Rammstein

“Rosenrot” (Universal)

Compare to: In Extremo, KMFDM, Ministry

REVIEW: 3.5 / 5

In short: German industrial mainstays return with their fifth studio album and have brought all the fire and brimstone with them. Yes, we know they did “Du Hast,” but shut up, listen and be surprised.

Rammstein will forever be as haunted by their own music as long as the hordes of parents and puritans are still convinced that Germany’s most devastating mainstream industrial export is here to bring around the second coming of the Third Reich.

Just like the ill-fated career of the Baha Men, who never did solve that canine mystery, the late 20th century success of their single “Du Hast” relegated the German sextet to the unfortunate one-hit, novelty-act territory where they have been all but buried alive by American audiences.

Fortunately for those who stuck around, the career that followed the band has been nothing but a rewarding guilty pleasure. Their fifth studio album “Rosenrot” is a solid step in the right direction, and proof that the band has always been better than they’re given credit for.

Although the band pulls out a few new tricks, such as a half-German, half-English power ballad duet with Sharleen Spiteri and a stab at Spanish lyricism, the band still offers its signature simple-but-heavy riffs paired with huge chanted choruses and delivered within the realms of their haunting keyboard-led atmospheric backdrops.

The continuity is sure to please the band’s already loyal fans, but will do little to further their name, or their music, into the scenes that would undoubtedly enjoy it if they could look past their misconceptions.

– Dante Sacomani