Marty Friedman Is God
10-09-2004, 10:39 AM
Before I start this review, I want to let you know that the guy who reviewed Mutter in this forum doesn't know very much about Rammstein. Contrary to his claims, Rammstein are easily the biggest band in Germany, and their biggest selling musical export. Just watch their DVD 'Live Aus Berlin'. That's a LOT of dedicated German Rammstein fans.
Rammstein: Christoph Schneider- Drums
Olivier Riedel- Bass
Paul Landers- Rhythm Guitar
Flake Lorenz- keyboards
Richard Z Kruspe-Bernstein- Lead Guitar
Till Lindemann- Vocals
'Reise Reise' is Rammstein's fourth studio album, after 'Herzeleid', 'Sehnsucht' and 'Mutter'.
The first thing that will strike you when you listen to this album is how Rammstein have managed to yet again sound completely fresh and new. This album, like the others before it, had a distinct theme to it, teh theme on this album is about flight, voyaging and letting go.
A second thing is the bands different utilisation of the guitars. While the crushing power of the previous albums remains, there's a slightly differ4ent sound to the guitars. They're used in a more Depeche Mode-like, atmospheric style, supporting the whole packet whith strings and such.
Track by Track:
0. Flugrekorder (Negative time)
If you rewind the cd from 1 and enter negative time, you'll hear a piece called Flugrekorder, which is essentially an authentic recording from the black box of a crashing plane. A nice touch for the flight theme.
1. Reise Reise
This song is the typical bombastic Ramstein album opener. It starts with the calm sounds of the seashore, before the orchestra enters with shouting fishermen among them. Then finally the guitars enter. The guitars have very supportive role in this song: the emphasis is mostly on the vocals, strings and accordeons. This song contains yet another great Rammstein chorus, one which will have you singing along in no time. (4/5)
2. Mein Teil
When the accordeons of 'Reise Reise' fade this crushing cannibalistic song will suddendly blast through. The first single of this album, the lyrics are based on recent german headline news about 'Der Kannibal'. The overall atmosphere of this songs is the most evil of the whole album: Distorted bass, hoarse vocals and very descriptive lyrics(weiche Teile und auch harte stehen auf der Speisenkarte= Soft and hard parts are on the menu). However, this song seems a bit out of place with the rest of the album, but is nevertheless a great song. (3.5/5)
3. Dalai Lama
This song is very different from the previous songs. It's about fear of flight and Wind Gods. The song slowly builds throughout, even including the baritone germans singing like an angel choir(this may sound silly, but it has a really haunting effect). Writing about this song can't really justify it, so go listen for yourself. Meanwhile I'll give it a (4.75/5)
4. Keine lust
Rammstein halt expirimentation for a while and bring us another crushing song, starting with a laid-back keyboard segment, before launching in a devastating Drop-C guitar assault. This song again has a geat sing-along chorus, but is othing very special. (3/5)
5. Los
Months before the album came out a rumour was spread about Rammstein putting an acoustic song on their new album. Most of us immediatly got Sipknot-Vermillion pt.2 variations in our heads, but it is absolutely nothing like that. It certainly is acoustic, but not like conventional acoustic. The whole song is based upon a low, driving acoustic riff, with Olivier Riedel adding extra dept with a rolling bassline. The vocals are interesting here, too: almost every word in the german dictionary ending with 'Los' passes through here. This discription will probably sound stupid, but IMO this is one of the best songs on the album. (5/5)
6. Amerika
The second single off the album, this is one of the most infectious songs released in recent days. The chorus will haunt you for days to come. This sarcastic song about America's influence on the world actually sounds very happy, and has a great video(No link, sorry). It is by no means a political song, it's more of an observation. This songs also makes clear how Rammstein can utilise extremely simple riffs with great effect. Cool keyboard solo, too.
(4/5)
7. Moskau
This songs is, unlike Amerika, not an observation, but a metaphor. Lyrically, this song portrays Moscow as a worn but irresistible protitute. Very cool about this songs is the vocals: Till's german grunt competing with Viktoria Fresch's girly Russian vocals. Another great chorus(I'm using this line too much)but not a lot of other special additions. Bound to be a crowd-pleaser, however. (3.5/5)
8. Morgenstern
This song is classic Rammstein, remniscent of 'Herzeleid'. It starts with a church choirs and building drums(Schneider deserves credit here for his creative drum pattern) before suddendly launching into hard powerchord stabs and Till's un-melodic phrases(this is not a negative factor).
(4/5)
9. Stein Um Stein
This song is about a deranged man who walls his wife into a doorless house so she can never leave him. Essentially a twisted love song, with calm pianos at the start of the song, and hard guitars at the chorus. Also, Richard's first audible guitar solo of the whole album, a bit different from the solo's on previous albums. The Depeche Mode influence is very clear here. Apart from all this, it's not a very special song. (3/5)
10. Ohne Dich
This is Rammstein genuinly depressing love song. Huge orchestral streaks, a great acoustic bassline, another sing-along chorus, and Till's inimitable crooning. In my opinion, couldn't be better :thumb: (5/5)
11. Amour
Originally believed to be the album's mandatory depressing love song, 'Amour' is a bit more driving, lyrically an observation of what love does to people. It starts with synth, and Till picks up from there, until the calm version of the chorus. After that, they turn up the distortion, but the songs still mnages to be melodic and anthemic, even with tremolo-picking guitars throughout. At the climax a guitar solo, easily the best of the whole album :p In the last ten seconds, Rammstein opt to grind a bit, with a final crushing riff, and the the album's schloss. You'll press play again. (4.5/5)
Once again a great album from from Rammstein. It isn't superior to the others, but none of them are. Every album of theirs is great in it's own right. I'm giving this one a: (4/5)
Rammstein: Christoph Schneider- Drums
Olivier Riedel- Bass
Paul Landers- Rhythm Guitar
Flake Lorenz- keyboards
Richard Z Kruspe-Bernstein- Lead Guitar
Till Lindemann- Vocals
'Reise Reise' is Rammstein's fourth studio album, after 'Herzeleid', 'Sehnsucht' and 'Mutter'.
The first thing that will strike you when you listen to this album is how Rammstein have managed to yet again sound completely fresh and new. This album, like the others before it, had a distinct theme to it, teh theme on this album is about flight, voyaging and letting go.
A second thing is the bands different utilisation of the guitars. While the crushing power of the previous albums remains, there's a slightly differ4ent sound to the guitars. They're used in a more Depeche Mode-like, atmospheric style, supporting the whole packet whith strings and such.
Track by Track:
0. Flugrekorder (Negative time)
If you rewind the cd from 1 and enter negative time, you'll hear a piece called Flugrekorder, which is essentially an authentic recording from the black box of a crashing plane. A nice touch for the flight theme.
1. Reise Reise
This song is the typical bombastic Ramstein album opener. It starts with the calm sounds of the seashore, before the orchestra enters with shouting fishermen among them. Then finally the guitars enter. The guitars have very supportive role in this song: the emphasis is mostly on the vocals, strings and accordeons. This song contains yet another great Rammstein chorus, one which will have you singing along in no time. (4/5)
2. Mein Teil
When the accordeons of 'Reise Reise' fade this crushing cannibalistic song will suddendly blast through. The first single of this album, the lyrics are based on recent german headline news about 'Der Kannibal'. The overall atmosphere of this songs is the most evil of the whole album: Distorted bass, hoarse vocals and very descriptive lyrics(weiche Teile und auch harte stehen auf der Speisenkarte= Soft and hard parts are on the menu). However, this song seems a bit out of place with the rest of the album, but is nevertheless a great song. (3.5/5)
3. Dalai Lama
This song is very different from the previous songs. It's about fear of flight and Wind Gods. The song slowly builds throughout, even including the baritone germans singing like an angel choir(this may sound silly, but it has a really haunting effect). Writing about this song can't really justify it, so go listen for yourself. Meanwhile I'll give it a (4.75/5)
4. Keine lust
Rammstein halt expirimentation for a while and bring us another crushing song, starting with a laid-back keyboard segment, before launching in a devastating Drop-C guitar assault. This song again has a geat sing-along chorus, but is othing very special. (3/5)
5. Los
Months before the album came out a rumour was spread about Rammstein putting an acoustic song on their new album. Most of us immediatly got Sipknot-Vermillion pt.2 variations in our heads, but it is absolutely nothing like that. It certainly is acoustic, but not like conventional acoustic. The whole song is based upon a low, driving acoustic riff, with Olivier Riedel adding extra dept with a rolling bassline. The vocals are interesting here, too: almost every word in the german dictionary ending with 'Los' passes through here. This discription will probably sound stupid, but IMO this is one of the best songs on the album. (5/5)
6. Amerika
The second single off the album, this is one of the most infectious songs released in recent days. The chorus will haunt you for days to come. This sarcastic song about America's influence on the world actually sounds very happy, and has a great video(No link, sorry). It is by no means a political song, it's more of an observation. This songs also makes clear how Rammstein can utilise extremely simple riffs with great effect. Cool keyboard solo, too.
(4/5)
7. Moskau
This songs is, unlike Amerika, not an observation, but a metaphor. Lyrically, this song portrays Moscow as a worn but irresistible protitute. Very cool about this songs is the vocals: Till's german grunt competing with Viktoria Fresch's girly Russian vocals. Another great chorus(I'm using this line too much)but not a lot of other special additions. Bound to be a crowd-pleaser, however. (3.5/5)
8. Morgenstern
This song is classic Rammstein, remniscent of 'Herzeleid'. It starts with a church choirs and building drums(Schneider deserves credit here for his creative drum pattern) before suddendly launching into hard powerchord stabs and Till's un-melodic phrases(this is not a negative factor).
(4/5)
9. Stein Um Stein
This song is about a deranged man who walls his wife into a doorless house so she can never leave him. Essentially a twisted love song, with calm pianos at the start of the song, and hard guitars at the chorus. Also, Richard's first audible guitar solo of the whole album, a bit different from the solo's on previous albums. The Depeche Mode influence is very clear here. Apart from all this, it's not a very special song. (3/5)
10. Ohne Dich
This is Rammstein genuinly depressing love song. Huge orchestral streaks, a great acoustic bassline, another sing-along chorus, and Till's inimitable crooning. In my opinion, couldn't be better :thumb: (5/5)
11. Amour
Originally believed to be the album's mandatory depressing love song, 'Amour' is a bit more driving, lyrically an observation of what love does to people. It starts with synth, and Till picks up from there, until the calm version of the chorus. After that, they turn up the distortion, but the songs still mnages to be melodic and anthemic, even with tremolo-picking guitars throughout. At the climax a guitar solo, easily the best of the whole album :p In the last ten seconds, Rammstein opt to grind a bit, with a final crushing riff, and the the album's schloss. You'll press play again. (4.5/5)
Once again a great album from from Rammstein. It isn't superior to the others, but none of them are. Every album of theirs is great in it's own right. I'm giving this one a: (4/5)