Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Rammstein – Zeit (2022)

You know, I kinda forgot they made new music and judging from their discography…so did they. I was gonna start this by saying the last album of theirs that I paid any level of attention to was Rosenrot (2005), and it looks like I’ve only missed two other albums in the past 17 years. So I feel significantly less out of the loop.

I’m fairly sure Du Hast is a significant enough song that anyone between 15 and 45 should be aware of this band. Crazy stage antics, a little comedy but heavy on the Industrial Metal side of the game. No other introduction should really be needed. If for some reason you don’t know Rammstein, first off, for shame…what are you, 12? Secondly, just Google it, I’m not Wikipedia for a band this big.

Rammstein is: Till Lindman (vocals & harmonica), Richard Kruspe (lead guitar & backing vocals), Paul Landers (rhythm guitar & backing vocals), Oliver Riedel (bass), Christoph Schneider (drums & percussion) & Christian Lorenz (keyboards, samples, synthesizers & trumpets)

• Artist: Rammstein
• Album: Zeit (2022)
• Label: Universal
• Total Track Time: 44:06

Armee der Tristen so the name means “Army of the Dreary” and instrumental it definitely fits the motif. There is a hopeless march, but it also feels oddly Synthwave. The lyrics seem to urging commiseration, unity through depression. Which given the fact the album was written during the height of the pandemic, it’s actually a unique spin on the overall feeling those years hit us all with. I really enjoy the heavy synth in the song, because it feeds this retro Blade Runner kind of dread with a nice marching tempo. Also reminds me a lot of Mein Herz brennt. Zeit, now this one I knew, Zeit means time. The song reminds me a little of Rosenrot since it starts really somber and almost like a ballad before the chorus brings in heavier instrumentation to drive the time concept as the big apex of message. The listlessness of the instrumentation and the imagery of time standing still, with a little touch of angelic choral singing as the song ends, really adds a lot of depth to the emotion of the song. Lyrics painting this picture of time frozen still as the future looks bleak with people dying to live, again has this dystopian feel and as much as I’m getting tired of Pandemic songs, these first two are a unique enough take, that I’m really enjoying them.

Schwarz, black…the title means black. Lyrically it paints in a lot of the meanings on black. Loneliness, night time, dark places in your mind, impending doom. The bridge gets across this acceptance I suppose of how life was in a doomed acceptance kind of way; “The night is beautiful (Beautiful), I don’t want to go to sleep”. Could it also be the darkness leads you to suicidal thoughts so it’s actually not wanting to go to sleep as symbolism for giving into the dark thoughts? Yes it could. Either way, it’s a subdued vibe that really leaves an interesting taste in your mouth. Giftig well at first with the added keyboard effects it sounded like a Nightwish song. Since the translation name is Toxic, honestly, it feels reminiscent to Poison by Alice Cooper. Talking about being bitten in his sleep but he likes the poisoning. The tempo being a bit more upbeat and the lyrics being generally vague enough, you can disconnect your mind from the overall Pandemic vibe and just apply the words to other things. It was a nice change of pace. Zick Zack alright, so Toxic did a great job at shifting the vibe a little and this is more of an amusing commentary song that Rammstein is known for. Snip Snip is the English idea, and the whole song is about plastic surgery. It ties into the album since the chorus applies a “tick-tock” and talks about time running out so people use plastic surgery to turn back the clock. Also, the song sounds VERY Rammstein. So they haven’t lost who they are, and I personally appreciate the pallet cleanse on Pandemic songs at this point (in case there are more on the way).

OK is short for ohne kondom…which means, without condom. This is just an irreverent song, I do appreciate how they use the lyric of “Du hast mich in der Hand”, which du hast means “you have” and the rest you can figure out. The song is just fun, nothing deep to extrapolate. Meine Tränen, means my tears. This has almost a Doom Metal kind of sludge to it, and a really audible and cool bassline. We get a great story song here, which Rammstein is no stranger to. Capturing a weird story of a man who lives with his mother because she drove out the father and is generally a sour and bitter woman. Timing wise it almost feels like a funeral dirge, its slow, melodic and has an eerie sense of desperation. Really cool song. Angst, if you know what angst means in English it’s not hard to figure out it means fear. Another story song, this time about an urban legend of more or less the Boogeyman that apparently has even stuck with adults. This indoctrinated fear of mistrust and listening to commandments blindly. It’s a really interesting song, which at face value I will just say is about the Boogeyman and no more cleverly veiled meaning since I’m not up on my German social constructs and world perspective.

Dicke Titten hahahahahaha. Okay the music even starts with like old corny cartoon music. It’s about an older man who wants a girlfriend, she doesn’t need to be beautiful, tall, smart or rich…she just needs to have dicke titten…big tits. A very simple man, the man is a hero to his generation. See aside from being sophomoric and inane to a degree, this kind of song is beautiful purely for the reason that they still retained their classic sense of humor during a trying time for everyone. Being able to write some bleak and depressing songs, then a song about Big Tits and No Condom, it’s hilariously refreshing. Lügen starts off very counter to the meaning of the title. The first two verses are about walking on the beach recounting a happy life with a wife and children and visiting grandparents. The instrumentation is even the stereotypical reflective beautiful music. But then when the chorus kicks in, he says it was all Lugen (lies). So the music got a little heavier, than for the third chorus they go back to the reminiscing music, but he’s more frantic and pained in his vocal delivery as he unloads the fact that he’s a liar. A beautiful dynamic and dichotomy in the song, and simple expressive techniques like singing the third verse differently. Wonderful song on all accounts. Adieu, I’m not translating that, don’t be a doofus. This is a very smart way to tie everything together. It takes a darker and more epic musical score, referencing how only death lasts forever, and we all die alone; but they will remember us. It’s bleak and yet uplifting because even through all of crazy times and the inevitable, I’ll just throw in the chorus: “Adieu, goodbye, see you again!
You have to go the last way alone, One last song, one last kiss, No miracle will happen, Adieu, goodbye, see you again!, I had a nice time with you”, see bleak yet oddly sweet. A damn good last song on the album.

So this is the first album in a while, that I can say I didn’t have an issue with any song. Sure songs like Zick Zack and OK were a little more ridiculous than I personally have great tolerance for, but as part of the album they worked well to steer away from the pandemic dread and into more of a “Rammstein feel”. Thusly, alone they are weak but as a part of the album, I really appreciate their inclusion. It’s also really great to hear that after being a band for nearly 30 years, they still know who they are.

Lugen is probably my favorite song off the album, but again I didn’t hate anything on the disc. Rammstein can somehow acknowledge a world changing event, and then still find the humor in big tits and not wearing a condom. If only everyone could do the same. Moving forward isn’t about living in the past, it’s about acknowledging, learning, and continuing your life. We only has so much Time…afterall.

Final Judgment: 8.35/10