martindavey87 Released in 1995, 'Herzeleid' is Rammstein's debut album, which mixes industrial metal with various electronic and dance influences, a heavy emphasis on shock value, sexual imagery and lyrical themes. The German vocals are an interesting touch, which makes it all the more surprising that they'd go on to have the success that they would.

Full of tasty guitar riffs, infectious keyboard melodies and groovy dance beats, 'Herzeleid' is a cohesive effort full of catchy songs that firmly establishes who this band are and where they're going, spearheading the Neue Deutsche Härte ("New German Hardness") movement that was sweeping across the nation.

Unfortunately, some of the tracks are a little repetitive and mundane. While tracks like 'Du Riechst So Gut', 'Heirate Mich', 'Laichzeit' and 'Wollt Ihr das Bett in Flammen Sehen' belong on any Rammstein compilation, others, such as 'Asche zu Asche', 'Seemann' and 'Rammstein' are all fairly passable.

I've struggled to write this review, with no witty one-liners or closing statements, this is just simply a good album. It's not the groups best release, but it's definitely worth picking up.

siLLy puPPy Although RAMMSTEIN was following in the footsteps of others bands like Schweisser, Oomph! and Die Krupps with their Neue Deutsche Härte (New German Hardness), a form of industrial metal, it is they alone who made it a worldwide phenomenon with their debut release HERZELEID (Heartache) by blending their take on industrial and groove metal with electronic dance music. The term “dance metal” applies here as well since almost all of the upbeat tracks have a steady 4/4 timing that makes some want to shake their booties while they bang their heads. RAMMSTEIN named their band after the town where the 2nd worst air show disaster in history occurred and is also notable for the majority of their lyrics being sung in German, an attribute that I find suits their sound quite remarkably and is a plus for me as a student of the German language.

I came to this album after all the others that followed and find this to be a bit of a proto-RAMMSTEIN. The metal riffs are here as are the electronic aspects, yet most of it is not as developed and catchy as it would become on the 2nd album “Sehnsucht.” For me the album starts off OK but doesn't catch fire until track “Du Riechst So Gut (You smell so good).” The songs are much stronger on the second half of the album and the track “Laichzeit” which means “spawning time” actually sounds like it WOULD fit in better on “Sehnsucht.” So in effect you can hear the evolution of their sound from the beginning of the album to the end. This is not my favorite RAMMSTEIN release yet I find it pleasant enough to listen to with a few strong tracks that are unlike their later work. Overall a decent release by one of the most popular bands of this subgenre.

Matt Rammstein the name is a town in West Germany that had one of the worst aviation show disasters recorded in 1988 and that is how the bands name was created. With the last track on this debut mention is given to the incident in the song titled accordingly Rammstein. Released in 1995 and produced by Jacob Hellner with a cover that only be described as something completely diiferent for a metal album. The band was founded by Richard Z Kruspe (lead guitarist) with Oliver Reidel ( Bass ),Christoph "Doom" Schneider ( Drums) and then Till Lindemann (Vocals) was quickly recruited and last to join was Christian "Flake" Lorenz ( Keyboards). They had won a Battle of the Bands, recorded a demo and then recorded their first album but what really brought the band to international attention was when the use of two tracks "Heirate mich" and "Rammstein" were chosen by Trent Reznor for the David Lynch film Lost Highway.

Richard Z Kruspe when he founded the band envisaged a sound with a mix of machines and hard guitar and that precisely is how this album commences with the first track "Wohlt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen" and although the bands name is sung in the chorus it is actually the last track Rammstein itself which is based on the disaster and why not start from there, with not actually a direct mention of the incident in the lyrics, we get a descrption of the horrific few seconds when translated to English. One great song with the usual Rammstein punch of pounding rythmn and guitar but it is a little slower in tempo and of course dramatic with the name Rammstein repeated constantly throughout and at times the tune is like some drone.Special mention for the tracks "Ashe Zu Asche" ( that will have you headbangin'), " Das Alta Leid" but "Seemann" for me does not quite work but in the albums to follow the band gets a much better grip on these type of numbers and yes, I still like the song though.

This is one original debut for the time and they had their own sound and presence with great songs as well. How could I say that this is not worth 4 stars. If 4 stars they are, then you do not mind hearing the album straight after you have just played it, as this one begins again.