Rammstein 'Reise Reise' album

Rammstein returns with the November 16 U.S. release of its fourth studio album, Reise Reise.

Rammstein returns with the November 16 U.S. release of its fourth studio album, Reise Reise. The album's first domestic single, the bilingual "Amerika" will go into rotation on MTV2's Headbangers Ball Oct. 3, while import single "Mein Teil" has already shown up on the Resident Evil: Apocalypse soundtrack as well as on Fuse's Uranium.

Recorded primarily in Spain (El Cortijo Studio, Malaga), Reise Reise (translated as Voyage, Voyage or Journey, Journey) is an album of firsts for Rammstein: the first time the group have worked on songs to which they weren't completely committed prior to entering the studio; the first time they've recorded a track with a stand-out English chorus (single/ video "Amerika") or as stripped-to-the-groove acoustic as "Los" ("Let's Go"), but most of all: the first time in a long time the recording vibe could genuinely be called relaxed. 'Fun' even.

Š Which is not to say that fans of the signature Rammstein sound defined on the previous Herzeleid (1995), Sehnsucht (1998) and Mutter (2001) won't find plenty of familiar touchstones. Produced by Jacob Hellner, who has been integral to the band's studio work since day one), the admittedly experimental Reise, Reise also features abundant raw power in the form of "Stein Um Stein," "Moskau" and first overseas single "Mein Teil," a No. 2 hit this summer from Germany to Spain-and the true tale of Armin Meiwes, a 42-year-old computer expert from Rotenburg, Central Germany who advertised on the internet for someone to eat and eventually found a willing 'dinner companion' in 43-year-old Berliner, Bernd Juergen Brandes. An appropriately disturbing clip has already seen rotation here in the U.S. on the Fuse network.

By way of contrast, Reise, Reise's first U.S. single "Amerika" showcases a much lighter side of the Rammstein psyche, while addressing much more universal subject matter. Directed by Jorn Heitmann (who helmed 2001's "Ich Will" and "Sonne" clips), "Amerika" is a tongue-in-cheek affair, in which U.S. globalization and imperialism is portrayed by Rammstein members on a moon landing that turns out to be a staged video production, juxtaposed with footage of indigenous third world cultures chanting along with the "We're all living in Amerika" chorus--the ideal tone for a song that successfully rhymes wunderbar with wonderbra. Alternately provocative and humorous, "Amerika" offers a fascinating outside perspective on U.S. commercial and governmental policy.

Rammstein's upcoming tour begins November 1 in Mannheim, Germany and includes three nights at Berlin's Velodrom, as well as arena dates in Moscow, Prague, Barcelona and Helsinki. U.S. dates should follow in 2005.

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Rammstein - Reise Reise