Rammstein: Reise, Reise

By SCOTT KARA

(Herald rating: * * * )

Rammstein have been accused of being samey. Same old metal, same old riffs, and the same old monotone German growl. On Reise Reise the band break out of their four-walled trash can and add some variety in the form of atmospherics, subtleties, and an attempt at a pop tune (albeit a failed attempt).

Rammstein are primarily a metal band, though, and no better is it portrayed than on the ferocious Keine Lust and the acoustic thud of Los - the two stand-out tracks.

The band nearly split up before making this album and the time away from each other - co-songwriter Richard Z Kruspe-Bernstein lives in New York now - has been positive. Reise Reise is a return to a more punishing, solid and confrontational sound similar to 1998's Sehnsucht, rather than the weaker Mutter from 2001.

The weak link though is second single Amerika which is the closest Rammstein get to pop music, but it is too mundane, and cheesy, to be any good. Rhyming wonderbra with Amerika sums it up.

You have to admire a band who sing entirely in German - apart from a few lines in Amerika - yet still make it into the New Zealand top 20 album charts.

We seem to love the combination of the German language with big loud guitars, heavy beats, and Rammstein's preoccupation with bondage. It's an odd formula, and not everyone's idea of easy listening but Rammstein sure have some loyal fans.

Whether they'll get any converts with this album is another story.

Label: Universal