Rammstein: Sehnsucht
Their sound consisting of an unlikely blend of industrial heavy metal, classical and atmospheric 80s electronica, Rammstein are a very distinctive band. Add to this their bizarre, pyrotechnic-filled live show, and the result is one of the most innovative and controversial bands around. Fortunately their studio work doesn’t disappoint, and this, their 1997 album, is no exception.
Sehnsucht (’Hunger’), the album’s title track, begins with an ethereal synth lick before a pounding guitar riff kicks in and finally Till Linderman’s distinctive vocals. This tune sums up the main aspects of the band: pounding beats, simple-but-effective guitar lines, soaring choruses and their steadfast belief in performing their lyics entirely in their native German. While this requires a look into the sleevenotes to work out what the lyrics actually mean, this unusual decision works superbly. The lyrical delivery and musical style suit the harsh and gutteral sounding German language perfectly and give the band a definite identity in an industry full of ‘nu-metal’ sound-alikes.
Engel (’Angel’), the next track, is in my opinion the album’s highlight. A drifting, whistling intro gives way to an infectious bassline and the inevitable crashing, distorted power chords. Tier (’Beast’) and everything else that follows proves that the band is able to record powerful and tightly-performed songs with confidence and originality. The up-front bluntness of Bestrafe Mich (’Punish Me’) and Du Haste (’You Hate’, probably the album’s most well-known track) are in contrast to the deep, thoughtful and almost tender (at least by metal standards) Alter Mann (’Old Man’) and Klavier (Piano).
The only criticism is that there is not much variation in terms of style or instrument tone, resulting in the songs sounding a little samey. Fortunately, the generic scooped metal guitar sound is broken up by the synth lines (which incidentally hint at the surprisingly strong Depeche Mode influences) and the Wagnerian background strings.
In Summary
Bleak and relentless both lyrically and musically, Sehnsucht is a perfect example of Rammstein’s sound. Admittedly, it won’t be to everyone’s taste but prepare to be pleasantly surpised.
Tracklisting
- Sehnsucht
- Engel
- Tier
- Bestrafe Mich
- Du Hast
- Büch Dich
- Spiel Wit Mir
- Klavier
- Alter Mann
- Eifersucht
- Küss Mich (Fellfrosch)
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