CD review: Liebe ist für alle da - Rammstein

TONGUE IN CHEEK: Rammstein's new album is a devilishly evil listening experience.

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If there was an award for 2009's most offensive cover art, German art-metallers Rammstein would win it easily.

Liebe ist für alle da - it stands for "Love is there for everyone" - comes with a photo spread showing front man Till Lindemann setting himself to cut a girl's arm off with a meat cleaver. Things get even worse inside, with snaps of what appears to be an orgy and other sexually depraved acts.

And for mad keen fans who want to splash out on the boxset edition of Rammstein's sixth album, it comes complete with life-size replicas of each band members' member. Hmm.

So it's no surprise to discover the album has caused controversy, with a censored CD being released in Germany and the song Ich Tu Dir Weh ("I Hurt You") being banned from live performances. For a band that provided the highlight of the 2001 Big Day Out by rowing around the crowd in an inflatable dinghy, that has to be a downer.

You could say all of this has overtaken the band's music, especially when the x-rated video for first single P***y - "I can't get laid in Germany" are among the mostly unprintable lyrics - was released on an adult entertainment website.

But the band displays plenty of musical muscle on songs like the pounding Wiener Blut, the brutal grind of B******** and the death growls and double kick drums of Waidmanns Heil.

And if you don't speak German it's even harder to understand what Lindemann is banging on about as he slips into English even less frequently than on any of the band's previous albums.

It can make for a devilishly evil listening experience, but closing ballad Roster Sand comes complete with whistling and all but comfirms these mad Germans are taking the piss.

Watch out, because their next album will probably come with bottles of it just to prove their point.

* What do you think of Liebe ist für alle da? Post your comments below.

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TM   #6   11:19 am Jan 18 2010

LOVE Ohne Dich! LOVE Rammstein; always will!

newfan   #5   09:20 am Dec 18 2009

Damn! I was all set to buy the album until ceekay @2 put me straight on the facts...

jacko   #4   06:54 am Dec 18 2009

I really adore the concept of Rammstein. In general its a fantastic show act with Dadaism, Metal Riffs, electronic sparks, wagnerian bombast and the dark rollin' Rrrs of singer Till Lindemann as the main indegriences. They're often very 'Tongue in Cheek' but some of the public and the critics tend to misinterpretation. The new album is another great piece of modern teutonic rock opera. Outstanding songs: Ich tu Dir weh, Waidmanns Heil, Haifisch plus Fuehre Mich, Donaukinder and Halt (the ladder three only on the special edition)

Nathan   #3   11:26 am Dec 17 2009

@ceekay - i agree that songs like "Weiner Blut" and "Ich Tu Dir Weh" have pretty gruesome and dark meanings, however, i believe that "P**y" is another dig at the Americanised way of life, just like "Amerika" was in 2004. It's interesting to note that it became their 1st #1 hit on the German Singles charts though. Maybe the public don't want clever songs; just the catchy tunes that seem to be everywhere these days? On another note, i think my favourite song on the album would be "Frühling in Paris." it's not like Rammstein at all, in that it's almost Coldplay-esque, but it's quite refreshing, sort of like "Ohne Dich." Another good album from ze crazy germans!

ceekay   #2   08:43 pm Dec 15 2009

Chris, badly researched/melodramatic journalism is the biggest piss-take of all.

- The dildos are generic, factory dildos. They are not replicas of an band members' members. - The album cover shows Rammstein getting a piece of Venus each. It's a play on the album title. - 'Roter Sand' has an extra S in your article. - Aside from the nudity of the women there is no sex depicted in the album art, let alone depraved sex. Prude!

I do agree that the album is pure comedy though, if you overlook the inclusion of such subject matter as Fritzl, S&M, a duel to the death, rape...I'll stop there.

Paul   #1   05:00 pm Dec 15 2009

Looks good

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