RAMMSTEIN (2019)
In May of last year, we were blessed with the band's first major release in a decade. Lead single, "Deutchland," carries an electronic rhythm behind an industrial sounding, driving drum beat and guitars. The lyrics discuss a love-hate relationship with the motherland. It juxtaposes young and old, cold breath and flaming heart. I believe this to be about the conflicting feelings of pride in some of the modern progression of German society with shame about their obviously heinous history. There's also political dichotomy happening now, like in the US with push and pull between the left and right. The video may be disturbing to some. It is like a movie. I think the imagery really makes one think, and it has to be seen to be believed and analyzed. If you view now, promise you'll come back to read more. The second track is another banger with a driving rhythm, classic Rammstein electronica, and an earworm of a chorus. The lyrics are a poetic love song to the radio, an instrument that opened the imagination and expanded the mind of the young author. The video this time also adds a celebration of the rise of feminism. Honestly, the album could have ended there and it would be amazing. The other songs go on with equal passion and energy. Another controversial song, and one becoming a cult favorite already, is the song "Puppe." This song is about a young girl violently playing with a doll while listening to her prostitute sister in the next room. "Was Ist Liebe" is a much less controversial song about love. However, it still has a dark twist as Till sings about what he loves is also ruined and love must die. This is followed by a ballad that juxtaposes a somber tone with lyrics about someone as beautiful as a diamond. Tattoo is a faster tempo song about, you guessed it, tattoos. The album closes with a creepy song about a guy luring a young girl to the beach to take advantage of her.
Sonically, there is nothing groundbreaking from this album; however, it is enjoyable. The music compliments and helps emote the lyrical themes, and there is not one bad song in the bunch. This album is to be celebrated for Rammstein's return, and also for the artistic masterpiece it is lyrically, thematically, and so far, visually. Again, I'm excited to see them perform and hope that the tour is not affected by the coronavirus. (edit: the tour was postponed to 2021 because of the virus and then again by the band to 2022 so they could have full attendance with fewer restrictions)
HERZELEID (1994)
This album title translates to "heartache" and these songs explore various aspects of relationships which don't always end up happy. "Das alte Leid" translates to "the old sorrow" and is one of the heaviest songs on the album. I also really like singles "Du reichst so gut" and "Seeman" as well as lead track "Wollt ihr das Bett in Flamen sehen?" Some songs have some electronic elements, but I think this is just pretty straightforward hard rock leaning towards metal. This album brought about the phrase Neue Deutsche Harte (New German Hardness) which is kind of like American new metal minus the rapping. It combines alternative and groove metal with industrial and techno. Another song of note is album closer Rammstein. It consists of a heavy riff repeated through most of the song. It's on the slower side so it doesn't really get me going, although it is cool to have a track about the band's name. Legend says their name was inspired by the Ramstein air show disaster of 1988 where Italian air force planes collided during a demonstration. There were 70 deaths and several more injured. After gaining popularity, Rammstein have claimed to be named after a doorstop. The second "m" in their name makes it translate to "ramming stone." Pretty badass either way.
SEHNSUCHT (1997)
Rammstein burst onto the scene in America with their second single "Du Hast" that got significant play on MTV (including TRL). It was different because it was in German. It was different because it was rooted in industrial metal. And yet a lot of the general public started to accept it and love it. I think bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit paved the way for this kind of music in the mainstream. Also, Rammstein played for an MTV sponsored gig called Hanging Out in London in 1996 which put them on their radar. In 1997 Trent Reznor picked two Rammstein songs to use for the soundtrack to 1997's Lost Highway and the cat was out of the bag. I don't think this album is as strong as their first, but it is still pretty solid. Highlights are the singles "Engel" and "Du Hast" along with the title track "Sehnsucht" and "Buck Dich."
Much has been made about the translation of "Du Hast." Some claim it is "you hate" while others claim it is "you have." Here is where my German knowledge comes in handy. "Hast" is the past tense of "haben," meaning "to have." Hate is a homonym spelled "hasst" or "haßt." My theory is that Till wrote it with a homonym on purpose to give it kind of a double meaning. They are interchangeable and he is playing with the duality such as "Du Hasst Mich" meaning "You Hate Me' and then "Du hast mich gefragt, und ich hab nicht gesagt," meaning "You had asked me and I did not say." The song goes on to talk about asking about marriage and the narrator not wanting to commit. In the English translation you lose some of the double meaning and flippant attitude. Adding to the confusion, in the English version of the song he sings "You Hate Me...You hate me to say and I did not obey." Obey is nowhere in the German version, but does play off of traditional wedding vows. Exclamation "Nein!" is sung as "Never" in the English version, but this would be "niemals" in German. I find that a lot of Rammstein lyrics are tongue-in-cheek and several phrases are meant to have multiple meanings. Translating them to English does not always work, especially when you try to do it word for word.
MUTTER (2001)
This album brought more awareness and critical acclaim to the band. The album produced six singles, the last one being ten years after the fifth. "Feuer Frei" was featured in the opening scene of XXX and as a part of the soundtrack. It is one of the band's most famous songs and is performed at nearly every live performance, often with flamethrowers operated by the band members. Sonically, this album was more experimental with orchestral string instruments on songs like Mein Herz Brent. The album is also noted for its quality production. Mutter isn't their boldest album, but it may be their most accessible to the masses, and it certainly is melodic and sonically impressive.
REISE, REISE (2004)
This album was certainly not promoted well in the U.S. I heard about it after reading a preview in a metal magazine while browsing in a Barnes & Nobles one day. I bought it as soon as I could and I became obsessed with it because of the combination of riffs, dark themes, and catchy choruses. The opening title track is one of my favorites of theirs. The chorus is an earworm. The lyrics talk about men spearing either a fish or each other. Some have interpreted this to mean one either gets engrossed in a hobby like fishing, or fighting and warring with others. Another interpretation is that the spearing of man is a euphemism for homosexuality. To me, the lyrics make me think of the navy. "Mein Teil" is about a 2001 cannibalism case by Armin Meiwes. Live performances often incorporate the band members acting out butchering and cooking a human for consumption! Dalai Lama is an adaptation of Goethe's poem "Der Erlkonig" and inspired by the Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash, the deadliest plane crash in history. "Los" is a German suffix meaning "-less" (as in "meaningless"), but it is also an adjective meaning "off" or "loose", and when used as a command it means "go!" or "come on" The repetition of the word los with a heavy acoustic riff is another one of my go-to Rammstein songs. Then you have the political commentary of songs "Amerika" and "Moskau." The former crticizes the blind capitalism exemplified by Disneyworld, Coca Cola, and more. The incorporation of English lyrics saying "this is not a love song; I don't speak my mother's tongue" is further damming the imperialism of the U.S. "Moskau" then follows, comparing Moscow to a prostitute: beautiful, but corrupt. There are strings and choral parts on this album as well, but they are more in the background compared to Mutter. In my opinion, this is Rammstein's most complete album.
ROSENROT (2005)
This album was put together starting with six songs that were written during the Reise Reise sessions that didn't make the track list. It was originally going to be called Reise Reise II. As such, I feel that this album starts off strong and then fades towards the latter half. To the ear, I like "Benzin" and "Mann Gegen Mann." The former is a song satirizing love of all things petrol. The latter plays lyrically with the meanings of "man against man" in a song against gay-bashing. Reportedly, all of the band members are heterosexual, but they have been allies of the LGBTQ+ community for way longer than it has been popular. In 1998 band members were arrested in Massachusetts after simulating anal sex on stage. More recently, two band members kissed on stage in Moscow in protest of Russia's "gay propaganda" law.
LEIBE IST FUR ALLE DA (2009)
The lead track "Rammlied" borrows heavily from the chorus of 1994's "Rammstein." It is an improvement over the original song, modified to sound bigger and more ominous. It is basically a self aggrandizing anthem. "Ich Tu Dir Weh" flips a common expression "Ich tut mir weh" meaning "I'm sorry" into a song "It hurts you" about S&M. It is kind of like Rammstein's version of Judas Priest's "Pleasure and Pain," but with more explicit lyrics. Themes do not get any lighter as songs about losing virginity, sodomy, lust, and even the Fritzl case, where Austrian Josef Fritzl imprisoned, raped, and abused his daughter. Rammstein make songs such as the Beatles' "Helter Skelter" seem like child's play. This is a really solid album of eleven songs. The bonus version offers four more along with an orchestral version of "Roter Sand." I'm not as much of a fan of the slower bonus tracks, but overall this is a really strong representation of the band's range.
They are not for the feint of heart. I started liking their music at the same time I was getting into heavier rock. I became curious about the lyrics and found it an interesting way to put my German studies to use. The deeper I got into the band, and the longer they have continued to put out their work, the more I really came to admire their artistry. I hope you have been inspired to delve more into the world of Rammstein. Rock on!
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