Age softness and thoughtfulness? Farewell message? Rammstein fans are confused: the new, eighth studio album spreads a decadent mood, philosophizes about the frailty of life and sounds relatively quiet and peaceful. Unlike the previous album, which caused a storm of criticism because of the scene in the Nazi concentration camp, the new work “Zeit” (“Time”), which appeared at the end of April after a three-year hiatus, does not break any taboos.
Rammstein anti-war statement
In the single of the same name “Zeit”, already named by some German critics as one of the best songs in the history of Rammstein, we are talking about the eternal, about the desire to delay time, to stop the transience of life. But death does not count with this desire. In the video, time moves back, soldiers, partisans, women in childbirth, the dead, and a faceless, implacable figure in a black cloak with a scythe appear in the scenes with frames in reverse order. The dark, brooding sound contrasts with Rammstein’s typical industrial metal.
Apocalyptic notes, the death of all living things, the dependence of the outcome of events on the initial decisions – after watching the video for “Zeit”, associations with the current situation in Ukraine involuntarily arise. “Is it a coincidence that the electric guitars in the first song sound like the boots of the post-Soviet troops?” – asks a journalist from the music publication Rolling Stone, analyzing the single “Armee der Tristen” (“Army of the Sad”). It is known that Rammstein vocalist Till Lindemann openly spoke out against Russian military aggression and supported the Ukrainians, along with other volunteers, he provided assistance to refugees at the main station in Berlin.
Together with artist Marc Jung, as part of the “Peace Please” campaign, the frontman draws and sells paintings on Instagram, and donates funds to support people in Ukraine. In this context, the new album is at least partially perceived as an anti-war statement.
Does Rammstein have his own beauty clinic?
In the “Zick Zack” single, Rammstein looks more like himself. Using harsh, brutal rhymes, the musicians settle scores with the general desire to look good. The release of the single was preceded by a lot of publicity, including deliberately spread rumors that the band had opened their own aesthetic clinic in Berlin. In addition, in the center of the German capital on Alexanderplatz, a specially installed kiosk offered the beauty magazine Zick Zack Magazin, which was quickly sold out by fans.
The cover photo for the “Zeit” album was taken by Canadian musician Bryan Adams.
On the cover of the album is a picture of a tower in Berlin’s Adlershof district, taken by the famous Canadian musician Bryan Adams. Discs with the new Rammstein album went on sale on April 29 at midnight – for those who couldn’t wait for the day to start, they arranged a special promotion in Berlin’s five-story book and music store Dussmann. And the day before the official release, 11 singles from the album could be heard in a number of cinemas.
Farewell album?
Many of them are designed in the style of Rammstein. And yet they have a hint that this album may be the last. “When our time comes, it’s time to leave. Drop everything at the best moment when the clock stops,” Lindemann sings. In the final composition called “Adieu” (“Farewell”), the musicians make an allusion to their famous single “Sun” of 2001 and predict: “Even the sun will decay.” And the line “The last song, the last kiss, there will be no miracle” does not bode well for fans of the work of German legendary musicians. But first they will have a tour of Europe, which will begin on May 15 in Prague and end on August 4 in Ostend, Belgium. Then Rammstein will go to America.
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