The Neue Deutsche Härte Thread

Rammstein - "Herzeleid" (1995)

I've quite enjoyed the three Rammstein albums I've explored up until this point but I can't say that any of them are likely to receive a return visit. I simply don't think I can connect with the band on a stylistic level enough for that but it's enough of a connection to see me venturing back to their well-respected debut album for the first time this week & the results have been very similar. There's perhaps a stronger dance music influence on this material than on Rammstein's later releases which really cements their Neue Deutsche Härte crown while some of their thrashiest riffage adorns the stronger material on the tracklisting, even if it's still astoundingly basic in its construction. There are a couple of flat moments included here (see "Du riechst so gut" & "Laichzeit") but these are offset by two clear highlights in "Weisses Fleisch" & "Rammstein" which gives "Herzeleid" the same middling feel that I've found with records like 1997's "Sehnsucht", 2001's "Mutter" & 2004's "Reise, Reise". "Mutter" is still my pick of the first four Rammstein records but I've been pleasantly surprised to find that "Herzeleid" has now positioned itself into second position, mainly off the back of slightly greater consistency. Can I see myself venturing further into the Rammstein back catalogue? Yeah, probably.... but I'm also well aware that it's more of a box-ticking exercise than one that leaves me with genuine hope of finding anything that offers me anything longer-term.

For fans of OOMPH!, Megaherz & Eisbrecher.

3.5/5