Achtung kinder!!
Rammstein - Reise Reise (album review)
12-07-04
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There is a new release from everyone favorite techno-industrial German metal-rock band... er... yeah. Yes, Rammstein is a quite particular taste, but they have never disappointed. From their first album till four studio efforts and one live album later they have always given what their fans needed, and in this effort 'Reise Reise' they once again do not let down. Rammstein delivers to those that need, their music is solid and always has that wonderful... somewhat creepy quality. And yes, I know I don't know the language, so Germans reading this please be nice to me, I'm just a poor dumb American (but worry not my many many loyal Deutsch fans, you can still like me in front of your friends, I am anti-Bush). The album kicks off with its title track, some freaky old school alarm and yelling followed closely by a snare roll and adding build up until it kicks in. Once the guitar riffs comes through it actually reminds me of the old Doom video games, like the guitar from a midi file. Very layered, but I've heard them doing it in concerts so it isn't a problem. The chorus is reminiscent of a booming opera performance as is usual, with spoken or whispered verses. With track two - Mein Teil (my part). I suggest you all look up translations of their lyrics it'll seriously fuck with your head. In this particular song the second verse is as follows. "The dull blade good and proper/ I'm bleeding heavily and feeling sick/ Although I have to fight to stay awake/ I keep eating while in convulsions" The song actually deals with a pun about genitals (part.. similar to 'thing' in English) and eating them. Isn't this friggan great? Oh yeah- the song, it's driving with an eerie backing of choral singers. 'Keine Lust' is a song that will make you drive faster on the freeway without you even knowing it. All about not wanting to do things. "Ich hab' Keine Lust" (I don't feel like it). To find out what exactly they do not feel like doing I'll once again recommend you go to a reputable translator or kidnap some German dude. This song has that powerful feel of a strong epic semi-ballad that Rammstein is all too good at achieving, then working into the hard hitting guitar riff of the verses. 'Los' (Less as in nameless) is a top song from this album. It actually goes less the way of the driving techno-metal guitar and into a low head nodding acoustic guitar riff. It is similar in feel to Cake's 'Comfort Eagle' in its low and laid back intensity. 'Links (left), 2 3 4' from their album previous to this one, 'Mutter' is a song that this feel could have been realized. The song does have hard driving techno-metal guitar, but has that same quality of relaxed intensity to it. About halfway through 'Links, 2 3 4' the guitar does actually revert to acoustic and it worked great there, even better does 'Los' sound because of it. In the albums first single 'Amerika' there is some attitude. I mean, there is always attitude, but this time it's half in English so we dumb asses might actually get it. "I'll show you how it really goes/ We're making a nice round dance/ Freedom is playing on all violins/ Music is coming out of the White House/ and Mickey Mouse is standing in front of Paris." It appears to deal somewhat with what pop culture icons or products that are stereotypical to the U.S. (Wonder Bra, Coca-Cola) and there is one stand out lyric that can be taken more literally than the rest. "We're all living in America/ Coca-Cola, sometimes war" Perhaps meaning American has installed its own influence on the rest of the world, but THAT is for another article of mine coming sometime soon perhaps. Now for 'Moskau' (Moscow) which seems to be... erm... here's the translation: "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/ Her mouth falls to my valley/ when I pay her for it/ She takes off her clothes but only for money/ The city that keeps me in suspense." So right, think of that how you will. There is some random Russian chick singing in the chorus that makes the sound just as odd as the analogy of the lyrics. The song definitely is quick paced and sounds great to strut to. With 'Stein um Stein' (Stone by Stone), they do what they do best, quieter yet still very intense often spoken verses contrasted against a loud, driving, forceful singing/yelling chorus. The song is absolutely awesome if you like Rammstein at all (even a weetle teeny bit). What really needs to be said of the album in general, is that if you dig the sound or the feeling of the music of Rammstein, you will like this album, but if you do not, it will fail to sway you. mmmmmm... tastey-insane-techno-industrial-big-scary-German-guys-metal-rock-tastic. er... It's an acquired taste. That is all. I'm Dustin Meehan Please argue with me. |