Rammstein - Deutschland

Key Facts:

Country: 🇩🇪

Genre: Neue Deutsche Härte (New German Hardness)/Industrial Metal

Release Date: 28th March 2019

Record Label(s): Universal Music GmbH
UK Singles Chart Position: Unavailable
Album Release Date: 17th May 2019

Band Members:

Till Lindemann – lead vocals, harmonica

Richard Z. Kruspe – lead guitar, backing vocals

Oliver "Ollie" Riedel – bass guitar

Paul H. Landers – rhythm guitar, backing vocals 

Christian "Flake" Lorenz – keyboards, samples, synthesizers, trumpet 

Christoph "Doom" Schneider – drums, percussion 

Music Video:

Review

Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

It's been 10 years...that's right 10 whole years since any new music came from the German giants Rammstein. It's seems like only yesterday my younger self was just discovering them for the first time, watching the video for Sonne on Scuzz (RIP). Having lived in Germany in my even younger years, I fell in love with them straight away, although like many kids my age if my parents knew what they were saying then Rammstein would have been blacklisted for eternity. Without digressing too much, the question is, was it worth waiting 10 years for Deutschland? Excuse my language, ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY.

No strangers to controversy, the video for the song is what's caused most of the uproar. To me though it is a whistle-stop tour of German history that raises questions of where the country is now and the inner conflict that, I imagine, can occur often with being a proud German in regards to their history. Which is quite tumultuous when you think that the Germany we know today, as a country isn't very old. Even though there isn't many lyrics, Rammstein will push your mind into the realms of thought that you didn't know you could go to. With the main offence being taken by the Jewish community, (SPOILER ALERT) with the band using Nazi uniforms and Holocaust imagery, right down to the emblems on their chests. The question to be asked here though is, how is this any different to portraying one of the most horrific genocides in human history in Hollywood war films? The video also shows the struggles Germany has had with its imperial past and striving to be progressive, it wants to let go but there will always be something that remains. More so, I think this video is also a statement about the media and how it's exaggeration and propaganda can literally change the course of history. 

As for the song itself, it's quintessential Rammstein, but the introduction of some more melodic passages and backing vocals shows that musical progression takes time to perfect. If this is the standard that Rammstein have taken 10 years to get to, I will wait another 10 years for the album after this one if I have to. It sounds a lot more experimental but fits so comfortably in the Rammstein sound. The jealousy and envy seething out of me to everyone seeing them in Milton Keynes later this year is massive (should have brought the tickets as you knew they were going to sell out, I'm an idiot I know), this song is stadium ready. Everything from the riffs to the electronics, Rammstein have demonstrated once again how a simple riff can become a mind blowing, all out cataclysm of sound. Dynamic layers and a thunderous beat that is to be expected. I do believe the song is meant to be listened to in the visual sense as the video gives away a lot of what message of the song is. With this, I can only speculate that Rammstein have really explored their artistic side and found a new direction in which it can be fully experimented with and expressed. 

As the first single off of their new album, the Rammstein Hype Train is now full steam ahead for me. My mind, body and soul are ready for this. 10 years worth the wait, so if you haven't already check out Deutschland now!