Rammstein

Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band formed in Berlin in 1994. The group’s lineup—consisting of Till Lindemann (lead vocals), Richard Kruspe (lead guitar), Paul Landers (rhythm guitar), Oliver Riedel (bass), Christoph Schneider (drums), and Christian "Flake" Lorenz (keyboards)—has remained unchanged throughout their career. Their songwriting process typically involves Lindemann composing and performing lyrics to instrumental arrangements written by the rest of the band. Several members had previously played in punk rock groups such as Feeling B and First Arsch before forming Rammstein.

After winning a local competition, Rammstein recorded demos and signed with Motor Music. Working with producer Jacob Hellner, they released their debut album "Herzeleid" in 1995. Although initial sales were modest, the band gained recognition for their energetic live shows, and the album later reached number six on the German charts. Their second album, "Sehnsucht" (1997), debuted at number one in Germany and produced the hit singles "Engel" and "Du hast." The success of the album led to an extensive international tour lasting nearly four years and the release of the live album "Live aus Berlin" (1999).

After signing with Universal Music, Rammstein released "Mutter" in 2001, which yielded six singles, all charting across Europe. The lead single, "Sonne," reached number two in Germany. Their next album, "Reise, Reise" (2004), featured the successful singles "Mein Teil" and "Amerika," both peaking at number two in Germany; "Mein Teil" also became the band’s first number-one single in Spain. The band followed with "Rosenrot" (2005), whose lead single "Benzin" reached number six in Germany, and the live album "Völkerball" (2006).

Their sixth studio album, "Liebe ist für alle da" (2009), included the single "Pussy," which became their first number-one hit in Germany, partly due to its controversial explicit music video. Following this release, the band took an extended break from recording while continuing to tour and issue compilations and live albums, including "Made in Germany," "Rammstein in Amerika," and "Paris." In 2019, Rammstein returned with the single "Deutschland," which became their second number-one song in Germany. Their untitled seventh studio album, released the same year, topped charts in 14 countries. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the band wrote and recorded their eighth studio album, "Zeit," released in 2022.

Rammstein were among the first bands associated with the Neue Deutsche Härte genre, a term coined by the music press following the release of "Herzeleid." Their work has generally been well received by critics, and they have achieved significant commercial success, with multiple number-one albums and numerous gold and platinum certifications worldwide. The band is widely recognized for their elaborate live performances featuring extensive pyrotechnics. Despite their popularity, Rammstein have faced controversy over their provocative imagery and lyrical themes. The song "Ich tu dir weh" led to "Liebe ist für alle da" being temporarily placed on the German Federal Review Board for Media Harmful to Minors index due to its explicit content, prompting a re-release of the album without the track.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rammstein

Studio albums
Herzeleid (1995)
Sehnsucht (1997)
Mutter (2001)
Reise, Reise (2004)
Rosenrot (2005)
Liebe ist für alle da (2009)
Rammstein (2019)
Zeit (2022)