as Deep Purple and, above all, Uriah Heep – was released in 1972. However, it differed little from the sound of other hard heavy-progressive bands of the era and, unfortunately as is so often the case, it was either not promoted at all or only inadequately advertised. Consequently, it sold virtually nothing, which led the band to split up in the spring of 1972. Today, the original pressing of this LP is considered an extremely sought-after gem of early 1970s German heavy rock.