Rammstein

Because of Rammstein's considerable popularity in its native Germany, as well as in Austria and Scandinavia, there has always been a larger-than-life, multinational scope to its heroically over-the-top metal. The drama inherent to the band’s music lends itself well to a trans-national gothic imagination that incorporates elements of mythology, the horrors of war, the inhumanity of industrialization, and straight ahead, ballsy hard rock. Even to American audiences, this all comes across pretty clearly, despite the fact that songs are sung primarily in German. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that these guys, unwittingly or not, are received here in the States with the same reductive delight as the ‘90s Saturday Night Live sketch “Sprockets.”

The theatricality of it all has not waned a bit on Reise, Reise, as the vocal choir at the opening of "Morgenstern" and the proletarian roar of masses in "Moskau" attest. Where Rammstein makes progress on this album is in the growing subtlety of its traditionally harsh tools. A band that was once content to grind out a relentless mix of industrial tempos and death metal aggression now prefers to explore the prog rock tendencies that have always been there. Synthesizers soar throughout, while strings accompany characteristically chugging guitars and pounding drum fills, and a full half of the songs here fall into ballad-to-mid-tempo range. In addition to being mostly in German, lyrics also appear in the booklet in Russian and English in reference to song-specific themes ("Amerika," "Moskau"), but also to underline this band’s increasingly global presence. While this album won’t make the members of Rammstein superstars in America, the myth continues to grow. - Cory O'Malley

Taking three years to release their follow-up to Mutter is a good idea since Reise, Reise is more of the same -- the same grit, the same growl, and the same dramatic, orchestra choruses. There's a bit more ingenuity in the production and a little more focus in the songs but not enough for the nonfaithful to pick up on. Unfortunately the lead single, "Mein Teil," is no "Du Hast," but the damning "Amerika" almost equals their breakthrough track. Whether or not Rammstein's label has the guts to release the band's acerbic "Coca-Cola/Sometimes War" view of the States as a single is another question, but it's the key track to the album, an album that has a couple more, minor surprises. The loose, bluesy guitar on "Los" adds some quirk to the band's stern, Teutonic palette, while the sinister "Stein Um Stein" creeps more than stomps in parts. That's it for twists and turns, but few bands can industrially grind as convincingly as Rammstein. Same as it ever was, Reise, Reise won't do much to increase the band's fan base, but being a tight, free-of-filler album, it'll satisfy the faithful. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide