For several years now I have been a fan of a band, that whilst huge in their native country and others in Europe and around the world seem to be somewhat unheard of in the UK. But mention the film Triple X, with Vin Diesel and "that band" with the fire at the start, and a few people will know who you mean. What perhaps they don't understand, however, is that the band with the fire in the film are always the band with the fire at every concert. The film Triple X was not a special event, infact it was only a tiny fraction of what this band can do on stage, with possibly one of the best stage shows I have ever seen (and I almost lost my eyebrows and hair too!). Rammstein are definetly one of the best Industrial bands I have ever heard.
The band consists of:
Till Linderman - Vocals
Richard Zven "Scholle" Kruspe – Lead-Guitar
Paul H. Landers – Rhythm-Guitar
Oliver "Ollie" Riedel – Bass-Guitar
Christoph "Doom" Schneider – Drums
Christian "Flake" Lorenz – Keyboards
The Band
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It has, admittedly, been a few years since I last listened to a Rammstein album but, although sometimes not realizing it, their music has never been far from me. From radio, TV, films and just about anything in between, this monster of a band has been there, quality beaming through.
I don't ever believe I have listened to a band that, whilst keeping a heavy industrial beat to their tunes, manages to mix into several songs some lyrics that seem somewhat out of context, a band with such staying power, and also a band that sings almost entirely in German.
I do not recall exactly the first time I ever heard Rammstein play but I believe it was the song "Du Hast" (You Have) on The Matrix album. At first I was a little surprised to hear German vocals, as in the UK we don't tend to hear that many songs entirely in another language. I loved the tune even though I barely understood the vocals and once the song had finished I was hooked.
Just a Regular Day for Rammstein |
Fast forward a few months and I had the albums "Herzeleid" (Heartache), "Sehnsucht" (Longing) and "Mutter" (Mother) and was eagerly awaiting the release of "Reise Reise". The first two albums really put the wow factor into Rammstein for me - with amazingly powerful melodic tracks such as "Sonna" (Sun), "Du Richt so Gut" (You Smell so Good), to pure power tunes such as "Links 2,3,4" (Left 2,3,4), "Feuer Frei" (Fire Free), "Herzeleid" (Heartache) and a personal favorite of mine - the self titled "Rammstein".
I looked further into the band and some of the controversy they had caused over the years. For example, the cover of the album "Herzeleid" had, what some had believed to be, the band members dressed as what would have been Hitler's "Master Race". The band, however, rigorously deny this and if you take one moment to listen to what the band has to say about this it is clear there was no "Master Race" link, the band were merely doing what they do and later album covers and promotional shots had them in all kinds of clothing and situations, from PVC coats etc, to suits and Cyber wear.
The band, however, do have many militaristic sounding songs which, to the less knowledgeable, would seem to enforce this link. However, for me, this industrial sound and imagery is merely because these are songs inspired by Industrial times. Nothing more.
The next album "Reise Reise" (Journey, Journey) was also to be controversial with the release of it's first single "Mein Teil" ("My Part", a term often used in Germany for someones "manhood"), which was loosely based around the German Cannibal "Armin Meiwes" in a darkly comic way.
Controversy aside, the Album was amazing. Some particular favourites of mine include "Moskau" ("Moscow", sung in German and Russian), "Los" (Less/Without), "Mein Teil" (My Part), and one of only 2 songs sung in English - "Amerika". The other being the single "Stripped".
As an example of some of Rammstein's lyrics that show the band don't take themselves THAT seriously, here is a small snippet from the song "Moskau", with Russian vocals sung by Viktoria Fersh, and not "t.A.T.u" as was rumored just before the albums release:
"This song is about the most beautiful
city in the world. Moscow!
This city is a prostitute
She has red spots on her forehead
Her teeth are made of gold
She's fat and yet so lovely"
Facial Flamethrowers, Anyone? |
The album resulted in a world tour, a tour which I had to go and see, and one I can say I don't think I will ever top. The stage show was unlike anything I had ever seen, unrivaled. Flames from just about everywhere. The lead singer "Till Linderman" in his chain mail coat ... on fire. Face flamethrowers, lasers, lifts... amazing.
If you ever get the chance to see one band in concert, make it Rammstein - you will not regret it.
I continued to listened to Rammstein for many years after the release of this album and the concert, but did not purchase the next album, "Rosen Rot" (Rose Red), but I intend to rectify this shortly, as several days ago I placed the album "Mutter" into the CD player on my computer and was instantly reminded of what I've been missing out on.
Whilst my German is still comparable to that of a 3 year old German child, I feel this music goes beyond boundaries of language. The tunes speak in the language of Industrial Metal, no other language is needed.
WOW! |
Whilst I can not review their latest album, I can rate the albums of "Mutter", "Sehnsucht", and "Reise Reise".
Rating (Out of 5 Rammstein "R's") : 5 |
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