Rammstein’s album “Zeit,” released on April 29, 2022, by Universal Music, explores themes of time, mortality, and societal fears through a mix of heavy industrial metal and experimental sounds. Notably, the song “Lügen” features the rare use of autotune, adding a modern twist to the band’s signature style. The album’s striking cover photo was taken by Bryan Adams at the Trudelturm in Berlin, and the music video for “Zick Zack” humorously critiques cosmetic surgery culture with exaggerated, grotesque transformations.
Album length: 44:08
Industrial metal, Neue deutsche härte
April 29, 2022
Universal Music
September 2020 - February 2021
La Fabrique Studios (Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France)
Olsen Involtini and Rammstein
Time and Mortality: “Armee der Tristen” (Army of the Dreary) and the title track “Zeit” (Time) delve into the inevitability of time passing and the transient nature of life, evoking a sense of melancholy and reflection. “Adieu” (Goodbye) is particularly poignant, touching on themes of farewell and the end of an era, possibly hinting at the band’s own future.
Societal Critique: “Zick Zack” (Zig Zag) satirizes the obsession with plastic surgery and societal pressures to maintain youthful appearances. “OK” explores themes of conformity and societal expectations, set against a backdrop of powerful and unrelenting music.
Personal and Familial Struggles: “Meine Tränen” (My Tears) deals with the emotional turmoil of an abusive mother-son relationship, echoing themes similar to their earlier work in Mutter. “Angst” (Fear) addresses the fear of the unknown, employing a sinister tone that builds to a climactic finish.
Body and Sensuality: “Dicke Titten” (Big Tits) and “Lügen” (Lies) feature the band’s signature mix of humor and critique, the former dealing with body image in a playful manner, while the latter uses autotune as a commentary on authenticity in music.
Melancholic and Reflective: The album begins with a melancholic and reflective tone, evident in tracks like “Armee der Tristen” and the title track “Zeit.” These songs evoke a sense of introspection and contemplation, which is characteristic of Rammstein’s ability to blend dark themes with powerful music.
Heavy and Aggressive: Tracks such as “Giftig” and “Angst” showcase Rammstein’s signature heavy and aggressive sound. The industrial metal riffs and pounding drums create a fierce, intense atmosphere that will resonate with metalheads who appreciate hard-hitting music.
Dark and Somber: Songs like “Schwarz” and “Meine Tränen” further enhance the album’s dark and somber mood. These tracks combine deep, rumbling bass lines and haunting melodies to create a dense and grim ambiance.
Humorous and Satirical: Despite the overall dark tone, the album also includes tracks with a humorous and satirical edge, such as “Zick Zack.” This track, along with its accompanying music video, brings a lighter, more playful side to the album while still maintaining the band’s distinctive style.
Unplanned Album Due to Pandemic: “Zeit” was not initially planned but came to fruition because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With their tour postponed, the band members found themselves with unexpected time on their hands, which they utilized to write and record new music. This led to spontaneous creativity, resulting in the album being recorded between September 2020 and February 2021 at La Fabrique Studios in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.
Bryan Adams’ Involvement: The cover photo of “Zeit” was taken by Canadian musician and photographer Bryan Adams. This collaboration was unique as Adams captured the band on the steps of the Trudelturm in Berlin, an iconic monument dedicated to aerial research. This collaboration added a distinctive visual element to the album’s presentation.
Autotune Experiment in “Lügen”: In the song “Lügen” (“Lies”), Rammstein uses heavy autotune on Till Lindemann’s vocals, which is unusual for the band. This choice has been interpreted as a commentary on the deceptive nature of autotune in the music industry, aligning with the song’s theme of dishonesty.
Fan Speculations: The closing track “Adieu” has led to widespread fan speculation about the future of the band. The lyrics, which include farewells and expressions of finality, have fueled rumors that this could be Rammstein’s final album. However, the band has not confirmed any such plans.
Rammstein’s 1995 debut album, “Herzeleid” (Motor Music), is a landmark of Neue Deutsche Härte, blending industrial metal, heavy metal, and punk. Its dark themes and aggressive sound, driven by Lindemann’s vocals and heavy instrumentation, launched their successful career.
Rammstein’s 1997 album Sehnsucht is a defining work of Neue Deutsche Härte (NDH), featuring German lyrics exploring themes of longing, desire, and aggression. A commercial success, it propelled the band to international fame.
Released on April 2, 2001, Rammstein’s Mutter blends industrial metal with symphonic elements, featuring hits like “Sonne” and “Ich Will.” It topped charts in Germany and Austria, showcasing the band’s evolving sound.
“Reise, Reise,” Rammstein’s 2004 industrial metal album, features heavy riffs and provocative themes. Produced by Jacob Hellner and recorded at El Cortijo Studio in Spain, it includes notable tracks like “Mein Teil” and “Amerika”.
Rosenrot, Rammstein’s fifth studio album, was released on October 28, 2005, by Universal Music. The album blends industrial metal with experimental elements and explores themes of love, desire, and societal critique.
Liebe ist für alle da, Rammstein’s sixth studio album, was released on October 16, 2009, by Universal Music. It blends industrial metal with provocative themes, featuring tracks like “Ich tu dir weh” and “Pussy,” and faced significant censorship.
Rammstein’s untitled 7th album, released on May 17, 2019, by Universal Music, features 11 tracks blending industrial metal with electronic elements, produced by the band and Olsen Involtini.
Rammstein’s album “Zeit,” released on April 29, 2022, by Universal Music, delves into themes of time and mortality. The song “Lügen” uses autotune, and Bryan Adams photographed the cover at Berlin’s Trudelturm.