With their debut (1996) the East German metal formation Rammstein turned the world upside down by chanting German militant lyrics, which in combination with the heavy industrial guitar work, showed an unprecedented mix. Till Lindemann's dark and bombastic voice is unique and appeals to people all over the world, given Rammstein's international success. The previous album (2001) therefore had several
… hits such as Sonne, Ich Will and the militaristic Left 2,3,4. The band has a feel for design and knows better than anyone how to use the visual aspect as an extension of their music. This gift is reflected in the beautiful video clips and the separately decorated live shows, complete with fireworks stunts. Also on Reise Reise there are many songs that elaborate on Mutter's recipe for success; couplets sung almost in a whisper in combination with thickly set bombastic choruses. Strangely enough, the single America has a chorus with an English phrase in it: 'We all live in America', with which Rammstein wants to show the enormous impact of the US on the rest of the world. The title track Reise Reise and Moskau are also gems. Rammstein has not renewed herself but has done what she does best. (JdD)more
