Albums Of The Decade: Rammstein – ‘Mutter’
Industrial-tinged metal perfection from the German revolutionaries.
Originally brought to most people’s attention when Trent Reznor selected them to have two tracks featured on David Lynch’s Lost Highway soundtrack (check out this freaky-ass video for ‘Rammstein’ from the movie itself), Rammstein started to fulfill the promise of their debut album ‘Herzeleid’ with their 2nd record, ‘Sehnsucht’. It was the album’s 2nd single ‘Du Hast’ that really started to bring people around to Rammstein’s indutrial stomping sound. Hell, they even got themselves a slot playing the track at the MTV Europe Music Awards off of the back of the track!
‘Mutter’, however, was the album on which Rammstein took everything into overdrive. The songs, the videos, that sinister edge – everything got turned up to 11.
The writing was on the wall from the second that ‘Sonne’ and it’s accompanying video preceded the album. The intensity of the countdown that gives way to the lead riff (a hulking piece of fret-work that sounds as though it could bring walls crashing down) remains one of Rammstein’s greatest moments and the S&M-tinged Snow White video is a work of pure genius.
The twisted brilliance in the band’s videos continued onto ‘Ich Will’ (uber-violent bank robbery), the album’s title-track (a sinister boat trip in which vocalist Till Lindemann visits himself…only in an underground sewer-prison), ‘Links 2-3-4′ (an army of stomping, marching ants) and ‘Feuer Frei!’ (live performance with shitloads of fire and clips from the movie, ‘xXx’).
It didn’t stop at the band’s own videos either. Mercedes used monolithic opening track ‘Mein Herz Brennt’ for this epic car advert!
Singing in their native tongue (to give that a sense of perspective, German is the 11th most spoken language in the world) and having an uncompromisingly heavy and unique sound, Rammstein have not only managed to shift records in their millions outside of their motherland, they’ve also become one of the most loved and respected metal bands on the planet.
‘Mutter’ showcases why.
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is this a joke?
I didnt realise the album was that recent, Thought it was older.
and this SERIOUSLY is considered more important or relevent than both ANY of the recent LOG albums or The Blackening? is this a fucking joke?
Its ‘ALBUMS’ of the decade peeps!! Im sure LOG and MH will get a mention later on in the series so chill out haha
I really like this album, by far their best work…cant wait for the new album!!
Actualy i COMPLETELY agree that Mutter is one of the albums of the decade and im glad Hammer recognised this.
Calm down irate posters, Hammer havnt yet got around to Machine Head and Lamb of God releases (along with many other bands) and im sure they will. Its still early days
Mutter however was groundbreaking when it came out. Before this many folks in the mainstream UK metal scene ever really knew about Rammstien was ‘Du Hast’ (with a few exceptions, the people who actualy bough Sehnsucht). When Mutter and the subsequent singles came out they literaly Exploded onto the scene and turned Rammstien into the popular name they are today. The tunes were all catchty, the singles massive and even the ‘filler’ songs like Zwitter and Adios were great.
(yes i am a massive fan, but c’mon how can you not love a band that uses more pyrotechnics and explosives each night at their shows than a small nations army could supply during an actul war)
How about by relying on their music rather than on their shiny lights? Average album. No way does it deserve that title >.>
Better this then another Slipknot album (Iowa and All Hope is Gone are bags of shit)
Oi!
This album is JUST as vital as any modern release from the big names in metal like MH or LOG.
They don’t RELY on pyros and lighting or any sort of visual display to be good, cos a CD is an AUDIO, rather than VISUAL experience! =P
Perhaps some of you aren’t so keen on industrial metal, but Rammstein have got the kick ass songs to be a good band, and their live shows are even more. Spec. Fucking. Tacular.
They deserve to headline Downlaod next year without a shadow of a doubt (Y)
Although i’m a Rammstein fan it does surprise me to see this as the next album of the decade… but more Interestingly ‘LOG’ believes ALL recent Lamb of God albums should be reviewed… now there is a real surprise.
The Blackening is so good it doesn’t even need a Feature… everyone knows that is a killer!
Thank god soneone is finally giving this album credit. Everything Rammstein has done is very good but they’ve never topped the Mutter album but if the 40 second trailer on youtube is anything to go by then we are in for a massive treat come October.
I am an LOG fan but I have to disagree with the poster under that name, I love Lamb of God but none of their albums are as spectacular as Mutter, which defined Industrial Metal as far as I am concerned.
I am sure that both Machine Head and Lamb of God will be represented later on. But I think everyone should simply appreciate this great album instead of moaning about another band not being featured.
Mutter is a fucking piece of metal history!
Powerful album from a powerful band!
Machine Head & Lamb of God won’t ever touch this band.
This album truly deserves this kind of recognition. I’ve been listening to it since I was 11 years old, I fucking love it!
such a good album love mein herz brennt and the scottish style on mutter a good choice
What! Rammstein are just awful.
first proper metal album i got was this !! its awesome
What! Gaffers is just awful.
good album.. NOT album of the decade
To all the whiners; GET A FKG LIFE! This album rules.
come on rammstein hope they play sonisphere be fucking awesome
it would definately make up for whats been happening with the line up. But its very unlikely it would happen. Anyone like Meshuggah, Gojira, KSE, Dillinger Escape Plan would be good. Mutter is a brilliant album, catchy as hell!
Amazing album
Rammstein at Sonisphere would make my day, especially after Fear Factory and Machine Head dropping out.
Also Ed, KsE definately can’t play as they have dates over Sonisphere.
Its albumS of the decade. This is just one.
An amazing album!
They’re eventually going to get to the obvious albums. In the meantime let’s enjoy the nostalgia of getting reacquainted with lesser classics.
‘Mutter’ is a good album, not my favourite album but interesting for being so widely enjoyed yet on paper seeming hilariously esoteric.
i always though rammstein were pretty under rated….and btw….iowa and all hope is gone werent “bags of shit”
*agrees with Jas*
Mutter is an awesome album, one of the ones that I heard back in school (was in sixth form at the time, i’m 24 now) that really helped me get into the whole metal/alternative scene!
Hey Bitter End. Im the same, i was treding the metal water at the time but after hearing ‘Sonne’ i picked up the lbum. Metallica, Rammstein, Iron Maiden, Slipknot and SOAD were the 5 bands that got me into metal during the 90’s and early 00’s.
And that car advert with Mein Herz Brennt was freakin awsome.
Rammstein are actually classic. This article has got me listening to them again.. for all those exclaiming IS THIS A FUCKING JOKE… get over yourselves.
Think they’re gonna open with massive albums from artists like Metallica and LoG? Some people are fucking idiots.
This is an excellent decision and is far more worthy of album of the decade than anything by Lamb of God or any offerings that Metallica have produced in the last ten years – a seriously good decision. Well done.
This album is WAY awesome. The title-track, “Mutter”, features the awesome’est riff ever (it seriously gives me goosebumps, it’s THAT sinister.)
Rammstein is an okay band, but I will agree that this album is way above their usual material.
What an absolute joke, I’m yet to hear shouts for Lateralus, Panopticon, Red Album, Leviathan, Blackwater Park, The Eye of Every Storm, Enter, Gods of the Earth, Chemical Assault…and complete nu-metal trash like this awarded a place as an ‘Album of the Decade’? Hilarious
Wtf are you guys jokin’ this cant be the most important album of the decade.
Loads of those albums you mentioned are awesome Dan but Rammstein are not nu-metal.
As for Lamb of God producing anything that rivals Mutter …just …no.
How the Hell is Rammstein Nu metal!!! HAHA. rammstein are the bomb, and they will remain being the bomb with a new album on the way
This place is amply deserved. Rammstein are gods.
Tzau: They didn’t say it was THE album of the decade, it’s under albumS of the decade.
Fool
i love how many people actually got all up theirselves there!
If you don’t like it, why are you all insisting on making that point.
nobody wanted you to listen to it
nobody said it was THEE most important album of the decade.
nobody said you were gonna like it.
and so what, Metal hammers opinion isn’t the be all and end all of the music world.
Personally I agree with them,
but hey, alotta you obviously got a ‘bee in your bonnet’ or too much free time…
This IS one of the greatest records ever created. It’s even better than most albums which are classified as “unique, artistic, great;…” This is a great choice.
Hallo Rammstein Fans.
Habe Rammstein Karten bei Fanfusion gerkauft!!
Dort gibt es Karten für Rammstein München Rammstein Leipzig Rammstein Köln Rammstein Arnheim Rammstein Frankfurt Rammstein Stuttgart Rammstein Hamburg Rammstein Rostock Rammstein Berlin.
Best.Album.Ever
Totally deserved!
This album is perfect. Completely and utterly flawless…great choice MH!
Rammtein got into my heart 1 year ago and I must say no music have ever touched me so much during my 52 years on earth!!! Thanks to Lil Exo that opened my eyes for the music that flows out of my speakers all the time now.
Well deserved – the band has the balls to sing in their own tongue and produce great tight rock songs. Inventitive and a huge step ahead of a lot of the pap around
Absolutely agree with this. I began to hear Rammstein with “Mutter” since I was 9 years old in 2001. I loved this music from the first time. This was unbelievable! So I can say,that this album is the best album of all time from Non-English seaking group ever!! All fans of Rammstein in Azerbaijan hear them since realise of “Mutter”.