Rammstein Reise, Reise

Klaus Nomi has achieved adulthood but has gotten his hands on some of the more desirable hype drugs, the expensive kind.  Rammstein’s decidedly Germanic display of Gothic industrial metal feels like an emerging American pastime.  Of course, none of this is new to fans of European Metal as every variation of the genre has been experimented with.  And although there are devout fans of EuroMetal in America and elsewhere, with the release of Rammstein’s Reise, Reise by a major American label, the genre is gaining a foothold in the taste of young listeners.

As is heard on many EuroMetal releases, there is a periodic orchestral background overlay to harsh, frenetic guitar work and rhythmic bass and drums.  The vocals are in German and the mood is energetic and spooky.  With 11 songs, many of them interesting given their style of play, you’ll find comparisons with others of the same style such as “Keine Lust” which bears uncanny resemblance to Marilyn Manson material from AntiChrist Superstar.  This song exhibits the same militaristic musicality exhibited in “Beautiful People.”   With the occasionally placed choir work, this album of social inspection reveals a love for the theatrical.

Overall, I found Rammstein’s Reise, Reise to be a work of energy and ordered chaos.  One thing that I love about the evolution of rock is that it has permeated nearly every possible form of expression.  Rammstein is one of those.  One bummer are the German lyrics found on the otherwise nicely done military-themed booklet; they’re ONLY in German.  But that’s ok. I still would have liked a translation.  Now I don’t know what sets these guys off.  But despite my inability to relate, we all still speak the same language of music.  I can understand that.