Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Rammstein Made In Germany 1995-2011 Company: Universal Music Group Release: 2011 Genre: Heavy Reviewer: Ben McCraw

Great music, but not enough of it.

Taking an excursion into the echoes of Rammstein's past, present, and future-"Made In Germany" combines all of the biggest hits they have obtained over their 16 year career. Now, releasing a greatest hits album two-and-a-half months before the start of a major world tour may seem like a weak attempt to fill in the three year gap since the bands last release, "Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da", but a closer inspection reveals that it is anything but.

The tracks on the album(s) are not in chronological order. Not at all. They are simply arranged in an order that seems to 'flow', unlike some compilations that go from ancient to new material without any break in between. Instantly recognizable songs like "Du Hast" from their 1995 debut "Herzeleid", are interspersed amongst newer offerings such as "Haifisch" and "Mein Land."

Rammstein have released songs over the years that have invited controversy, and for better or worse, this has gained them greater notoriety in many parts of the globe. Some of the more controversial songs in question would be "Pussy" and "Mein Teil", just to name a couple, and they are both here for the aurally curious to discover.
Disc One has 16 tracks in all, traveling from the highs of "Du Riechst So Gut" to the mellow lows of "Ohne Dich." A whole history of Rammstein's growth within the music industry can clearly be heard by this transition. Disc Two contains 17 remixes of Rammstein classics, and herein lies the only downside to this set. There are no demos, interviews, or live tracks at all--just repetitive techno/dance-style remixes by non-metal artists, save Devin Townsend who does a country (?) version of "Rammlied", and Faith No More, who contribute a remix titled: "Du Riechst So Gut '98." Indeed, most of the remixed tracks come off as nothing more than irritating, and were completely unnecessary to include on this compilation.

In short, Rammstein seem to have die-hard fans, but unless they are missing most or all of the band's discography, this two-disc set is unlikely to serve any purpose to them. There is only one new track on the first disc, "Mein Land", but this in itself is not enough of an offering for their fans. For the absolute purist, there is a 'Super Deluxe Edition' of this set which includes three DVDs, but that is not the version which I am reviewing here. Great music, but not enough of it.