Rammstein
Rosenrot

THE REVIEW

Rosenrot could have been a dangerous misstep for the now-famous Rammstein, but fortunately, it wasn't. They produced Mutter, their undisputed masterpiece, and followed it with Reise, Reise, which broadened their artistic reach and catapulted them into the heavy music Olympus thanks to live performances that make any professional pyromaniac envious. They were expected to release their next album after two or three years as usual, but instead, they announced its release just a year after the previous one. And the previously announced title, Reise, Reise Vol.2, made everything smell like a blatant commercial move with an apparent mix of old and new songs. And appearances don't entirely deceive. There are songs taken from the recording sessions of Reise, Reise and a handful coming from ideas conceived specifically for this new work. Even the cover is that of a limited edition of Reise, Reise released in Japan. All these considerations, although necessary according to the writer, are fleeting once the reader swallows the compact disc and the first notes reach the listener's ears. Songs that captivate and punish. That leave no room for boredom. That carry the Rammstein trademark yet with original episodes graft the stylistic canons of the German group with smiles and romantic passion. There's muscular aggression ("Benzin", "Mann Gegen Mann", "Zerstoren"), distorted epicness ("Rosenrot", "Spring", "Hilf Mir", "Wu Bist Du"), slow and intense episodes ("Ein Lied, Fuer Und Wasser") and perfectly successful experiments. In "Stirb Nicht Vor Mir (Don't Die Before I Do)" Till Lindmann sings alongside Sharleen Spiteri of Texas in a "relax piece" that alternates between English and German and something you'd never expect from Rammstein. But it's on track number 9 that the real jewel of creative madness in Spanish-German fusion appears. In "Te Quiero Puta!" trumpets in perfect Latin style are accompanied by an insistent riff and a Spanish text alternating with an ironic and acidic singing resulting in an absolutely phenomenal track. Ultimately, an album that establishes Rammstein as a band that doesn't miss a beat and rocks. Balls excluded. There is also a Limited Edition version available that contains a DVD with excerpts from the Reise, Reise tour. A preview of what will be the actual live DVD probably coming out in March. Treat yourself. Or hope someone does it for you; the period seems just right.