Rammstein#Awards

{{Main|Herzeleid{{!}}Herzeleid}}

File:Rammstein logos joined.svg in 2001 and their typeface since the start of their discography.]]

{{quote box|width=23em|"I don't want to be another KISS, where people talk about makeup and stuff like that and no one talks about the music."|salign=right|source=—Richard Kruspe{{cite web|last1=Kruspe|first1=Richard Z.|title=Rammstein Guitarist: "I Don't Want to be Another KISS."|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/12/18/rammstein-guitarist-i-dont-want-to-be-another-kiss/|website=MetalSucks|date=18 December 2018|access-date=7 July 2019}}}}

In 1989, East German guitarist Richard Kruspe escaped to West Berlin and started the band Orgasm Death Gimmick. At that time, he was heavily influenced by US music, especially of hard rock band Kiss. After the Berlin Wall came down, he moved back home to Schwerin, where Till Lindemann worked as a basket-weaver and played drums in the band First Arsch (loosely translated as "First Arse" or "First Ass"). At this time, Kruspe lived with Oliver Riedel of The Inchtabokatables and Christoph Schneider of Die Firma.

In 1992, Kruspe made his first trip to the United States with Till Lindemann and Oliver "Ollie" Riedel. He realized that he did not want to make US music and concentrated on creating a unique German sound. Kruspe, Riedel and Schneider started working together on a new project in 1993. Finding it difficult to write both music and lyrics, Kruspe persuaded Lindemann, whom he had overheard singing while he was working, to join the fledgling group.

The band co-existed with the members' previous projects for about a year and a half. Members would invest the money raised with Feeling B shows in new project. They recorded their first songs in a building that had been squatted by Feeling B frontman Aljoscha Rompe. A contest was held in Berlin for amateur bands in 1994, the winner of which would receive access to a professional recording studio for a whole week. Kruspe, Riedel, Schneider, and Lindemann entered and won the contest with a 4-track demo tape with demo versions of songs from Herzeleid, written in English. This sparked Paul Landers' attention, who wanted in on the project upon hearing their demo. To complete their sound, Rammstein attempted to recruit Christian "Flake" Lorenz, who had played with Landers in Feeling B. Though initially hesitant, Lorenz eventually agreed to join the band.

Up to that point, the band was called Tempelprayers.{{Cite web |title=Rammstein: Sons of East German punk – DW – 07/26/2019 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/rammstein-sons-of-east-german-punk/a-49746002 |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=dw.com |language=en}} The name Rammstein comes from an early idea of Schneider, Flake and Paul. They called themselves Rammstein-Flugschau (Rammstein Airshow){{cite news|last1=Pilz|first1=Michael|title=Rammstein oder der Triumph des Brüllens|url=https://www.welt.de/kultur/pop/article115889518/Rammstein-oder-der-Triumph-des-Bruellens.html|access-date=27 June 2015|work=Die Welt|date=5 May 2013}} after the 1988 Ramstein air show disaster. They had that name already written inside their Robur LO during their time in Feeling B. Guitarist Paul Landers said the spelling of Ramstein with the extra "m" was a mistake.{{cite book|title=Feeling B. Mix mir einen Drink |publisher=Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf |first1=Ronald|last1=Galenza|first2=Heinz |last2=Havemeister |year= 2002|page=262 |isbn= 3-89602-418-3|location=Berlin}} After the band became popular, the band members denied the connection to the air show disaster and said that their name was inspired by the giant doorstop-type devices found on old gates, called Rammsteine.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK8EQqH1IM8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/MK8EQqH1IM8| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Rammstein – Who are they? (Full interview with English subtitles)|date=30 August 2012|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The extra "m" in the band's name makes it translate literally as "ramming stone".{{cite web |last1=Everley |first1=Dave |title=Rammstein: The birth of a legend |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/rammstein-the-birth-of-a-legend |website=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=8 January 2021 |date=4 July 2019}} In a 2019 feature, Metal Hammer explained that the band was named after one of their earliest songs, "Ramstein", written after the air show disaster at the American airbase in Ramstein. According to the band, people started to refer to them as "the band with the 'Ramstein song'" and later as the "Ramstein band". Before agreeing on "Rammstein" name, the band also had other names in mind: Milch (milk), Erde (earth) or Mutter (mother).{{cite book|title=Feeling B. Mix mir einen Drink |publisher=Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf |first1=Ronald|last1=Galenza|first2=Heinz |last2=Havemeister |year= 2002|page=377 |isbn= 3-89602-418-3|location=Berlin}}

Later, Rammstein was signed by Motor Music. Rammstein began to record their first studio album, Herzeleid, in March 1995 with producer Jacob Hellner.{{cite web |url= http://www.rammstein.com/_Voelkerball/Band/Timeline/T1995/ |title= Rammstein :: Band :: Timeline |access-date= 21 June 2008 |publisher= Rammstein.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080613205805/http://www.rammstein.com/_Voelkerball/Band/Timeline/T1995/ |archive-date= 13 June 2008}} They released their first single "Du riechst so gut" that August and released the album in September. Throughout October, the newly minted band gathered their first few significant waves of fans while opening 15 shows across Germany for Project Pitchfork.{{cite web |last1=Coldheart |first1=Stef |title=Project Pitchfork: Great bands can be really great bastards |url=http://www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be/en/interviews/project-pitchfork-2016/ |website=Peek-a-boo Music Magazine |accessdate=8 October 2024 |date=6 May 2016}}{{cite web |title=Project Pitchfork Tour 1995

|url=https://www.rammstein.de/en/history/projectpitchforktour1995/ |website=rammstein.de |access-date=8 October 2024 |date=14 October 1995}} Later in that November, they opened two shows for Clawfinger in Warsaw and Prague.{{cite web |title=Clawfinger Tour 1995

|url=https://www.rammstein.de/en/history/clawfingertour1995/ |website=rammstein.de |access-date=8 October 2024 |date=27 November 1995}} In December, they headlined a 17-show tour of Germany which helped expand the fanbase they had initially established while opening for Project Pitchfork and Clawfinger. This helped to boost the band's popularity and establish them as a credible live act. They went on several tours throughout early 1996, releasing their second single titled "Seemann" on 8 January. On 27 March 1996, Rammstein performed on MTV's Hanging Out in London, their first performance in the UK. Their first major boost in popularity outside Germany came when Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor chose two Rammstein songs, "Heirate mich" and "Rammstein", during his work as music director for the David Lynch 1997 film Lost Highway. The soundtrack for the film was released in the U.S. in late 1996 and later throughout Europe in April 1997. In the middle of 1996, they headlined one tour of their own in small, sold-out venues. Rammstein went on to tour through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from September to October 1996, performing an anniversary concert on 27 September called "100 years of Rammstein". Guests to the concert included Moby, Bobo, and the Berlin Session Orchestra, while Berlin director Gert Hof was responsible for the light show.

{{Main|Sehnsucht (Rammstein album){{!}}Sehnsucht (Rammstein album)|Live aus Berlin{{!}}Live aus Berlin}}

Rammstein started recording Sehnsucht in November 1996 at the Temple Studios in Malta.{{cite web |url= http://www.rammstein.com/_Voelkerball/Band/Timeline/T1996/ |title= Rammstein :: Band :: Timeline |access-date= 21 June 2008 |publisher= Rammstein.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080613205810/http://www.rammstein.com/_Voelkerball/Band/Timeline/T1996/ |archive-date= 13 June 2008}} The album was again produced by Jacob Hellner. "Engel", the first single from the album, was released on 1 April 1997 and reached gold status in Germany on 23 May. This prompted the release of a fan edition of the single, named Engel – Fan Edition. This contained two previously unreleased songs, "Feuerräder" and "Wilder Wein". Release of the second single from the album Sehnsucht was "Du hast", which hit the German single charts in August 1997 at No. 5. Rammstein then continued touring in the summer while Sehnsucht was released on 22 August 1997. The album reached No. 1 in Germany after two weeks in the charts. Simultaneously, Herzeleid and both Sehnsucht singles ("Du hast" and "Engel") were in the Top 20 of the German charts. Rammstein continued to headline sold-out shows throughout Europe in September and October. On 5 December 1997, they embarked on their first tour of the United States as the opening act for KMFDM. In July 1998, the band released a cover of the song "Stripped", originally released by Depeche Mode in early 1986; it was included on the tribute album For the Masses, the Rammstein version obtained moderate success in Germany and Austria.

On 22–23 August 1998, Rammstein played to over 17,000 fans at the Wuhlheide in Berlin, the biggest show the band had played there up to that date. Supporting acts were Danzig, Nina Hagen, Joachim Witt and Alaska.{{cite web |url= http://www.rammstein.de/en/rammstein |title= History-Rammstein |access-date= 26 March 2015 |publisher= Rammstein.de |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150327020900/http://www.rammstein.de/en/rammstein |archive-date=27 March 2015}} The show was professionally filmed, intended to be released on their upcoming live DVD, Live aus Berlin. Rammstein embarked on a live tour with Korn, Ice Cube, Orgy and Limp Bizkit called the Family Values Tour in September through to late October 1998. Continuing their success in the US, Sehnsucht received Gold record status there on 2 November. The band was nominated at the MTV European Music Awards for Best Rock Act and performed "Du hast" live on 12 November that year.

Rammstein had further success in 1999, starting in February with a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. A year after it was filmed, the Live aus Berlin concert was released on CD on 30 August 1999, with a limited edition double CD also available. Two weeks after it was released, Live aus Berlin went to No. 2 in the German Album Charts. On 13 September and 26 November 1999, the video and DVD versions of the concert were released respectively. Further popularity ensued when "Du hast" was included in The Matrix: Music from the Motion Picture.

{{Main|Mutter (album){{!}}Mutter (album)}}

Rammstein's album Mutter was recorded in the south of France in May and June 2000, and mixed in Stockholm in October of that year. During December 2000, Rammstein released an MP3 version of "Links 2-3-4" as a teaser for their new album. 2001 was a busy year for Rammstein, as the band needed to finish off the Sehnsucht Tour ending in January and February with the band playing the Big Day Out festival in Australia and New Zealand and some concerts in Japan. January also heralded the shooting of the video for their upcoming single, "Sonne", recorded in Potsdam at Babelsberger Filmstudios from 13 to 15 January 2001. The video was released on 29 January 2001. The single for "Sonne" was released on 12 February 2001 in Europe, featuring an instrumental version of the song, two remixes by Clawfinger and the song "Adios" from the upcoming album.

Mutter was released on 2 April 2001, sparking another Rammstein tour through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. On 14 May, the second single from the album, "Links 2 3 4", was released, along with a video of the single on 18 May. After a tour throughout Europe in June, the band then toured the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June to August 2001. "Ich will", the third single from the album, was released on 10 September 2001 and a Tour edition of the Mutter album (the cover of which is red){{cite web |url=http://www.gidipi.com/Mutter-Limited-Tour-Edition-2001-2-CD_30.html |title=Mutter Limited Tour Edition 2001 – 2 CD – Rammstein | Download Rapidshare Megaupload Hotfile Music |publisher=gidipi |date=14 January 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110401172220/http://www.gidipi.com/Mutter-Limited-Tour-Edition-2001-2-CD_30.html |archive-date=1 April 2011}} was released, featuring alternative artwork and live versions of "Ich will", "Links 2 3 4", "Sonne" and "Spieluhr".

From 8 to 12 January 2002, Rammstein traveled to Prague to participate in a minor scene for the film XXX. The band is seen in the opening scene, performing their song "Feuer frei!" in a concert. "Feuer frei!" was released across Europe as the first single from the XXX soundtrack on 14 October 2002. Rammstein released two remixes of the song. Furthermore, the single's track listing included "Du hast" and "Bück dich" cover versions by Battery. The video for the single was edited by Rob Cohen and contains part of Rammstein's performance at the beginning of the film and part snippets from the film itself.

{{Main|Reise, Reise{{!}}Reise, Reise|Rosenrot{{!}}Rosenrot|Völkerball{{!}}Völkerball}}

Rammstein recorded Reise, Reise (meaning "journey, journey", or as a command "travel, travel", but also an archaic Reveille) at the El Cortijo studio in southern Spain in November and December 2003; it was mixed at Toytown studio in Stockholm, Sweden in April and May 2004. The first single from the album was "Mein Teil", released on 26 July. The video was shot in the Arena, in the Treptow district of Berlin. Outdoor shooting took place at the Deutsche Oper (Opera House) U-Bahn station on Bismarckstrasse. The director was Zoran Bihac, who also filmed the "Links 2 3 4" video. The video for the second single, "Amerika", was filmed on 6 and 7 August 2004 in the ruins of the former cement works in Rüdersdorf, near Berlin, under the direction of Jörn Heitmann (who also directed the "Ich Will" music video, among others). The space suits for the Moon scenes were borrowed from Hollywood and 240 tons of ash were needed to create the Moon landscape. The video premiered on 20 August, while the single was released on 13 September.

File:Rammstein&Apocalyptica.jpg in 2005]]

Reise, Reise was released on 27 September 2004 and went straight into top 10 charts throughout Europe. According to the Billboard charts, Rammstein were at that stage the most successful German-language band of all time. Rammstein toured Germany through November and some of December 2004, releasing the single "Ohne dich" on 22 November. In February 2005, Rammstein toured Europe again. By 28 February, Rammstein had played 21 concerts in front of more than 200,000 spectators in ten countries. It was on this tour that the band was faced with several lawsuits resulting from severe fire breathing accidents involving audience members. "Keine Lust" the fourth single from Reise, Reise, was released on 28 February 2005. From 27 May to 30 July 2005, Rammstein played music festivals across Europe. Footage from these concerts can be seen on Rammstein's live DVD Völkerball, released in November 2006.

In August 2005, Rammstein revealed that the follow-up album to Reise, Reise would be called Rosenrot. Their first single from the album, "Benzin", was released on 5 October, with its video premiere on 16 September. Rosenrot was released worldwide on 28 October. Directly following the release, the album continued the success of its predecessor, Reise, Reise, placing on top 10 charts in 20 countries. 16 December 2005 marked the release of the title track on Rosenrot. The video for "Mann gegen Mann" was released on 6 February 2006, with the single being released on 3 March. On 19 February 2006, Rammstein had an asteroid named after them, 110393 Rammstein.{{cite web|title=110393 Rammstein, 2001 TC8|url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=110393+Rammstein#content|publisher=NASA|access-date=10 February 2015}}

On 17 November, the first Rammstein Live DVD since Live aus Berlin from 1998 was released. Völkerball shows concert performances by the band in England, France, Japan and Russia. The Special Edition is extended by a second DVD, which contains the documentaries "Anaconda in the net" by Mathilde Bonnefoy and the "Making of the album Reise, Reise" by the band's guitarist Paul Landers. The limited edition was released as a large black-and-white photo-book with photos by Frederic Batier, who had accompanied the band through their recent tours. The photo-book edition contains two DVDs and two live albums.

{{Main|Liebe ist für alle da{{!}}Liebe ist für alle da}}

File:RichardZK.JPG in 2011]]

The band took a hiatus in 2006 and began work again in 2007. The recording process reportedly took two years. In July 2009, the title track "Liebe ist für alle da" leaked onto the internet, along with promotional materials. This led Universal Music to take action against certain fan sites."[http://www.alt-uk.net/2009/07/20/new-rammstein-song-liebe-ist-fur-alle-da-leaked/ New Rammstein Song 'Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da' Leaked]". Alt-UK, 20 July 2009."[http://herzeleid.com/ What's going on?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050211115955/http://herzeleid.com/ |date=11 February 2005}}". Herzeleid.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009. It was confirmed in August 2009 that the new album would have 11 tracks,{{cite web |url=http://www.rammstein.de/blog/lang/en/ |title=Rammstein Official Website News Confirms 11 Tracks |access-date=15 August 2009 |archive-date=16 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816210455/http://www.rammstein.de/blog/lang/en/ |url-status=dead}} and mixing of the album – which was taking place in Stockholm – had been completed.{{cite web |url=http://www.rammstein.de/blog/lang/en/ |title=Rammstein Official Website News Confirms Mixing Has Finished |access-date=15 August 2009 |archive-date=16 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816210455/http://www.rammstein.de/blog/lang/en/ |url-status=dead}} On 1 September 2009, it was confirmed on the band's website that "Pussy" would be the first single from the album. On the same day, The Gauntlet posted a promotional video for it. The video also confirmed the album title, Liebe ist für alle da. Later, the title was confirmed again in an interview with Paul Landers for RockOne magazine. The music video for "Pussy" was released on 16 September 2009, at 20:30 GMT, released especially for the adult website Visit-x.{{cite web |url=http://www.visit-x.net/rammstein |title=Rammstein presents Pussy |access-date=16 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124164141/http://www.visit-x.net/rammstein |archive-date=24 January 2010 |url-status=dead}} The video contains graphic scenes of male and female nudity as well as women engaging in sexual acts with the band members, although the actual sex scenes were performed by body doubles.{{cite web|url=http://www.20min.ch/unterhaltung/sounds/story/28765113 |title=Rammstein: "Wir hatten keinen Sex" |website=20 Minuten|date=14 October 2009}} The women featured in the video are German pornographic stars.{{cite web |title=Rammstein |work=Hustler Magazine |url=http://www.hustlermagazine.com/features/band-interviews/rammstein |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929015329/http://www.hustlermagazine.com/features/band-interviews/rammstein |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2010}} Metal Hammer released an edited version of the video onto their website.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/the-rammstein-video-described-for-those-at-work/|title=Metal Hammer Work Safe 'Pussy' synopsis The Rammstein video described for those at work|access-date=8 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925211502/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/the-rammstein-video-described-for-those-at-work/|archive-date=25 September 2010}}

"Ich tu dir weh" was confirmed as the second single from the album by Landers and Lorenz in an interview for Radio Eins. Although censorship of the song in Germany prohibits any advertisement, broadcast or public display, the video to "Ich tu dir weh" was released on 21 December 2009 on the adult website Visit-x, just like the video to "Pussy", after advertisement on the band's official German website; it depicts the band on stage in a similar configuration as on their 2009/10 tour. Any references to the video on the official website have since been deleted. In Europe, the single was released on 15 January 2010, and in the U.S. on 19 January 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.rammstein-austria.com |title=Die Rammsteinseite Nr.1 |publisher=Rammstein Austria |access-date=21 July 2011}} Like the video "Pussy," this video was also directed by Jonas Åkerlund. On 23 April 2010, Rammstein released their video "Haifisch" on the band's MySpace page. Unlike the video for "Ich tu dir weh", it contains more of a narrative rather than a performance.{{cite web |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/rammstein-haifisch-video-released/ |title=Rammstein: 'Haifisch' Video Released |date=23 April 2010 |publisher=blabbermouth.net |access-date=8 September 2010}} The single was released during May and June 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/307/18972/Rammstein-tracklisting-for-Haifisch-single-revealed.html |title=Rammstein tracklisting for Haifisch single revealed |access-date=8 September 2010 |archive-date=7 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507015846/http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/307/18972/Rammstein-tracklisting-for-Haifisch-single-revealed.html |url-status=dead }}

File:Rammstein Live at Madison Square Garden.jpg" in Madison Square Garden in New York City, December 2010]]

On 8 November 2009, Rammstein began the first leg of the Liebe ist für alle da Tour in Lisbon, Portugal. As part of their European summer tour, Rammstein performed at the 2010 Rock AM Ring Festival on 4–6 June 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/rammstein-confirmed-for-rock-am-ring/ |title=Rammstein confirmed for Rock am Ring |publisher=Metalhammer.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610173043/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/rammstein-confirmed-for-rock-am-ring/ |archive-date=10 June 2013}} They also headlined several shows across Europe on the Sonisphere Festival, including their first ever outdoor UK performance at Knebworth Park, performing the day before Iron Maiden. On Sunday 18 July 2010, Rammstein played in front of more than 130,000 people in Quebec City on the Plains of Abraham as the closing show for the Festival d'été de Québec. It was their first North American appearance in nine years. The band announced that their last tour dates of 2010 were to be in the Americas. After several South American dates, the band returned to the United States for a single show at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York City – their first US show in over ten years. The tickets sold out in a very short time (under 20 minutes).

They also performed at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada on 9 December. This concert sold out within the first hour of tickets going on sale, indicating a high demand to see Rammstein in North America. The band then played at Big Day Out 2011 from 21 January to 6 February in New Zealand and Australia. The band also visited South Africa for the first time in early 2011 and played two sold-out concerts in Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively, indicating another territory eager for the opportunity to enjoy the band live. On 16 February 2011, Rammstein announced that, after the massive success of their sold out Madison Square Garden show on 11 December 2010, they would be touring North America after ten years.

Rammstein played in New Jersey (East Rutherford) Izod Center, Montreal Bell Centre, Toronto Air Canada Centre, Chicago Allstate Arena, Edmonton Rexall Place, Seattle Tacoma Dome, San Francisco (Oakland) Oracle Arena, Los Angeles The Forum, and Las Vegas Thomas and Mack Center, Mexico City's Palacio de los Deportes, Guadalajara's Arena VFG, and Monterrey's Auditorio Banamex to a total of six US dates, three Canadian dates, and four Mexican dates. Tickets went on sale 25 and 26 February to great response, with many shows completely selling out, making this tour a complete success. On 20 April 2011, the band also won the Revolver Golden God Award for Best Live Band, their first US award.

{{Main|Made in Germany 1995–2011{{!}}Made in Germany 1995–2011|Rammstein in Amerika{{!}}Rammstein in Amerika|Rammstein: Paris{{!}}Rammstein: Paris}}

File:Rammstein2012.jpg

Rammstein released a greatest hits album titled Made in Germany 1995–2011 on 2 December 2011. It contains one previously unreleased track, "Mein Land" which was released as a single on 11 November 2011 with another track, "Vergiss uns nicht", that was released at a later date. The compilation is available in three different editions: The standard edition; this includes a CD with normal songs from their back catalog. Special edition; has the same CD from the standard edition and an extra CD with Rammstein songs that have been remixed by different artists such as Scooter. Finally, the super deluxe edition; has the two previously mentioned CDs and three DVDs with interviews and the making of videos from different music videos. The video for the song "Mein Land" was filmed on 23 May 2011 at Sycamore Beach in Malibu, California. It premiered on the band's official website on 11 November 2011. A full European tour in support of Made in Germany began in November 2011 and spanned all the way to May 2012. It included a North American tour that began on 20 April 2012 in Sunrise, Florida and ended on 25 May 2012 in Houston, Texas that visited 21 cities throughout the US and Canada. The Swedish industrial band Deathstars supported the band during the first two legs of the European tour.{{cite web |url=http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/ankundigung-nord-amerika-tour-2012-en-announcement-north-american-tour-2012 |title=Ankündigung: Nord Amerika Tour 2012 |publisher=Rammstein.de |access-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304145641/http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/ankundigung-nord-amerika-tour-2012-en-announcement-north-american-tour-2012/ |archive-date=4 March 2012}} DJ Joe Letz from Combichrist and Emigrate was the opening act for the North American Tour.

Rammstein, minus Till Lindemann, performed "The Beautiful People" with Marilyn Manson at the Echo Awards on 22 March 2012. On 21 September 2012, it was announced that Rammstein would be headlining Download Festival 2013, along with Iron Maiden and Slipknot. Twelve additional festival performances for summer 2013 were announced the same day, including Wacken Open Air festival and Rock Werchter.{{cite web |url=http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/rammstein-bestatigen-festivals-2013/ |title=Rammstein confirm festivals in 2013!? |publisher=Rammstein.de |access-date=13 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126010030/http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/rammstein-bestatigen-festivals-2013/ |archive-date=26 November 2012}} Rammstein announced new tour dates starting for spring 2013 in Europe,{{cite web |url=http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/rammstein-bestatigt-weitere-shows-2013/ |title=Rammstein confirms additional shows for 2013! |publisher=Rammstein.de |date=22 November 2012 |access-date=13 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119162348/http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/rammstein-bestatigt-weitere-shows-2013/ |archive-date=19 November 2012}} including a 2-day return to Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide, the location of their first (official) live DVD, Live Aus Berlin.{{cite web |url=http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/rammstein-live-in-berlin-2013/ |title= Rammstein live in Berlin 2013! |publisher=Rammstein.de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204141222/http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/rammstein-live-in-berlin-2013/ |archive-date=4 December 2012}} On 22 November 2012, Rammstein announced via Facebook that they will be releasing a video collection featuring all music videos entitled Videos 1995–2012, plus two unreleased music videos for "Mein Herz Brennt", originally featured on the album Mutter. The first video premiered on the band's Vimeo, while the second premiered on a promotional website. Both videos were directed by Zoran Bihac.{{cite web |url=http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/videopremiere-mein-herz-brennt-explicit-version/ |title=Video Premiere 'Mein Herz brennt' (Explicit Version) |publisher=Rammstein.de |access-date=13 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602042059/http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/videopremiere-mein-herz-brennt-explicit-version/ |archive-date=2 June 2013}} The first was released on 7 December 2012, and featured the newly recorded piano version of "Mein Herz Brennt". A single of the song was released on the same day, which included an edited version of the original and a new song titled 'Gib Mir Deine Augen' as a b-side.{{cite web |url=http://en.affenknecht.com/mein-herz-brennt-singlevideoclip-finally-confirmed/ |title=Mein Herz Brennt Single/videoclip Finally Confirmed |publisher=En.affenknecht.com |access-date=13 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117232637/http://en.affenknecht.com/mein-herz-brennt-singlevideoclip-finally-confirmed/ |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead}} The explicit version's video leaked onto the internet on 11 December 2012 but was officially released on 14 December, in conjunction with the video collection DVD.{{cite web|title=Single: "Mein Herz Brennt" + Video Collection|url=http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/single-mein-herz-brennt-videokollektion/|publisher=Rammstein.de|access-date=22 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213230121/http://www.rammstein.de/en/news/single-mein-herz-brennt-videokollektion/|archive-date=13 December 2012}}

In July 2013, guitarist Paul Landers revealed in an interview the possibility of a Rammstein documentary and a live DVD. He indicated that the band may "start thinking" about a new album in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.ouest-france.fr/actu/actuDet_-Vieilles-Charrues.-Rammstein-pret-a-enflammer-Carhaix_6346-2212170_actu.Htm |title=Vieilles Charrues. Rammstein prêt à enflammer Carhaix |language=fr |publisher=Ouest-france.fr |date=15 October 2013 |access-date=25 February 2014}} In September 2014, band co-founder Richard Kruspe (then working with his side band, Emigrate{{cite web|title=Rammstein Guitarist's Emigrate: More 'Silent So Long' Album Details Revealed|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rammstein-guitarists-emigrate-more-silent-so-long-album-details-revealed/|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=13 September 2014|date=28 August 2014}}) said the band was preparing some more live DVDs and that they were taking some time off from the studio. The band would meet again in 2015 to decide if the time was right to return to the studio.{{cite web|title=Richard Kruspe on the future of Rammstein|url=http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/videos/2014-09-11/richard-kruspe-on-the-future-of-rammstein|website=Metal Hammer|publisher=Team Rock|access-date=13 September 2014|date=11 September 2014}} In May 2015, Lindemann confirmed in an interview with MusikUniverse that Rammstein would start pre-production on a possible new album in September of that year, and that production would most likely go on until 2017.{{cite interview |title=Lindemann – Interview 2015 – (Till and Peter) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1oLtEpNf90 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904013734/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1oLtEpNf90| archive-date=4 September 2015|date=14 May 2015 |work=www.musikuniverse.mu}} According to Peter Tägtgren – who works with frontman Till Lindemann on their side-project Lindemann – Till would be regrouping with his Rammstein bandmates later in 2015 to start pre-production on a new full-length album, which normally takes two years to be released.{{cite web|last1=Barkan|first1=Jonathan|title=[Interview] Peter Tägtgren on Lindemann: "It's A Party Album"|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3346752/interview-peter-tagtgren-lindemann-party-album/|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=24 June 2015|date=27 May 2015}}

In early August 2015, Rammstein released a trailer for an upcoming project, titled "In Amerika".{{cite magazine |url=http://www.kerrang.com/34424/rammstein-tease-mysterious-amerika-release/ |title=Rammstein Tease Mysterious In Amerika Release |magazine=Kerrang! |date=6 August 2015 |access-date=14 April 2017}} On 15 August, the band announced Rammstein in Amerika, a video release that includes a 2010 concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City and a documentary made from archived footage recorded during the band's career.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rammstein-announce-in-amerika-documentary-concert-film-20150815 |title=Rammstein Announce 'In Amerika' Documentary, Concert Film |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=15 August 2015 |access-date=14 April 2017 |archive-date=15 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415104010/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rammstein-announce-in-amerika-documentary-concert-film-20150815 |url-status=dead }} Rammstein played several festivals in Europe and North America during 2016,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.de/waldbuehnen-premiere-rammstein-treten-im-juli-zweimal-in-berlin-auf-1006143/ |title=Waldbühnen-Premiere: Rammstein treten im Juli zweimal in Berlin auf |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=13 April 2016 |access-date=14 April 2017}} and in November announced plans to perform at a similar string of European festivals in 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.antimusic.com/news/16/November/23Rammstein_Announce_2017_Tour_Dates.shtml |title=Rammstein Announce 2017 Tour Dates |publisher=Antimusic.com |date=23 November 2016 |access-date=14 April 2017}} On 18 January 2017 Rammstein announced a new live video release titled Paris, a recording of a March 2012 concert that took place at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris.{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rammstein-to-release-paris-dvd-blu-ray-first-trailer-available/ |title=Rammstein To Release 'Paris' DVD, Blu-Ray; First Trailer Available |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=18 January 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017}} It premiered on 23 March in selected cinemas,{{cite news |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rammstein-paris-documentary-getting-theatrical-release/ |title=Rammstein's 'Paris' Documentary Getting Theatrical Release |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=20 January 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017}} and was released worldwide on DVD/Blu-ray and CD on 19 May 2017.{{cite magazine |url=http://loudwire.com/rammstein-paris-concert-film-album/ |title=Rammstein to Unleash 'Rammstein: Paris' Concert Film + Album on May 19 |magazine=Loudwire |date=24 March 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017}}

{{Main|Untitled Rammstein album|Zeit (Rammstein album){{!}}Zeit (Rammstein album)}}

In an interview in March 2017, Richard Kruspe said that Rammstein had about 35 new songs that were close to completion, though the release date of the band's seventh studio album was still an open question.{{cite magazine |url=http://loudwire.com/rammstein-35-songs-almost-finished-next-album/ |title=Rammstein Have '35 Songs Almost Finished' In Preparation For Next Album |magazine=Loudwire |date=27 March 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017}} In May, Rammstein started touring once again. Also in May, it was revealed that Sky van Hoff would be working with the band on their next album.{{cite web|url=http://skyvanhoff.com/2017/05/10/rammstein/|title=Rammstein – Sky Van Hoff|website=Skyvanhoff.com|access-date=29 May 2017|archive-date=23 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523114250/http://skyvanhoff.com/2017/05/10/rammstein/|url-status=dead}} On 18 June 2018, it was announced via StubHub's ticketing website that Rammstein would play songs at their Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, show from their forthcoming album, then set for release late in 2018.{{cite magazine |url=http://loudwire.com/report-rammstein-new-album-2018/|title=Rammstein To Release New Album In 2018|magazine=Loudwire|access-date=19 June 2018}} On 17 September 2018, the band announced through Facebook that they were "almost done" recording the album, as they were recording orchestra and choirs in Minsk.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/Rammstein/posts/10156300235537713?__xts__[0]=68.ARDGve-QJHh_O2QWgdsnVsplJwXnE0APRbyP4ai6v7pEQvtcoBcO8sZkHwx7LwUY_6r3zVJVTlujOx0PgkbatwZRWb-2DfZOIQ6rBOailj9ME83bLxnR-nO5ZC3WHMwGG4HAsiexocARtO1tXgjfiX4hrse2hXqWcYf8hjNbVCc_iicsjWyo3ls&__tn__=-R/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/22330837712/10156300235537713 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Almost done! Orchestra and choir recordings in Minsk for album No. 7!|website=Facebook|access-date=17 September 2018}}{{cbignore}} On 2 January 2019, guitarist Richard Kruspe announced that the recording of the album wrapped in November 2018 and that the record would be released in April 2019, along with five music videos.{{cite web |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/rammstein-will-release-five-music-videos-from-the-new-album/|title=Rammstein Will Release Five Music Videos From The New Album|date=2 January 2019 |access-date=2 January 2019}}

File:Scene in blue light during Rammstein concert in Luzhniki.jpg on 29 July 2019]]

Rammstein released the first single from their seventh album, "Deutschland", on 28 March 2019{{cite web |url=https://www.Rammstein.com|title=Deutschland|access-date=28 March 2019}} and announced the release date of their untitled seventh studio album, 17 May 2019. Rammstein also revealed the album cover which consisted of a single, unlit match which fans say represents their love of fire and simplicity.{{cite web | url = https://www.rawmusictv.com/article/amp/2019/What-does-Rammsteins-new-Matchstick-album-artwork-actually-mean-and-symbolise | title = What does Rammstein's new 'Matchstick' album artwork actually mean and symbolise | date = 26 April 2019 | access-date = 26 April 2019 | df = mdy-all}} On 26 April 2019, Rammstein released the second single from the new album, "Radio". Shortly after its release, the album reached No. 1 in fourteen different countries.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8513708/universal-music-germany-rammstein-untitled-album |title=Universal Music Germany Salutes Rammstein as Band's First Studio Album in Decade Sets Records |last=Spahr |first=Wolfgang |date=30 May 2019 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=4 June 2019}} On 28 May 2019, Rammstein released their third single and music video from the album, this time for "Ausländer".{{cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2019/05/29/rammstein-unleash-auslander-music-video/|title=Rammstein unleash 'Ausländer' Music Video|date=28 May 2019|website=Wall Of Sound|language=en-US|access-date=28 May 2019}} The band embarked on their Stadium Tour to support the album, beginning in May 2019. They were due to play shows in Europe and North America in 2020, but were forced to postpone them due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the two continents. The dates first were rescheduled for 2021{{cite web |date=19 May 2020 |title=Europe stadium tour rescheduled to 2021 |url=http://rammstein.de/en/europe-stadium-tour-rescheduled-to-2021 |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=rammstein.de |archive-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520125510/http://rammstein.de/en/europe-stadium-tour-rescheduled-to-2021/ |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |date=16 July 2020 |title=North America stadium tour rescheduled to 2021 |url=http://rammstein.de/en/north-america-stadium-tour-rescheduled-to-2021/ |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=rammstein.de |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717190029/http://rammstein.de/en/north-america-stadium-tour-rescheduled-to-2021/ |url-status=dead}} and, in March 2021, again rescheduled to 2022.{{Cite web |title=Europe stadium tour postponed again to 2022 |url=http://rammstein.de/en/news/europe-stadium-tour-postponed-again-to-2022 |date=24 March 2021 |website=rammstein.de |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=North America stadium tour rescheduled to 2022 |url=http://rammstein.de/en/news/north-america-stadium-tour-rescheduled-to-2022-two-new-shows-announced |date=24 May 2021 |website=rammstein.de |language=en}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the band to remain sheltered during a lockdown in Germany, the band returned to writing music, which Christoph Schneider confirmed in a German podcast.{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Spencer |date=15 June 2020 |title=Rammstein Working on New Songs While in Lockdown |url=https://consequence.net/2020/06/rammstein-working-new-songs-lockdown/ |access-date=20 February 2022 |website=Consequence}} It was reported in September 2020 that they had returned to La Fabrique Studios in France, where they recorded their untitled seventh album, to record new music, potentially for a new album.{{cite web |last=Hadusek |first=Jon |date=15 September 2020 |title=Rammstein Are in Studio Recording New Music: Report |url=https://consequence.net/2020/09/rammstein-recording-in-studio/ |access-date=20 February 2022 |website=Consequence}} On 25 September, the 25th anniversary of their debut album Herzeleid, they announced a remastered anniversary edition for the album, for release on 4 December. The release was made available both digitally and physically, as a CD housed in a digipak as well as a double heavyweight, colored vinyl.{{cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |date=25 September 2020 |title=Rammstein announce 25th anniversary edition of 'Herzeleid' debut album |url=https://loudwire.com/rammstein-25th-anniversary-edition-herzeleid-debut-album/ |access-date=4 October 2020 |website=Loudwire}}

In February 2021, Flake Lorenz confirmed to Motor Music that the band had finished recording an eighth studio album. Lorenz stated that the recording sessions were unplanned and that the quarantine caused by the pandemic allowed for "less distraction" and "more time to think of new things".{{cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Spencer |date=28 February 2021 |title=Rammstein Recorded a New Album They "Hadn't Planned On" During Lockdown |url=https://consequence.net/2021/02/rammstein-recorded-new-album-during-lockdown/ |access-date=20 February 2022 |website=Consequence}} In October 2021, a song from the album was premiered on the International Space Station to French astronaut Thomas Pesquet.{{cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Alex |date=28 October 2021 |title=Rammstein premiere new song to astronaut onboard International Space Station |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/rammstein-premiere-new-song-astronaut-international-space-station-3081140 |access-date=21 November 2021 |website=NME}} According to composer Sven Helbig, who worked on the album, the album's release had been delayed due to the 2021–2023 global supply chain crisis, which impacted the album's physical releases.{{Cite web |last=Hadusek |first=Jon |date=16 February 2022 |title=Rammstein's New Album Might Be Delayed Due to Paper Shortage |url=https://consequence.net/2022/02/rammstein-new-album-paper-shortage/ |access-date=20 February 2022 |website=Consequence}} Richard Kruspe affirmed in an interview that Rammstein's eighth studio album would be released in the first half of 2022, prior to the slated resumption of their Stadium Tour that had been postponed to 2022.{{cite web |last=Qureshi |first=Arusa |date=14 November 2021 |title=Rammstein's new album will arrive ahead of their 2022 world tour |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/rammstein-announce-new-album-will-arrive-ahead-of-2022-world-tour-3095245 |access-date=21 November 2021 |website=NME}}

Rammstein began teasing the first single from their eighth studio album on 8 March 2022, posting clips to their social media accounts with the hashtag "#ZEITkommt".{{Cite web |last=Lewry |first=Fraser |date=8 March 2022 |title=Rammstein launch spooky underwater video teaser – more coming Friday |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/rammstein-launch-spooky-underwater-video-teaser-more-coming-friday |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=Louder Sound}} On 10 March, they formally announced the album, titled Zeit, revealing its release date of 29 April 2022. The release of the title track as the album's lead single, along with its music video, coincided with the announcement.{{Cite web |last=Ruskell |first=Nick |date=10 March 2022 |title=Rammstein announce new album Zeit, drop title-track |url=https://www.kerrang.com/rammstein-announce-new-album-zeit-drop-title-track |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=Kerrang!}} The second single from Zeit, "Zick Zack", was released on 7 April with its accompanying music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/watch-the-video-for-rammsteins-new-single-zick-zack|first=Emily|last=Carter|work=Kerrang!|date=7 April 2022|access-date=8 April 2022|title=Watch the video for Rammstein's new single Zick Zack}} The third single from Zeit, "Angst", was released on 29 April with its accompanying music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2022/04/29/rammstein-release-surreal-politically-loaded-music-video-for-angst/|work=MetalSucks|date=29 April 2022|title=Rammstein Release Surreal, Politically-Loaded Music Video for "Angst"|first=Emperor|last=Rhombus|access-date=30 April 2022}} On 25 November 2022 Rammstein released the music video for the song "Adieu" on their official YouTube channel.{{YouTube|id=skl6N3zGv-s|title="Rammstein – Adieu (Official Video)"}}

{{quote box|width=23em|By comparison, American heavy metal bands seem clumsy, childish, and anemic.|salign=right|source=—Claire Berlinski on Rammstein{{cite web|last1=BERLINSKI|first1=Claire.|title=RAMMSTEIN'S RAGE|url=https://www.berlinski.com/2016/09/12/rammsteins-rage/|website=www.berlinski.com|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=27 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027105605/https://www.berlinski.com/2016/09/12/rammsteins-rage/|url-status=dead}}}}

File:Rammstein - 01.jpg" is based on the Armin Meiwes cannibalism case. Live performances of the song feature Lindemann cooking Lorenz in a large pot (pictured).]]

The Denver Post wrote that "[Rammstein] proved that they not only synthesized the {{Lang|de|Neue Deutsche Härte|italic=no}} genre, but that they successfully made it an art."{{cite web |last=Thieme |first=Billy |date=21 May 2012 |title=Rammstein at Denver Coliseum, 5/20/12 (photos and review) |url=https://theknow.denverpost.com/2012/05/21/rammstein-denver-colliseum-photos-review/50152/|access-date=18 April 2018 |work=The Denver Post}} Pioneers of the genre, Rammstein's style blended "alt-metal, groove and electronica".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/rammstein-german-band-film-metal-paris-seventh-studio-album-interview-live-shows-a7868951.html |title=Rammstein interview: 'It's close to unbearable harmony in this band at the moment' |work=The Independent |last=Dedman |first=Remfry |date=31 July 2017 |access-date=18 April 2018}} The Guardian wrote, "Ostensibly the world's biggest industrial metal band, Rammstein sound like a mixture of Laibach's situationist anthems, Front 242's 'electronic body music', German drinking songs, opera [and] T Rex-like riffs".{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/mar/02/rammstein-review |title=Rammstein – review |work=The Guardian |date=2 March 2012 |access-date=13 July 2015 |author=Simpson, Dave}} Loudwire wrote that the band's "jawdropping, pyro-filled live shows have become as much a part of their identity as their gothy, distortion-saturated melodic electro-metal".{{cite web |url=http://loudwire.com/rammstein-made-in-germany-1995-2011-album-review/ |title=Rammstein, 'Made in Germany 1995–2011′ – Album Review |work=Loudwire |date=13 December 2011 |access-date=13 July 2015 |author=Wiederhorn, Jon}} IGN said that "The band alternates repetitive metal power chords and atmospheric tones for a mind-numbing blend of metal and electronic music."{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/28/rammstein-rosenrot |title=Rammstein – Rosenrot |website=IGN |date=28 March 2006 |access-date=18 April 2018}} Rammstein were also described as a gothic metal band who are "Marilyn Manson meets 'Sprockets'".{{cite web |url=http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/walkie-talkie-blog/2011/05/REVIEW-Rammstein-at-the-Tacoma-Dome/ |title=Review: Rammstein at the Tacoma Dome |work=Weekly Volcano |last=Jasmin |first=Ernest A. |date=16 May 2011 |access-date=18 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053551/http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/walkie-talkie-blog/2011/05/REVIEW-Rammstein-at-the-Tacoma-Dome/ |archive-date=19 April 2018 |url-status=dead}} The Bulletin wrote that "Rammstein crank out the kind of symphonic metal you'd expect from a country that boasts Wagner among its favourite sons."{{cite book |title=The Bulletin |issue=6272–6280 |publisher=J. Haynes and J.F. Archibald |year=2001 |page=89 |quote="Best-known for their freaked-out live shows, which feature simulated sex and enough flames to interest the fire brigade, Rammstein crank out the kind of symphonic metal you'd expect from a country that boasts Wagner among its favourite sons."}} AllMusic described the band's music as blending "industrial noise, grinding metal guitars, and operatic vocals". PopMatters said that Rammstein was "mistakenly lumped in with the nu-metal fad that was going on at the same time" as the band's debut.{{cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/rammstein-rosenrot/ |title=Rammstein – Rosenrot |work=PopMatters |date=2 June 2006 |access-date=13 July 2015 |author=Begrand, Adrien}}

Rammstein was traditionally inspired by bands such as the Slovenian group Laibach, known for its provocative songs, often citing political symbols of the far-right{{cite journal |last1=Richter |first1=Peter |title=Frühsport bei Tiffany |journal=Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung |date=2010 |issue=50 |page=27}} and whose music style also combines different genres, or the German rock band Oomph!{{cite web |title=Biografie der Band Oomph! |url=https://www.laut.de/Oomph! |website=laut.de |access-date=6 October 2022}} However, the band members do not see a real connection to Laibach – apart from the similarity in vocal style which Flake Lorenz admitted in a Viva interview from 1997. In the same interview Richard Kruspe said: "For me, Laibach is a very, very intellectual story. Rammstein is much more emotional for me – in the beginning. And I can't do anything with that intellect that Laibach uses."[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK8EQqH1IM8&t=1552s Viva Jam: Rammstein], Folge 176, 1997; retrieved via youtube.com 26 February 2017.

Unlike many bands from Berlin in the early 1990s, Rammstein did not want to imitate American or English bands. Flake Lorenz said in an interview: "We found the style by knowing exactly what we didn't want. And we just didn't want to do American funky music or punk or anything we can't do. We realized that we can only do this music that we also play. And it's just very simple, dull, monotone."Interview on ZDF with Rammstein from 199?, from Live aus Berlin (1999).

Rammstein's style has received positive feedback from critics. New Zealand's Southland Times (17 December 1999) suggested that Till Lindemann's "booming, sub-sonic voice" would send "the peasants fleeing into their barns and bolting their doors", while The New York Times (9 January 2005) commented that on the stage, "Mr. Lindemann gave off an air of such brute masculinity and barely contained violence that it seemed that he could have reached into the crowd, snatched up a fan, and bitten off his head". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic commented that "their blend of industrial noise, grinding metal guitars, and operatic vocals is staggeringly powerful".{{cite web |title=SEHNSUCHT – Rammstein |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sehnsucht-mw0000031603 |access-date=10 July 2006}} "We just push boundaries", said Till Lindemann in an interview with rock magazine Kerrang!, "We cannot help it if people don't like those boundaries being pushed".

Nearly all of Rammstein's songs are in German. Educated in East German schools, the members were all taught Russian as a second language rather than English. In 2019, Flake commented: "I saw a lot of East German bands that sung in very bad English to people who didn't understand English – it was absolutely stupid. But if you really want to tell your emotions, you have to speak in your mother tongue." Songs they have recorded entirely or partly in English include: a cover of Depeche Mode's 1986 song "Stripped" and English renditions of "Engel", "Du hast", and "Amerika". The original version of "Amerika" as well as "Stirb nicht vor mir (Don't Die Before I Do)" and "Pussy" also contain some lyrics in English. The song "Moskau" ("Moscow") contains a chorus in Russian, and Till Lindemann has an unofficial song called "Schtiel" (cover of song "Штиль" / "Shtil" by Russian popular heavy metal band Aria) entirely in Russian.{{cite news |title =Sunday Herald Sun, Melbourne, Australia |newspaper= Sunday Herald Sun}} "Te quiero puta!" is entirely in Spanish, "Frühling in Paris" has a chorus in French, "Zeig dich" contains lyrics in Latin performed by a choir and "Ausländer" has lyrics in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. Oliver Riedel commented that "[the] German language suits heavy metal music. French might be the language of love, but German is the language of anger". In an interview with Ultimate Guitar, when asked whether Rammstein would ever create an original song entirely in English, Till Lindemann stated that 'Rammstein will never write a song in English, it's like asking Buddha to kill a pig'.{{cite web |title= Till Lindemann: 'Rammstein Will Never Write a Song in English, It's Like Asking Buddha to Kill a Pig' |publisher= Ultimate Guitar |url= http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/till_lindemann_rammstein_will_never_write_a_song_in_english_its_like_asking_buddha_to_kill_a_pig.html |access-date= 22 July 2015}}

The band's lyrics, as sung by Till Lindemann, are an essential element of their music, and shape the perception by fans and a wider public. Among other things that are seen as controversial, Rammstein also refers to classical German literature, e.g. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's famous poems Der Erlkönig (1778) and Das Heidenröslein (1771) for the songs "Dalai Lama" and "Rosenrot", respectively.Lüke, Lüke, Martina. "Modern Classics: Reflections on Rammstein in the German Class". Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German 41:1 (Spring 2008): 15–23. Several of their songs are related to controversial and taboo subjects such as sadomasochism ("Weisses Fleisch", "Bück dich", "Rein raus" and "Ich tu dir weh"), homosexuality (Mann gegen Mann), intersexuality ("Zwitter"), incest ("Laichzeit", "Tier", "Spiel mit mir" and "Wiener Blut"), pedophilia ("Weisses Fleisch", "Tier", "Halleluja" and "Hallomann"), necrophilia ("Heirate mich"), zoophilia ("Laichzeit"), cannibalism ("Mein Teil"), pyromania ("Benzin" and "Hilf mir"), religion ("Asche zu Asche", "Engel", "Bestrafe mich" and "Zeig dich") and sexual violence ("Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen", "Rein raus" "Stein um Stein" and "Liebe ist für alle da"). Also several of their songs are allegedly inspired by real-life events. These songs include "Rammstein" (Ramstein air show disaster), "Mein Teil" (The Meiwes Case), "Wiener Blut" (Fritzl case) and "Donaukinder" (2000 Baia Mare cyanide spill). Their fourth album, Reise, Reise, is loosely inspired by the crash of Japan Air Lines Flight 123.{{Cite magazine |last=Daly |first=Joe |date=1 May 2019 |title=Rammstein – The Ultimate Celebration – Bang Bangers! |magazine=Metal Hammer UK |page=55}} The band have also occasionally delved into politics with their lyrics. "Amerika" is a critique of the cultural and political imperialism of the United States all over the world. The lyrics of the song "Deutschland" contain the lines "Deutschland! / Meine Liebe / kann ich dir nicht geben" (Germany! / My love / [is what] I cannot give you), which conveys the band's inability to have unquestioned patriotic feelings.{{cite web |last1=genius.com |title=Rammstein – DEUTSCHLAND (English Translation) |url=https://genius.com/16826344 |website=Genius.com |access-date=4 April 2019}}

File:Rammstein Nottingham.jpg during live performances.]]

Since their early years, Rammstein are particularly known for their over-the-top live performances, making such extensive use of pyrotechnics that fans eventually coined the motto, "Other bands play, Rammstein burns!" (a play on Manowar's song "Kings of Metal", which states that "other bands play, Manowar kill"). Following an accident in Berlin on 27 September 1996, in which some burning decorative parts of the stage collapsed,{{cite web |url= http://rammstein-europe.com/main.php?sekce=till-lindemann&l=en |title= Till Lindemann Biography |access-date= 10 May 2007 |publisher= Rammstein-Europe.com |archive-date= 1 July 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070701191646/http://www.rammstein-europe.com/main.php?sekce=till-lindemann&l=en |url-status= dead}} the band started using professionals to handle the pyrotechnics. Lindemann subsequently qualified as a licensed pyrotechnician, and often spends entire songs engulfed in flames. He has suffered multiple burns on his ears, head, and arms.

The band's stage costumes are also known for being outlandish. During the Reise, Reise Tour, they wore lederhosen, corsets, and military-inspired uniforms with German steel helmets; during the Mutter Tour, the group kept to the themes of the album artwork and descended onto the stage from a giant uterus while wearing diapers. During the Völkerball concert, among others, Lindemann changed costumes between songs and dressed accordingly for each. For example, for the song "Mein Teil", he was dressed as a blood-soaked chef; in "Reise, Reise", he dressed as a sailor. The rest of the band each wore their own preferred costume, but none quite as bizarre as Till's. The band's flair for costumes is evident in their music videos as well as their live shows. In the "Keine Lust" video, all members except Lorenz are dressed in fat suits. In the "Amerika" video, all members of the band wear astronaut costumes.

Since the Mutter Tour in 2001, Rammstein have worked with stage designer Roy Bennett, who helped the band in developing the look of the stages. With the Ahoi Tour in 2004/2005, the band began using a two-level stage, with half the band playing the lower level and the other half on the upper level. At this tour, the upper level rose over 2 meters above the stage floor and had an oval entrance just beneath the drums. At both sides of the upper level, a special lift made it possible for the band members to access both stage levels.

File:Till-Lindemann.jpg performing "Rammstein", during which he wears dual arm-mounted flamethrowers]]

On the Liebe ist für alle da Tour in 2009, the new stage still had a two-level design. This time, however, the upper level only had about half the height as on the previous tour. Stage entrance was possible by a hydraulic ramp in the middle of the stage floor. At each end of the upper level, stairs were placed in order to gain access to both levels. This tour included not only the extensive use of pyrotechnics, but also a massive lighting show, such as the band's logo lit up as big lamps on four enormous collapsible towers, forming the industrial backdrop of the set and being capable of different lighting effects.

During the arena shows of the Made in Germany 1995-2011 Tour, the stage was slightly altered with new set pieces such as a large industrial fan as well as new backdrops. The most noticeable addition was a long catwalk, connecting the main stage to a smaller stage in the middle of the audience. During the 2013 festival leg of the tour, the bridge and smaller stage were omitted. For the 2016 Festival Tour, the band kept the stage itself mostly unchanged, though had the entire lighting rig changed completely. According to Kruspe, the onstage antics are meant to get people's attention and have fun at the same time; Rammstein's motto, according to Schneider, is "do your own thing and overdo it".

Kruspe said of the stage show in July 1999, "You have to understand that 99 per cent of the people don't understand the lyrics, so you have to come up with something to keep the drama in the show. We have to do something. We like to have a show; we like to play with fire. We do have a sense of humour. We do laugh about it; we have fun [...] but we're not Spinal Tap. We take the music and the lyrics seriously. It's a combination of humour, theatre, and our East German culture, you know?"{{cite news |title=The Grand Rapids Press |date= 22 July 1999 |newspaper= Grand Rapids Press}}

Their antics have also garnered controversy. During the American Family Values Tour 1998, alongside acts such as rapper Ice Cube, Korn, and Limp Bizkit, the band was arrested for public indecency. In one of their more infamous moments, Lindemann engaged in simulated sodomy with Lorenz during their performance of "Bück dich" in Worcester, Massachusetts. They were subsequently arrested, fined $25 and spent one night in jail.{{cite news |last=Kratina |first=Al |title=Concert review: Rammstein |url=https://montrealgazette.com/Concert+review+Rammstein/3959185/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213202756/http://www.montrealgazette.com/Concert%2Breview%2BRammstein/3959185/story.html |archive-date=13 December 2010 |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Montreal |date=10 December 2010 |access-date=22 December 2010}}{{cite news|last=Steffen|first=Chris|title=Behind the Scenes: Rammstein Live|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/12/behind-scenes-rammstein-live/|access-date=22 December 2010|newspaper=Spin|date=8 December 2010}}

The New York Times described Rammstein's music as a "powerful strain of brutally intense rock... bringing gale-force music and spectacular theatrics together".{{cite news |url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=184439 |title= NYTimes Movies |access-date= 10 April 2007 |work=The New York Times |first=Manohla |last=Dargis}}{{Dead link|date=December 2012}} The members have not been shy about courting controversy and have periodically attracted condemnation from morality campaigners. Till and Flake's stage act earned them a night in jail in June 1999 after a liquid-ejecting dildo was used in a concert in Worcester, Massachusetts. Back home in Germany, the band faced repeated accusations of fascist sympathies because of the dark and sometimes militaristic imagery of their videos and concerts, including the use of excerpts from the film Olympia by Leni Riefenstahl in the video for their cover of Depeche Mode's song "Stripped". MTV Germany studied the lyrics, talked to the band and came away satisfied that Rammstein are apolitical; Peter Ruppert, then head of Music Programming at MTV Germany, stated that the band "aren't in any way connected with any right-wing activities".{{cite web |url=http://www.helnwein.com/news/update/artikel_3108.html |title=German Band's Fierce Songs Taking US by Storm (Press) |publisher=Helnwein.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906200325/http://www.helnwein.com/news/update/artikel_3108.html |archive-date=6 September 2008}}

Their cover of their debut album Herzeleid, released in Germany in 1995, showed the band members bare-chested in a style that resembled Strength Through Joy in the eyes of some critics, who accused the band of trying to sell themselves as "poster boys for the Master Race".{{cite web |url= http://herzeleid.com/en/faq/band |title= Herzeleid.com (FAQ) |access-date= 10 April 2007 |publisher= Herzeleid.com |archive-date= 7 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171207140305/http://herzeleid.com/en/faq/band |url-status= dead}} Rammstein have vehemently denied this and said they want nothing to do with politics or supremacy of any kind. Lorenz, annoyed by the claim, has remarked it is just a photo, and should be understood as such. Herzeleid has since been given a different cover in North America, depicting the band members' faces.

The video of "Deutschland", released in 2019, sparked further controversy, as it portrays black German actress Ruby Commey appearing as Germania, which has been described as "a calculated affront to German nationalists".{{cite news |last1=Bershidsky |first1=Leonid |title=What Has Rammstein Revealed About Germany's Soul? |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-04-02/rammstein-rock-video-sparks-debate-over-german-national-identity |website=Bloomberg News |access-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200519042220/https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-04-02/rammstein-rock-video-sparks-debate-over-german-national-identity |archive-date=19 May 2020 |url-status=live}} The video also portrays the band members both as Nazi concentration camp executioners and as Jewish prisoners, sparking the complaints of Holocaust survivor groups; however, others defended the video and the song lyrics, which have been interpreted as "express[ing] a love/hate relationship with Germany".{{cite web |last1=Rosemberg |first1=Axl |title=Let's Talk About Rammstein's Controversial "Deutschland" Vide |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2019/03/29/lets-talk-about-rammsteins-deutschland-video/ |website=Metal Sucks |date=29 March 2019 |access-date=22 September 2020}}

Rammstein were cited in relation to the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, when a photo of Eric Harris wearing a Rammstein T-shirt in the 11th grade was revealed.{{cite web |url= http://acolumbinesite.com/eric/pics/ericramm11th.jpg|title= Eric Harris wearing a Rammstein T-shirt |website= Acolumbinesite.com}} There was no evidence to correlate the band and the massacre. In response to the shooting, the band issued a statement:

{{blockquote|text=The members of Rammstein express their condolences and sympathy to all affected by the recent tragic events in Denver. They wish to make it clear that they have no lyrical content or political beliefs that could have possibly influenced such behaviour. Additionally, members of Rammstein have children of their own, in whom they continually strive to instill healthy and non-violent values.{{cite web|url= http://herzeleid.com/en/faq/misc|title= Did Rammstein's music cause Columbine?|website= Herzeleid.com|access-date= 4 December 2014|archive-date= 4 April 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080404201742/http://herzeleid.com/en/faq/misc|url-status= dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427256/kmfdm-rammstein-speak-out-about-columbine.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209222140/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427256/kmfdm-rammstein-speak-out-about-columbine.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 February 2012|title=KMFDM And Rammstein Speak Out About Columbine|publisher=MTV News}}}}

Coincidentally, on 10 September 2001 the single and video clip of "Ich will" ("I Want") was released, which portrays the band as bank robbers who want to get a message across and receiving a Goldene Kamera (Golden Camera) award, a German version of the Emmy award, for their "actions". In the United States, the video clip was broadcast only late at night after the attacks of 11 September 2001, although many media officials and politicians requested the video to be pulled from broadcast completely.

Following the conclusion of the Beslan school hostage crisis in Russia in September 2004, the Russian authorities claimed that the terrorists had "listened to German hard rock group Rammstein on personal stereos during the siege to keep themselves edgy and fired up".{{Cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=3601635|title= Beslan hostage-takers were all addicts says top Russian official|date= 18 October 2004}} The claim has not been independently confirmed.

Band members said this about the issue:

{{Blockquote|text=There's been a lot of talk about that, but if there are radical feelings in people anything can wake them – a painting, a picture, whatever. It's just a coincidence that it happened to be our music. It's important to think about what caused them to make their decisions, how they became animals, not their taste in music. Whenever something like this happens it's like 'Okay, let's blame the artist'. Such bullshit.|author=Till Lindemann}}

{{Blockquote|text=Our music is made to release aggression, and people listening to it are also needed to do that, but it's not our fault. Should we stop making hard music because bad people might like it?|author=Christoph Schneider}}

Pekka-Eric Auvinen, the perpetrator of the Jokela school shooting in November 2007, also included Rammstein in one of his favorite bands. However, he noted that the music among other things was not to blame for his decisions.{{cite web|url= http://oddculture.com/the-pekka-eric-auvinen-manifesto/ |title= The Pekka Eric Auvinen Manifesto|date= 7 November 2007 |website=Oddculture.com}}

Elliot Rodger, the perpetrator of the Isla Vista killings in May 2014, was also a fan of Rammstein according to his YouTube records. On a lyric video of Mein Herz brennt, Rodger wrote: "[G]reat song to listen to while daydreaming about being a powerful ruler". Even though Rodger wrote in his manifesto that he wished to become a dictator and punish all the people who rejected him, there was no direct link found between the band's music and the killing spree.{{cite web|url=http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1173808-elliot-rodger-manifesto.html/ |title=My Twisted World: The Story of Elliot Rodger|date= 23 May 2014 |website=Documentcloud.org}} Santa Barbara police later confirmed that Rodger's main motivations were sexual and social rejection.{{cite news |url= http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/26/justice/california-elliot-rodger-timeline/ |title= Timeline to 'Retribution': Isla Vista attacks planned over year |date= 27 May 2014|publisher= CNN|first= Alan|last= Duke}}

The Trollhättan school attack perpetrator, Anton Lundin Pettersson, used a manipulated version of the band's logo that added Nazi Germany's eagle on his Facebook page.

In October 2004, the video for "Mein Teil" ("My part") caused controversy in Germany when it was released. It takes a darkly comic view of the Armin Meiwes cannibalism case, showing a cross-dressed Schneider holding the other five band members on a leash and rolling around in mud.

The band's own views of its image are sanguine; Landers has said: "We like being on the fringes of bad taste".{{cite news|last= Smyth|first= David|date= 10 February 2012|title= Flame and glory: Rammstein set to light up London|url= https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/flame-and-glory-rammstein-set-to-light-up-london-7441820.html|newspaper= London Evening Standard|access-date= 21 January 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150121093526/http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/flame-and-glory-rammstein-set-to-light-up-london-7441820.html|archive-date= 21 January 2015|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}} Christian "Flake" Lorenz comments: "The controversy is fun, like stealing forbidden fruit. But it serves a purpose. We like audiences to grapple with our music, and people have become more receptive".{{cite news |last= Haider|first= Arwa|date= 29 January 2005|title= Shock'n'roll Circus |url= https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/germany/berlin/shocknroll-circus-959rmrkw3h9 |newspaper= The Times|access-date= 26 March 2015}}

The video for "Pussy" was released September 2009. It features hardcore pornographic scenes of nudity along with women engaging in sexual activity with body doubles of the band members.{{cite magazine |title= Rammstein's Pussy Released in Mucky Vid |magazine= The Quietus |date= 17 September 2009 |url= http://mp-3.net.ua/mysik/rock/930-rammstein-pussy.html |access-date= 17 September 2009}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}

On 5 November 2009, their sixth studio album Liebe ist für alle da was placed on the Index of the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien, or BPjM), making it illegal in Germany to make the album accessible to minors or display it where it can be seen by people underage, effectively banning it from stores.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Rammstein/|title=Rammstein|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=7 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://schnittberichte.com/news.php?ID=1693 |title=Report |publisher=Schnittberichte.com}} According to the official statement of the BPjM, the depiction of lead guitarist Richard Kruspe holding a woman wearing only a mask over his knee and lifting his hand to strike her behind has given cause for offense, as well as the lyrics to "Ich tu dir weh" (meaning "I hurt you") which supposedly promoted dangerous BDSM techniques. Furthermore, the advisory board took into consideration the alleged promotion of unprotected sexual intercourse in the lyrics to "Pussy".

The band, as well as several members of the German press, reacted with astonishment to the decision. Keyboardist Christian Lorenz expressed surprise at the advisory board's "parochial sense of art" and regretted their apparent inability to detect irony.{{cite web |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/469/493812/text/ |title=Liebe ist nicht für alle da |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |access-date=12 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112125016/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/469/493812/text/ |archive-date=12 November 2009 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.laut.de/vorlaut/news/2009/11/11/23636/index.htm |title=Rammstein-Zensur: Mit Fleischgewehren auf Spatzen |publisher=Laut.de |access-date=8 September 2010|language=de}} On 16 November 2009, a stripped-down version of Liebe ist für alle da was released. As of 31 May 2010, the administrative court in Cologne had decided to suspend the inclusion into the Index (case 22 L 1899/09). The German department deleted the record from the Index on 1 June (Decision No. A 117/10). On 9 June, the band announced that the original version of the album was available in their shop and that the single "Ich tu dir weh" would soon be released in Germany. In October 2011, the album was judged not harmful to minors and deleted from the Index.{{cite news |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/urteil-zum-rammstein-album-liebe-ist-doch-fuer-alle-da-1.1172929 |title=Liebe ist doch für alle da |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |date=25 October 2011 |access-date=29 July 2015}}

In 2016, Rammstein filed a lawsuit against the German state claiming €66,000 in compensation for damages that had allegedly resulted from the indexing, chiefly the destruction or withholding of 85,000 copies of the album that the band says would have otherwise sold.{{cite news |title=Rammstein sues Germany over indexed album |work=Deutsche Welle |date=5 April 2016 |access-date=27 September 2016 |agency=dpa |url=http://dw.com/p/1IPZl}}

In May 2023, a woman claimed that her drink was spiked (drugged) during a Rammstein concert in Lithuania and was selected for an aftershow party, during which she was ushered into a small room underneath the stage for lead singer Till Lindemann. After making herself unavailable for sex, she claimed Lindemann reacted angrily and left. While emphasising that she was never assaulted, she believed there to be an "organised system of funnelling girls."{{Cite news |date=8 June 2023 |title=Rammstein fan Shelby Lynn alleges she was groomed for sex |website=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65843882 |access-date=8 June 2023}} Although Vilnius prosecutors found no evidence of drugging, her story amplified the band's "Row Zero" practice, where young women would be pre-selected on social media by casting director Alena Makeeva to stand in an exclusive area closest to the stage dubbed Row Zero and attend pre-show and after-show parties, during which Lindemann would request to have sex with fans in attendance.{{Cite web |title=Rammstein won't be investigated in Lithuania – DW – 06/26/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/rammstein-wont-be-investigated-in-lithuania/a-65991207 |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=dw.com |language=en}} Further claims against Lindemann prompted an investigation by German police for sexual offences and the distribution of narcotics.{{Cite news |last=Schuetze |first=Christopher F. |date=15 June 2023 |title=German Police Investigate Rammstein Singer Over Sexual Assault Accusations |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/arts/music/rammstein-singer-sexual-assault-accusations.html |access-date=23 July 2023 |issn=0362-4331}} In response, the band denied all claims of illegal behavior, fired Makeeva and halted the "Row Zero" afterparties.{{Cite web |last=Exberliner |date=7 June 2023 |title=Rammstein allegations mean no more "Row Zero" at Berlin concerts |url=https://www.exberliner.com/english-news-berlin/rammstein-allegations-mean-no-more-row-zero-at-berlin-concerts/ |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=Exberliner |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=19 June 2023 |title=Rammstein scandal: casting director fired amidst abuse accusations |url=https://www.msn.com/en-sg/entertainment/news/rammstein-scandal-casting-director-fired-amidst-abuse-accusations/ss-AA1ccDUp |access-date= |website=www.msn.com}}

In view of the allegations, Rammstein's label Universal announced that it would be suspending all promotional activities for Rammstein's albums.{{cite web |title=Universal Halts Rammstein Marketing Amid Abuse Claims |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/universal-halts-rammstein-marketing-amid-abuse-claims-dd99192c?refsec=topics_afp-news |website=Barron's |access-date=15 June 2023 |date=15 June 2023}} Universal also confirmed a press report that it had confidentially requested the German Music Industry Association BVMI not to include the 25th anniversary re-release of Sehnsucht in the official album charts, regardless of its actual sales figures, and that the request had been authorized by the band itself.{{cite news |title=Rammstein will nicht in die Musikcharts|trans-title=Rammstein doesn't want to enter the charts |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/nach-lindemann-vorwuerfen-rammstein-will-nicht-in-die-musikcharts-18966021.html |website=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |access-date=16 June 2023 |language=de |date=16 June 2023 |last1=Theurer |first1=Marcus }} Various other companies including Kiepenheuer & Witsch and Rossmann also halted joint ventures with the band.{{cite web |title=Der Verlag Kiepenheuer & Witsch beendet die Zusammenarbeit mit Till Lindemann |trans-title=Publishing house Kiepenheuer & Witsch ends cooperation with Till Lindemann |url=https://www.kiwi-verlag.de/magazin/news/der-verlag-kiepenheuer-witsch-beendet-die-zusammenarbeit-mit-till-lindemann |website=Kiepenheuer & Witsch |access-date=14 June 2023 |language=de |date=14 June 2023}}{{cite web|title=Nach Vorwürfen gegen Till Lindemann: Rossmann stellt Verkauf von Rammstein-Parfüms ein |trans-title=After allegations against Till Lindemann: Rossmann suspends sales of Rammstein perfumes |url=https://www.stern.de/lifestyle/leute/vorwuerfe-gegen-till-lindemann--rossmann-stellt-verkauf-von-rammstein-parfuems-ein-33531836.html |website=Stern |date=6 June 2023 |access-date=15 June 2023 |language=de-DE}}{{cite magazine |title=Rammstein: Radioeins lässt Sendung mit Flake ausfallen |trans-title=Rammstein: Radioeins cancels program with Flake |url=https://www.rollingstone.de/rammstein-keine-radioeins-sendung-mit-flake-heute-2599659/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=15 June 2023 |language=de |date=15 June 2023}}{{cite news | url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/rammstein-plattenfirma-setzt-marketing-und-promotion-aktivitaeten-aus-a-a6731634-940b-4a62-90da-058667bf1694 | title=Rammstein: Plattenfirma setzt Marketing- und Promotion-Aktivitäten aus | newspaper=Der Spiegel | date=15 June 2023 }}

On 29 August, the German prosecutors announced that they dropped the case, saying that the investigations did not unearth any evidence of a crime.{{cite web | url=https://www.barrons.com/news/germany-drops-sex-assault-probe-into-rammstein-frontman-prosecutors-a3c69809 | title=German Prosecutors Drop Sex Assault Probe into Rammstein Frontman }} The investigations were originally taken up because of complaints filed by unaffected third persons who were unable to identify any victim. While alleged victims sent sworn statements to journalists, none of those women filed a criminal complaint, and therefore the police were unable to contact and interview them. Also, the journalists had promised the alleged victims anonymity, and made use of their legal right to keep their sources secret.{{Cite news |title=Ermittlungen gegen Lindemann eingestellt |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/staatsanwaltschaft-lindemann-100.html |date=2023-08-29 |access-date=2023-12-21 |work=Tagesschau (German TV programme) |language=de}}

{{quote box|width=23em|align=left|Rammstein fights with sarcasm and satire against the "bland americanization" of local cultures in "Amerika" by attacking US Cultural imperialism in the form of popular culture, food, fashion, and yes, even politics.|salign=right|source=— Jill E. Twark, Axel Hildebrandt on the song "Amerika"{{cite book|title=Envisioning Social Justice in Contemporary German Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hOH9CAAAQBAJ&q=rammstein+amerika+political+imperialism&pg=PA100|access-date=6 October 2019|year=2015|author=Jill E. Twark, Axel Hildebrand| publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn = 9781571135698}}}}

Early on, Rammstein were accused by media outlets in Germany of being neo-Nazis due to their imagery. The band released the song "Links 2-3-4" (Links being German for "left") in 2001 to affirm to the public that they reside on the left of the political spectrum. In a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone Germany, when asked about Nazi accusations, Lindemann stated "We come from the East and we have grown up as socialists. We used to be either punks or Goths – we hate Nazis! And then suddenly there is such a far-fetched accusation. We are doing exactly the same thing today, but no one in America or in Mexico would even get the idea to come up with something like that. This only happens in Germany. Our reply to this animosity was 'Links 2-3-4', and with that we had made it clear where we stand politically."{{Cite magazine |date=4 January 2019 |title=Rammstein: Exklusives Interview mit Till Lindemann und Flake |url=https://www.rollingstone.de/rammstein-exklusives-interview-mit-till-lindemann-und-flake-lorenz-343190/ |access-date=1 March 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone Germany |language=German}} Regarding the song, Kruspe said: {{"'}}My heart beats on the left, two, three, four'. It's simple. If you want to put us in a political category, we're on the left side, and that's the reason we made the song".{{cite news |author= Serba, John |title= Operatic Vocals, Industrial Rhythms Mix For a Sound Distinctly ... German |newspaper= Grand Rapids Press |date= 22 July 2001 |page= B6}} The song's title refers to the refrain of the German Communist Party song Einheitsfrontlied, written by Bertholt Brecht: "Drum links, zwei, drei! Drum links, zwei, drei! / Wo dein Platz, Genosse ist! / Reih dich ein, in die Arbeitereinheitsfront / Weil du auch ein Arbeiter bist".{{cite web|url=https://www.marxists.org/subject/art/music/lyrics/de/die-einheitsfront.htm |title=Die Einheitsfront |publisher=Marxists Internet Archive |access-date=19 January 2016}} (Turn left, two, three! Turn left, two, three! / Here's the place, Comrade, for you! / So fall in with the Workers' united front / For you are a worker too.) Another key lyric expressing the band's allegiance to the left paraphrases the titles of newspaper columns published side by side for several years in the German newspaper Bild: "Mein Herz schlägt links" ("My heart beats on the left") by The Left Party co-chair and former Social Democratic Party of Germany chair Oskar Lafontaine, and "Mein Herz schlägt auf dem rechten Fleck" ("My heart beats in the right place") by Peter Gauweiler of the conservative Christian Social Union.{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/politik/2008/oskar-lafontaine-zum-65-geburtstag-5824596.bild.html |title=Hier gratuliert der schwarze Peter dem roten Oskar |date=15 September 2008 |publisher=bild.de |access-date=19 January 2016}} Lorenz stated that the song was created to show the band could write a harsh, evil, military-sounding song without being Nazis.{{cite web |url= http://herzeleid.com/en/press/2005-11_flake_chat_english |title= Herzeleid.com (Press) |access-date= 10 April 2007 |publisher= Herzeleid.com |archive-date= 16 February 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070216063348/http://herzeleid.com/en/press/2005-11_flake_chat_english |url-status= dead}}

The band also wrote the song "Amerika" as a critique of the worldwide cultural and political imperialism of the United States. In their book Envisioning Social Justice in Contemporary German Culture, Jill E. Twark and Axel Hildebrandt found that the song's text and most of its video's images point toward a critique of America's cultural imperialism, political propaganda, and self-assumed role as global police force. The song responds critically to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. They also found that another song of theirs that is critical of the United States is "Mein Land", believing that it critiques American racism and nationalism.

During the Eastern European leg of their Europe Stadium Tour, the band showed support for the LGBT community on several occasions. At a concert in Chorzów, Poland on 24 July 2019, drummer Christoph Schneider surfed the crowd in a rubber boat, holding a rainbow flag. At their concert in Moscow five days later, guitarists Kruspe and Landers kissed onstage, while they embraced each other during a concert in Saint Petersburg on 2 August.{{cite news |title=Rammstein Protests Homophobia in Russia With On-Stage Kiss in Moscow |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/07/31/rammstein-protests-homophobia-in-russia-with-on-stage-kiss-in-moscow-a66650 |work=The Moscow Times |date=31 July 2019}} The band's support for gay rights was met with criticism from some Russian politicians. Vitaly Milonov, a member of the State Duma, called the band "idiots" and said: "If they think it possible to behave in such a way, they should also consider it possible to keep this garbage away from us."{{cite news |title=Wenn sie sich küssen wollen, sollen sie das in der Ukraine tun |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/panorama/russischer-duma-abgeordneter-ueber-rammstein-wenn-sie-sich-kuessen-wollen-sollen-sie-das-in-der-ukraine-tun/24871460.html |access-date=6 August 2019 |work=Der Tagesspiegel |date=5 August 2019 |language=de|trans-title=If they want to kiss, they should do it in Ukraine}}

{{Quote box |quoted=true |salign=right |width=240px |align=right | quote = Rammstein follow their own rhythm. We never give a shit about the people who think we need to get a record out every two years and that's one of the reasons why we're still together with the same lineup. We take care of each other, and if somebody needs to take the time off or do something else, we listen. | author = Richard Kruspe}}

Since forming in 1994, Rammstein have retained a constant line-up. Richard Kruspe had said in a Revolver Magazine interview that it is because of the band respecting each other's wishes to take a break, either for personal reasons or to focus on a side project.{{cite journal|last1=Wiederhorn|first1=Jon|title=The Brutal Truth: Emigrate|journal=Revolver Magazine|year=2015|issue=119|page=41}} Members of the band have had side projects that they take part in during Rammstein's inactivity. Kruspe currently fronts the group Emigrate while Till Lindemann began his project Lindemann in 2015.

• Till Lindemann – lead vocals
• Richard Kruspe – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Paul Landers – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Oliver Riedel – bass guitar
• Christoph Schneider{{efn|Schneider is credited as "Christoph Doom Schneider" on all Rammstein releases.}} – drums, percussion
• Christian "Flake" Lorenz{{efn|Lorenz is commonly referred to as "Flake" and is credited as "Doktor Christian Lorenz" on all Rammstein releases.}} – keyboards, synthesizers

{{Gallery

|title=Gallery

|width=200 | height=180

|align=center

|File:Till Lindemann P.R.Brown.JPG

|Till Lindemann

|File:Richard Kruspe, one of the founding members of Rammstein.jpg

|Richard Kruspe

|File:Paul Landers 2011.jpg

|Paul Landers

|File:Oliver Riedel 2010 (cropped).jpg

|Oliver Riedel

|File:Christoph Schneider.jpeg

|Christoph Schneider

|File:RammsteinFlake.jpg

|Christian "Flake" Lorenz

}}

{{Main|Rammstein discography}}

Studio albums

• Herzeleid (1995)
• Sehnsucht (1997)
• Mutter (2001)
• Reise, Reise (2004)
• Rosenrot (2005)
• Liebe ist für alle da (2009)
• Untitled album (2019)
• Zeit (2022)

• Club Tour (1994–1995)
• Herzeleid Tour (1995–1997)
• Sehnsucht Tour (1997–2001)
• Family Values Tour 1998 (22 September 1998 – 31 October 1998)
• Mutter Tour (2001–2002)
• Pledge of Allegiance Tour (2001; in between the August–November dates of the Mutter Tour)
• Ahoi Tour (Reise, Reise Tour) (2004–2005)
• Liebe ist für alle da Tour (2009–2011)
• Made in Germany 1995–2011 Tour (2011–2013)
• Rammstein Tour 2016 (2016)
• Festival Tour (2017)
• Rammstein Stadium Tour (2019–2024)

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Rammstein}}

Grammy Awards

{{awards table}}

|-

!scope="row"| 1999

| "Du hast"

| rowspan="2"| Best Metal Performance

| {{Nominated}}

|-

!scope="row"| 2006

| "Mein Teil"

| {{Nominated}}

|}

• {{Portal inline|Rock music}}
• {{Portal inline|Germany}}

;Notes

{{Notelist}}

;References

{{Reflist}}

• Barry Graves, Siegfried Schmidt-Joos, Bernward Halbscheffel: Das neue Rock-Lexikon. Bd 1. Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 1998. {{ISBN|3-499-16352-7}}.
• Barry Graves, Siegfried Schmidt-Joos, Bernward Halbscheffel: Das neue Rock-Lexikon. Bd 2. Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 1998. {{ISBN|3-499-16353-5}}.
• Rammstein: Rammstein – Liederbuch. Hal Leonard Corporation, London 1999. {{ISBN|0-7119-7220-6}}.
• Wolf-Rüdiger Mühlmann: Letzte Ausfahrt – Germania. Ein Phänomen namens neue deutsche Härte. I.P. Verlag, Berlin 1999, {{ISBN|3-931624-12-9}}.
• Gert Hof: Rammstein. Die Gestalten Verlag, Berlin 2001, {{ISBN|3-931126-32-3}}.
• Matthias Matthies: Rammstein – Deutschlandtour 2001. Berlin 2002.
• Andreas Speit: Ästhetische Mobilmachung – Dark Wave, Neofolk und Industrial im Spannungsfeld rechter Ideologien., Unrast 2001. {{ISBN|3-89771-804-9}}.
• Michele Bettendorf: Ursprung Punkszene. Oder Rammstein hätte es im Westen nie gegeben. Books on Demand GmbH, 2002. {{ISBN|3-8311-4493-1}}.
• Till Lindemann und Gert Hof: Messer. Eichborn, Frankfurt M 2002. {{ISBN|3-8218-0730-X}}.
• Michael Fuchs-Gamböck und Thorsten Schatz: Spiel mit dem Feuer – Das inoffizielle Rammstein-Buch. Heel, Königswinter 2006. {{ISBN|3-89880-661-8}}.
• Frédéric Batier: Rammstein – Völkerball. 2006. {{ISBN|3-8291-18694}}.
• Ulf Zander: [https://open.lnu.se/index.php/hn/article/view/4299/3789 Left, Right or Wrong? Rammstein Playing with Symbols of Sex, Violence and Dictatorship as a Test of Democracy]. HumaNetten No. 52, 2024.

{{Commons}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|http://www.rammstein.de/en/}}
• {{MusicBrainz artist|name=Rammstein|mbid=b2d122f9-eadb-4930-a196-8f221eeb0c66}}
• {{Discogs artist|artist=Rammstein|name=Rammstein}}
• {{Dm artist|id=3070}}
• {{DNB-Portal|5507628-2|NAME=Rammstein|TYP=Works by and about}}

{{Rammstein}}

{{MTV EMA for Best German Act}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1994 establishments in Germany

Category:Echo (music award) winners

Category:English-language musical groups from Germany

Category:French-language musical groups from Germany

Category:German heavy metal musical groups

Category:German industrial metal musical groups

Category:German industrial music groups

Category:German musical sextets

Category:German Neue Deutsche Härte music groups

Category:Kerrang! Awards winners

Category:MTV Europe Music Award winners

Category:Musical groups established in 1994

Category:Musical groups from Berlin

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:Republic Records artists

Category:Russian-language musical groups from Germany

Category:Slash Records artists

Category:Spanish-language musical groups of Germany

Category:World Music Awards winners