Rammstein - Herzeleid
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.86 You Save: $4.12 (29%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $5.18 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Herzeleid
Free Music Review: Solid debut
Hit: 5 Stars
The great Teutonic goth/industrial/heavy metal band Rammstein announced themselves loudly to the world with the release of their first studio album "Herzeleid" ("Heartbreak"). What an announcement it was, and continues to be. The band, and their worldwide legions of fans, have not looked back since.
The first track, "Wollt Ihr das Bett in flammen sehen" ("Would you like to see the bed in flames") not only kicks the album into high gear from the outset, but also vividly stamps Rammstein's inimitable style into the psyche: like hip-hop, it consists largely of simple electronic ostinati laced with sound-effects samples (in this case, lifted from the original Doom game); the lyrics are often not sung so much as forcefully recited. Unlike most hip-hop, though, the melodies are driven by some (at times, extremely) heavy guitars, drums, and keyboards. This is solid Industrial Rock, but it's also remarkably street-wise in its use of catchy, danceable grooves, and is even playful in a dark sort of way. Not that there isn't some anger in there - the song ends with chants of "Rammstein!", which not only serves to announce the band's name, but also as a rallying cry, as it refers to a tragic plane crash during an air show at the Rammstein U.S. Air Force Base that killed a good many onlookers. I don't know if the anger is justified, but the music certainly is: it kicks some serious ASS.
Barely pausing for breath, the album cranks it up a notch with "Der Meister" ("The Master"), which features anarchic lyrics about destruction. It's faster, grittier, and harder. The escalation continues with "Weisses Fleisch" ("White Flesh") - a combination that prompted many a reactionary critic to assume the band was Fascist. These people obviously don't listen to much rock-n-roll, and/or have a tin ear for Artistic Irony. All three songs - especially "Der Meister" - are works of pure exuberance. They are dripping with cheerful sarcasm, much as Pink Floyd's thematically similar tracks from "The Wall" ("In The Flesh (reprise)", "You Better Run", and "Waiting for the Worms").
Just when you think it couldn't get more energetic, "Asche zu Asche" ("Ashes to Ashes") slips the album into overdrive with its speed-metal revenge fantasy that sounds like it could have come right from the Quake sound track (I've blasted a lot of virtual monsters to this song).
The fifth track finally allows the album to relax and breathe with "Seeman" ("Sailor") - a remarkably spare and gentle ballad about positive change in the wake of shattering experiences. It's in this song, with its urgent plea for sanity in the midst of chaos, that one gets a glimpse of Rammstein's motives. They want to shake things up, yes, but to make life better. Or at least more fun. From where I stand, that's pretty much rock-n-roll in a nutshell.
The next three songs continue the trend of diversification with a variety of styles that are all, nonetheless, infused with Rammsteiny goodness: "Du Riechst so gut" ("You Smell so Good"), another speed-metal tune about obsession; the bluesy "Das Alte Leid" ("The Old Pain"); and the black-as-pitch gothic horror-cum-dance tune "Heirate Mich" ("Marry Me"), which borrows heavily from Edgar Allen Poe's fixation with dead lovers. But for the German lyrics, it could be a Nine Inch Nails cut. No doubt this is the one Gomez and Morticia Addams play on their anniversary. As an aside, this particular song, along with the final track, "Rammstein", was featured prominently (and to deeply chilling effect) in David Lynch's classic film Lost Highway.
The title track "Herzeleid" rips along next, followed by the catchy "Laichzeit" ("Spawning Time"), forming a trio of unorthodox love songs bred from an odd mix of wary realism and dark romanticism.
The last cut, "Rammstein", exemplifies another trait of the band's music - a kind of Spartan, poetic obliqueness in the lyrics that mostly leaves them open to interpretation. Lyricist Till Lindemann has said Rammstein's lyrics often work on three or four levels. Quite. On top there is the literal meaning of the words, which dutifully echo the heavy-metal nihilism we expect of a rock band from the former East Germany. Below is a more philosophical (and, I suspect, politically Libertarian) subtext that speaks a sociological or political message. Below that is an emotional cross-current of dark irony. Finally, there is that tongue-in-cheek playfulness I've always sensed in the band's music - the shocking, sophomoric kind of playfulness that has occasionally landed Rammstein in trouble for performing such stunts as the simulated anal sex act during the performance of "Büch Dich" ("Bend Down") during the "Mutter" tour (and which got them arrested in the U.S. for "indecency").
All told, a terrific album, let alone first album, for any rock band.
Free Music Review: Rammstein's amazing debut
Hit: 5 Stars
after i got sehnsucht, i was so blown away by it i went and picked up this album. herzleid is quite a bit 'crunchier', and
although it's not any heavier than the other albums, it's more
agressive. there's not a whole lot i can say about it, so i guess
i'll describe the songs-
1. wollt ihr das bett in flamen sehen- starts out with a cool
keyboard driven pattern that breaks into the same pattern on
the duel guitars. awesome writing on this song, the way it's put
together. heavy, but not their heaviest. still a good song to
get hooked on rammstein with.
2. der meister- one of the fastest songs rammstein has ever done,
it has an awesome main riff, and the vocals are wicked how the
music stops so he can sing a line then picks up the fast main
riff again. cool all the way through, still not a 'heavy' one.
3. weisses fleisch- opens with a keyboard increasing in speed,
then a drum beat, then till screams "weisses fleisch!". probably
the most morbid lyrics they've ever done. it's about going into
a school yard and raping and killing people. don't look down on
the lyrics, it's a wicked song. one of their heaviest, and
probably one of the best live. AWESOME solo from richard in it.
4. asche zu asche- a sweet little diddy about crucifixion. the
dude gets crucified, then comes back as a god and crucifies the
dude that did it to him. main riff sounds a little like der
meister slowed down. the best part of it is when the last verse
bleeds into the last chorus- "and i stick my finger in your...
ashes! to ashes!" GREAT song.
5. seemann- a ballad about a sailor. most beautiful bass line
ever. the only 'light' 'pretty' song on the record. still wicked.
6. du riechst so gut- "you smell so good". as far as i can tell
it's about a stalker. really cool keyboard. another good one
live.
7. das alte leid- "the old grief". a slow, mesmerizing song.
i don't know how to describe this one, you just gotta hear it.
this one proves they don't have to go "all out" to be brutal.
8. heirate mich- "marry me". catchies, coolest, best written
song on the album, not to mention the one with the sickest
lyrics. i love it. it's about a dude that falls in love with a
chick, she dies, and he digs up her body... the rest is history.
one of the best songs they've ever done.
9. herzeleid- best written song they've ever done. there is
three beats, then a word, then three beats and a word, and so on.
it's actually a very beautiful song. the lyrics go along the
lines of "every minute we spend together is precious, time is
short, my heartache is great". something like that. heavy as
hell, and an instant rammstein-classic. also the best song live.
10. Laichzeit- "spawning time". this song has the best music on
the whole album. it's actually about incest, but you get used to
that. "he liebt de schwester"- he loves his sister...ya know...
the keyboard in this song is amazing. if you download one song,
let this be it. heavy and fast as hell, scathing vocals and
lyrics. another classic.
11. rammstein- another very slow, very brutal song. he says
"rammstein", then says a line of the song. i dunno what to
say except "brutal". got a GREAT solo by richard at the end.
actually written as a tribute to the 90 (or so) people that were
killed at Rammstein airforce base during an air show. the lyrics
are morbid and beautiful at the same time.
all around, this is an amazing album. no matter what you listen
to, pick up this album, there is something for everyone. never
have i seen this much musical talent packed in 1 album. truly
a classic.
Free Music Review: this is what we call raw music
Hit: 5 Stars
After 10 years of the release I still enjoy this album, "Herzeleid" it's pure passive-agressive sound, it has probably the best guitar riffs Rammstein will ever have. I'm about to rate each song individually so you can get an idea.
Wollt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen 4/5: This is an intro to what's Rammstein, it has the riff, has the lyrics and the feeling. With this they welcome you to their world. The song itself is cool but at the end it last a bit too much.
Der Meister 5/5: This one liked from the very first time I heard it. It talks about the end of the world. Musically it's really good, mixing the guitar sounds with very natural drums and the synth who gives originallity to the song.
Weißes Fleisch 5/5: Your white flesh excites me, yeah that's it. It brings us the first solo of the album. Here, the synths play like a mysterious role due to the song theme. Very good song.
Asche Zu Asche 5/5: The favorite. It is the rawest, the best of all. You may say, "It's very repetitive", I know that but still is the best and the coolest. I love this song.
Seemann 5/5: What a beautiful ballad. The bass makes the whole song, the beautiness in Till's voice moves you deeply. It's calm until the guitars show up but still it stays melodic and pretty. The lyrics are awesome and the strings in the last chorus are very moving too. Probably one of the best you'll ever hear in Rammstein history.
Du Riechst So Gut 5/5: The very first single and no wondering why, the song represents the whole album itself. It has the rawness and the agressiveness along with the madness we all need sometimes.
Das Alte Leid 4/5: This is the longest song of all Rammstein's songs. But yet is very intriguing and tough with a little bit of soft lyrics. I'm kidding, there's no soft lyrics in this album or any Rammstein album. And if sometimes you can figure out the keyboard solo please let me know. The bad part is that is too long.
Heirate Mich 5/5: It starts with a deep choir along with Till's deep voice. I think "Heirate Mich" is the most creepy song of the album. It has the mistery and suspense we want in a horror story. And by horror I mean read the lyrics. For me it has the best riff just like Asche Zu Asche.
Herzeleid 4/5: The song gives the name to the album. When I try to picture this song, it reminds me of a big machine working overtime. You can see the movements and you can imagine that this machine is suffering. The only thing, let's say bad of the song is that the way is sang. But that's it.
Laichzeit 5/5: The funniest song, man if you read the lyrics you'll laugh a little. The synths are very involved here. I like the way the guitars change and the slowing at the end. Überall Fischmilch!!!
Rammstein 5/5: Their first song. You get the feeling from the beginning that this is a good and not too ordinary song. It talks about the tragedy in Ramstein, Germany, when some airplanes fell and kill about 80 people, that's where this band got their nama just adding the letter "M". The song is very interesting and gives the impression of pain and suffering.
This album will never be repeted in any way, it's very unique and special. You shall buy it 'cause you won't regret it.
Free Music Review: How to start with a bang
Hit: 5 Stars
Rammstein are one of Germany's biggest selling exports and this album proves why. While industrial fans mightn't like it as much as some of the other German groups around (think Neubauten), it clearly displays the force that has been missing from metal for a long time.The lyrics here are all sung in German (a opposed to "Sehnsucht" which has one track in English), but this doesn't at all detract from the power of the performance. Even if you don't understand what's being sung, the anger in Till Lindemann's voice will get some sort of message across to you.
The song structure is quite simple - basically piling riffs onto each other and admiring the result - but then again, you don't buy a metal album expecting great things in the creative music department. "Herzeleid" showcases some sides of Rammstein which seem to have been either lost or diluted in the wake of "Sehnsucht".
"Seemann" (sailor), for example, is a ballad similar to "Klavier" on the second album but is done much better. Where "Klavier" flags the introduction of the heavy guitars very clearly, the guitars on "Seemann" still take me by surprise. Another song which is worth listening to is "Heirate Mich" (marry me). This one begins with a very doom-laden vocal from Till before three huge drum beats signal the introduction of an almost funky keyboard and bass part - the drums come back in and we're left with a metal track.
Many of the songs on this album are to do with quite weird subjects. In fact, they're mostly about sex in various manners - not always the standard way. While this may detract from the experience for some listeners, the inventiveness with which the lyrics are written - especially on "Du riechst so ut" (you smell so good), "Herzeleid" (heartbreak) and "Dad alte Leid" (the old pain) - makes it a lot harder to complain.
The other two big tracks here are "Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen?" (do you want to see your bed in flames?) and "Asche zu Asche" (ashes to ashes). "Wollt ihr", the opener, is carried along by an overpowering riff which eventually gets backed up by some drums. Till's vocals here alternate between screaming, singing and a strange whisper. On the "Live Aus Berlin" video of this, he winds up with a flamethrower on his hand and seems to explode onstage.
"Asche" is a shout-metal song through and through. By the end of a live performance, the entire audience is shouting the chorus while Till screams at them - a very disturbing experience indeed. It also demonstrates a peculiar talent of Rammstein, the ability to lift words from the most unlikely sources (in this case, the funeral service - "ashes to ashes and dust to dust", here as "asche zu asche und staub zu staub") and use them in new and inventive ways. This practice is also shown on "Du Hast" on the next album in which I think they've taken some words from the wedding service.
Overall, a great album to have. Whether you know German or not, you'll still find something to enjoy here. Also a great introduction to their later work.
Free Music Review: BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED METAL BANDS EVER!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this band to death! My favorite metal band Metalica became 2nd over night listening to Herzlied and Sehnsucht! can't wait to get Mutter! Fotunitly, I speak German. I have introduced Rammstien to dozens of my freinds and even to stangers, and about 80% of them end up becoming huge fans! The stuff realy gorws on you, however,the first time you listen to it you may fine many of the songs odd and strange due to the unusual and unique style, but after listening to it a few songs you will find your self purchaseing every album! bye bye Korn & Metalica! I'm a dedacated fan for these dudes! They have a unique style of a heavy thusting beat with a catchy techno toutch that pulls you right in!!! Absoluty risk free! You will at least like one of the songs! These guys are getting more and more popular, both in the U.S and Eourope! I'm going to be ticked if I don't see these dudes on MTV!!! Check it out! I'll give you my personal rating of each song-(1-5 stars)Wolt ihr das bet in flammen sehen?(want to see your bed in flames?)-*****, A great build up in the begining! It starts kinda slow but evolves into a fast thumping beat! this is the song with the least amount of techno. This one is for hard core heavy metalists!
Der Meistner (The Master)- ****
A great song! Many transition changes in the text, this one may not seem so great at first, I dindin't like it at first, but if you give it just 30 seconds, youl love it to death! It is quite heavy and the lyrics are...well...heh heh scary!
Weises Flisch (white Flesh)- *****
By far one of the big favorites! A great mix of tech and metal! It starts out with a spooky begining, and gts faster and faster and out of the blue it just blows you a way! The lyrics are sick though! It kinda implys rape, but this is by far thier sickist song! But I would recomend not getting the lyrics transalated to this one! It may ruin it for some of you. But a killer beat!
Aushe zu Aushe, (Ashes to Ashes)-***
A good song, but not their best. I really dont have a destinctice definition of it.
See Man- (lake Man)-****
Okay when I first herd this song, I was like, "what the hell?"
Because it is a slow bllad. And also Till Landerman is not the main vocalist in this one.
Du Riecht So Gut, (You Smell So Good)- *****!
AWSOME! Starts out with a catchy techno danceing tune and then the gutiars come in that spontaniously blends right in! This is generally the begining Rammstein fan favorite!
Das Alte Lied.(The unfortunite age)-**....slow.....don't really care much for it....But hey, some like it!
Hierate Mich, (Marry Me!)-*****!
Ausgezeichnet! Starts with gregorian-sounding voices adn then Till Lander man comes in with his deep sexy German voice wich then turns into a energetic beat! Too cool to describe!
Herzlied, (Heart Ache)-****
Dark! Has a violent sound to it.
Laich Zeit, (spawn Time)- ****
Good arangement. And cool course!
RAMMSTEIN-***
It's alright, has a okay beat and somwhat slow. But a pretty good theme song for the band!
Hope this was helpfull to you!
Dave