Herzeleid is the debut album by Rammstein. It was released on 25 September 1995, and on 24 November 1998 in North America.[1]
Herzeleid | |||||||
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Album by Rammstein | |||||||
Recorded: | Polar Studios, Sweden, March 1995 | ||||||
Producer: | Jacob Hellner, Carl-Michael Herlöfsson | ||||||
Released: | 25 September 1995 24 November 1998 (N. America) | ||||||
Format: | CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Digital | ||||||
Length: | 49:26 | ||||||
Label: | Motor Universal (Re-Release) Slash (US) XIII Bis (France) | ||||||
Stream: | Spotify iTunes | ||||||
Discogs: | |||||||
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Singles: | |||||||
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Alternative artworks: | |||||||
Information
Recording
The band started recording the album at Polar Studios in Sweden. For about two weeks, the band and their producers, Jacob Hellner and Carl-Michael Herlöfsson, recorded most of the drums and bass, as well as some of the guitar parts. Additionally, they worked on computer stuff to sample guitars and create sample sounds. After leaving Polar Studios, they all went to the private studio of Jacob and Carl-Michael. During their time in the new studio, they recorded the guitars and did additional recordings. The vocals were also tracked at the new studio, with Till working closely with Jacob, while Carl-Michael focused more on programming and sampling. During these recordings, the band wanted to have the line "Der Wahnsinn" in Du riechst so gut to sound as if it came from a telephone. So, one of the band members went out to a Stockholm subway, wearing nothing but a white t-shirt, suspenders, boots, and shorts. From the subway, he called the studio and repeated the line "Der Wahnsinn" over and over again in different intonations. Suddenly, he heard someone next to him calling the police, reporting a madman shouting German phrases into a phone.
The first mix, done by Jacob and Carl-Michael, took place at the MFG Studios. During these initial mixing sessions, Richard was the only band member present. However, he wasn't satisfied with the results and promptly called all other band members, the management, and the label. Together, they decided they needed a different person for the mix, leading to the agreement on Ronald Prent. When the label contacted Ronald, he happened to be on holiday on the island of Crete in Greece. After being contacted, Ronald talked to Jacob, who coincidentally was also in Greece at the same time. Together, they traveled to Hamburg and attempted to mix the album at Chateau du Pape Studios. The entire band was present during the new mixes. They decided to start with one song and create as many versions of the mix as possible. After each new mix was completed, the band left the studio to discuss outside. At one point, they requested to be mixed in a way that made them sound like Bon Jovi. However, upon hearing the result, they rejected that version. Then, Ronald had the idea of using a specific type of compression that would make the music more dry and "in your face." Upon hearing this mix, the band collectively agreed that this was the Rammstein sound they desired.[2]
Before finally settling on the title "Herzeleid," the album had the working titles "Rammstein"[3] and "Heirate mich."[4]
The first press listening of the album took place at the Chateau Du Pape studio. Music journalist Matthias Mineur was invited by Motor Music to listen to the songs and assess whether the band could indeed become the next big thing. Four weeks later, the band held an open press conference in the "Blow Up" cinema in Berlin. A black and white silent film was shown on the screen, while the band sat on chairs inside the cinema, not in front of the screen where the journalists were seated. The band consistently answered questions from left to right, regardless of who was asked.[5][6]
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© Åke E:son Lindman
Polar Studios recreation in the ABBA museum
Other songs
Jacob Hellner mentioned in an interview, that they recorded a total of 18 songs in six weeks.[7] Based on our current knowledge of songs, the other seven recorded songs could be the following, of which only Feuerräder is confirmed:
Promotion
The promotion of the then-upcoming album initially involved three different tapes: 3-Track Demo 3, 6-Track Demo 3 and 6 Rough-Mixes/3 Mixes. These tapes were distributed by Motor Music. Once the album and the first single, "Du riechst so gut," were manufactured, the album was released as a promotional item in the "Riech!" box. This box included either the album alone (sometimes only the single, sometimes both), a small bottle of the perfume "Obsession" by Calvin Klein, and various sets of promotional sheets about the album. Below is the text from one of these sets of promotional sheets:
German original |
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Entstanden aus einem Urknall, einer Dringlichkeit, die alle sechs Musiker gleichermaßen ergriffen hat, wollen sich Rammstein als unteilbare Einheit verstanden wissen. Alle Beteiligten haben immer schon Musik gemacht, die mit dem heutigen Rammstein-Sound nichts gemein hatte. Im Osten haben sie die Arbeitsverpflichtungen ignoriert und in den Nischen existiert. |
English Deepl translation |
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Born out of a big bang, an urgency that gripped all six musicians equally, Rammstein want to be understood as an indivisible unit. All involved have always made music that had nothing in common with the Rammstein sound of today. In the East, they ignored work obligations and existed in niches. |
Menhir
As a promotional item, 50 select record stores received a Rammstein menhir.. It stands about 140cm high and is approximately 60cm thick at its thickest part. Both the front and back of the menhir feature spaces for about three to five CDs each. The letters "Rammstein Herzeleid" are prominently displayed on both the front and back. The menhir is made of plastic. Although it has been sold a few times on eBay, it remains one of the rarest promotional items of Rammstein. There are two general variants: one painted in the common browns and greys of a rock, and another that appears to be pure white with grey dots and marker pen scribbles. The grey variant adheres to the standard dimensions (140cm high, 60cm thick), but the white variant appears to be much larger at its thickest part.
XXV Edition
The teasing for the re-release of the album "Herzeleid" commenced on September 21, 2020, when the official Rammstein Facebook page changed its header image to a rotating flower.[8] On the same day, the official website underwent a transformation, resembling a retro computer interface reminiscent of Windows 95. This revamped website featured a variety of archival materials, including newspaper articles from 1994 to 1996, live photos, photoshoot pictures, and even the game Snake. Alongside these features, the website announced the upcoming release of a remastered XXV edition of the album, celebrating its 25th anniversary.
The XXV Edition of "Herzeleid" was released on December 4th, 2020.
As part of the website's interactive experience, a competition was held, challenging participants to discover the password that would grant access to the "Privat" folder. The password was broiler1995. The prize for the competition was an original "Herzeleid" award presented to Paul.
The XXV Edition is available in both CD and vinyl formats, housed in a cardboard box. The CD version comes in a digipak case and features a new remaster of the album. Additionally, a high-quality 24-bit download of the remastered album is also available.[9] The vinyl edition of the XXV release features the previous 2015 remaster, which was initially presented in the XXI box set.
The website herzeleid25.rammstein.de has since been taken down.
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Retro Rammstein website -
Paul's Herzeleid award
Tracklist
CD / Digital |
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Cassette |
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Europe
USA
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Vinyl |
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Formats
Release | Country | Label | Type | Comment | Bonus content | Cover | Discogs | ||
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1995 | Germany | Motor Music | Cassette | Jewel case | Promotional cassette | Standard | |||
1995 | Poland | Motor Music | Cassette | Jewel case | Standard | ||||
1995-09-25 | Germany | Motor Music | CD | Jewel case | Standard | ||||
1995-09-25 | Germany | Motor Music | CD | Jewel case | The words "Schulhof" and "töten" are beeped in Weißes Fleisch | Standard | |||
1995-09-25 | Germany | Motor Music | CD | Jewel case | The words "Schulhof" and "töten" are blacked out in the lyrics for Weißes Fleisch | Standard | |||
1996 | Germany | Motor Music | Cassette | Jewel case | Standard | ||||
1996 | Germany | Motor Music | CD | Jewel case | Has a big sticker on the back to promote the concert 100 Jahre Rammstein | Standard | |||
2001 | Germany | Universal Music | CD | Jewel case | Re-release on Universal Music | Standard | |||
1995-09-25 | France | XIII Bis | CD | Jewel case | Standard | ||||
1998-11-24 | United States | Slash | CD | Jewel case | White | ||||
1998-11-24 | United States | Slash | Cassette | Jewel case | White | ||||
2015-12-04 | Europe | Universal Music | Vinyl | Gatefold | As part of the XXI box set | Remastered | Standard | ||
2017-12-08 | Europe | Universal Music | Vinyl | Gatefold | Standalone release | Remastered | Standard | ||
2020-12-04 | Europe | Universal Music | CD | Digipack | 25th anniversary release | Remastered | Alternate | ||
2020-12-04 | Europe | Universal Music | Vinyl | Gatefold | 25th anniversary release | Remastered | Alternate | ||
2021-04-16 | Europe | Universal Music | CD | Digipack | Remastered | Standard |
Trivia
- The cover artwork caused some controversy when the media reported that the band had intended to depict themselves as "Herrenmenschen."
- In North America, an alternate cover was used.
- This album was the band's second album released in the USA, following Sehnsucht.
- The booklet contains French lyrics for Das alte Leid, Heirate mich and Herzeleid. In the French version of the album, additional French lyrics are provided for Weißes Fleisch, Seemann, and Rammstein.
- The South Korean version of the album is missing Das alte Leid from the tracklist and lyrics in the booklet, although the song can still be found on the CD.
- Richard revealed in an interview on Talking Metal's podcast in 2007 that the translation of "Herzeleid" is "Heartbreak," and not "Heartache," as it correctly should be.
Gallery
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2021 release digipak -
2021 release CD -
French lyrics for
Weißes Fleisch -
French lyrics for Seemann -
French lyrics for Das alte Leid and Heirate mich -
French lyrics for Herzeleid -
French lyrics for Rammstein -
Inlay of the
South Korean version -
Top lid of the Riech! box -
Promotional sheet, page 1 -
Promotional sheet, page 2 -
Album advertising -
1998 USA advertising -
French album advertising -
Advertising for Herzeleid turning gold -
Menhir promotional item
Credits
Music & Lyrics by Rammstein
Produced by Jacob Hellner & Carl-Michael Herlöfson for BomKrash Production
Mixed by Ronald Prent at Chateau du Pape
For - Seemann - additional production Emanuel Fialik & Olav Bruhn
Photography & cover idea Praler
Sleeve design by Dirk Rudolph
All songs published by BMG/UFA
Management: Emanuel Fialik for Pilgrim
Contact & Merchandising: Pilgrim, Postfach, 10042 Berlin, Germany
Sources
- ↑ Official Rammstein website
- ↑ RammWiki interviews with Carl-Michael Herlöfsson and Ronald Prent
- ↑ Credits from A Journey Into Sound IV Tape 1
- ↑ Metal Hammer Germany, September 1995
- ↑ Online article "Rammstein 1995 im Pumpwerk Wilhelmshaven
- ↑ Metal Hammer Germany, November 1995, p. 108/109
- ↑ Spark Rockmagazine, p. 65
- ↑ Flower video
- ↑ Qobuz HQ download