Review Summary: A sadly lacking swan song from a band capable of so much more.
Rammstein returning was something that no Rammstein fan had anticipated. After a few years break following the 2005 Ahoi Tour, Rammstein shocked the world with the announcement of the
Liebe Ist Für Alle Da album in 2009, with the release of "Pussy" and controversy surrounding the album release in Germany. The song "Ich Tu Dir Weh" (I Hurt You) had graphic lyrics and the album booklet included a rather disturbing picture that got the album placed on the German index (meaning minors couldn't purchase it). Yet when listening to the album, you can't help but get the sense that the German metalheads' controversy was far bigger than the content of the disc itself.
Liebe Ist Für Alle Da isn't particularly bad, it's just average, samey and all done before, and this is from a band with crazy capability. Much of the album feels like rehashed tracks from their back catalogue. The band has shown us before that they can do so much- dance-rock on
Senseucht, orchestral metal on
Mutter, you name it. While they've changed quite a bit throughout the years, there's still stuff that makes up a Rammstein record- deep/throaty vocals from Till, mostly powerchord driven riffs, synth arpeggios from Flake, drums so loud they practically drown out the bass, the list goes on and on, yet Rammstein has always tried something new. And unfortunately,
Liebe Ist Für Alle Da is an incredibly frustrating listen, because there's so many things going on that make up a typical Rammstein anthem, but all we are left with is the overwhelming sense of déjÃ* vu, and a lack of subtlety that runs throughout the album.
In fact, the album does get off to a good first few tracks- the first four tracks on the album- "Rammlied", "Ich Tu Dir Weh", "Waidmanns Heil" and "Haifisch" are all plenty catchy and have some pretty tasty riffs, with even some catchy synth parts here and there. In fact, some excellent atmospherics can be heard in the tracks- in example, the brilliant and atmospheric opening to "Ich Tu Dir Weh" with a surreal synth arpeggio punctuated with loud and thrashy power chord hits before a drumroll thrusts full-on metal in our faces. And there something about "Haifisch" that gives it a bouncy cabaret atmosphere, with some industrial metal guitars and synths added in for good measure. Sadly though, the album goes completely downhill from there- there's a sudden stop in momentum that drags the album down.
The second half is also full of some downright dreadful tracks including "Wiener Blut", which isn't so much a song as it is just random guitar smashing and Till babbling. The lyrics aren't particularly memorable either, and here's another problem- Rammstein's lyrics haven't been known for being particularly good, but being sung in German does help them slightly and does dull you to how they weak they are, with the awesome music helping. The lyrics are however
distractingly weak. I do know a bit of German, and I do get the gist of the songs, but when translated, that's when it's exposed how weak the lyrics are. The lyrics to "Wiener Blut" are pretty much "Mein Teil" but with paedophilia replacing cannibalism. Some of their trademark tongue-in-cheek is still here- "Ich Tu Dir Weh" is about the more dangerous activities in S&M, and as disturbing as it can be, it also sort of has a strangely cutesy diabolical feel that makes it humourous. Back on the topic of the weak songs, there is also "Pussy". It was funny the first few times I heard it, but after a while it's just stupid. Even Schneider himself hates it, and it's not hard to see why. The lyrics are about people who travel just to have sex and use their nationality to attract ladies (hence why there's German in a predominantly English song), but the chorus of "
You have a pussy! I have a dick, ah! So what's the problem? Let's do it quick!" just seems forced and desperate. And then there is "Mehr", which may be the worst Rammstein song ever. Not a surprise I guess, since usually song 10s are usually the weakest on Rammstein's albums, but Till sounding drunk throughout and the lack of hooks or catchy riffs is makes it a chore to listen to.
The thing is, if you were to remove the filler, you'd have a decent EP. Tracks 1-4 and "Frühling in Paris" as well as "Roter Sand" would be an excellent EP- in fact, the latter two songs are the two songs that don't sound like the same old sound. Both are mostly ballads, with some beautiful acoustic guitar- "Frühling" is actually pretty catchy in addition to being just plain gorgeous with some beautiful love story lyrics, and "Roter Sand" is dreamy and surreal, with even some whistling that gives it that myserious, almost X-Files atmosphere.
If there's any saving grace for
Liebe Ist Für Alle Da, it's that it's still a Rammstein album, and that's exactly its problem. It's too much the same old sound they've been doing for years, and if this is indeed their swan song, it's a weak note to go out on. It won't win Rammstein new fans, and much of it sounds like B-sides with little to no classic value. Guaranteed a lot of these songs are awesome live (I had the chance to witness their legendary Download Fest 2013 set, so I can testify to this), but beneath the fire and what not, there really isn't much to remember here. Die-harss will no doubt already have considered it a classic, but the rest of us will think there is so much more they could have done with it.
