Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Blabbermouth.net7.5/10[6]
Clash9/10[7]
DIY[8]
The Guardian[9]
Kerrang![10]
Metal Hammer[11]
musicOMH[12]
NME[3]
Sputnikmusic3.8/5[13]

Zeit ([t͡saɪ̯t], "Time") is the eighth studio album by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein, released on 29 April 2022 through Universal Music. Produced by the band with Olsen Involtini, the album was unplanned and recorded as a result of the band's tour being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the band, the enforced lockdowns due to the pandemic spurred the band's creativity, resulting in spontaneous writing and recording sessions. Rammstein recorded the album in late 2020 and early 2021 at La Fabrique Studios in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, where they recorded their previous album. The album's title track was released as the lead single on 10 March 2022.[14]

Background and recording

Following the release of their sixth studio album, Liebe ist für alle da (2009), Rammstein dedicated nearly a decade to touring and performing live at festivals, with band members Till Lindemann and Richard Kruspe releasing music with their respective side projects Lindemann and Emigrate during this period as well. Rammstein's untitled seventh studio album was released in May 2019, ending their lengthy recording hiatus.[15] To support the album, the band embarked on their Stadium Tour. Kruspe originally predicted that the band would spend three to four years touring in support of the album.[16] The band announced dates for two legs in Europe and one leg in North America. The first European leg concluded in August 2019, with the second leg having been originally due to begin in May 2020. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic began severely impacting both Europe and North America, resulting in lockdowns being enforced across both continents, the band delayed both remaining legs of the tour to 2021.[17][18] They were both delayed once more to 2022.

During the initial COVID-19 lockdown in Germany, Rammstein began writing new music, leaving open the idea of recording a new album.[19] The band chose to begin writing new music to fill the void created by the postponement of their tour. By September 2020, the band returned to La Fabrique Studios in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, where they had recorded their untitled seventh studio album, to begin recording new material.[20] Keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz stated that the sessions were spontaneous and that the lockdown caused the band to "[have] more time to think of new things and less distraction".[21] Recording of the album concluded by February 2021.[21] In October 2021, a song from the album was premiered when shared with astronaut Thomas Pesquet while he was on board the International Space Station.[22]

Promotion and release

Rammstein began posting clips to their social media accounts on 8 March 2022, teasing forthcoming new material with the hashtag "#ZEITkommt".[23] The band announced their eighth studio album Zeit on 10 March alongside the release of its lead single, the title track, and the song's music video.[24] On March 25, 2022, the band's website announced that 11 "Zeit capsules" had been placed in 11 different cities around the world. Each capsule contained a code. The fan who found any of the 11 capsules should enter the code to Rammstein's website, revealing to the world the title to one of the unreleased tracks. The fan would also receive two tickets to any Rammstein concert of their choice, as well as travel and accommodations for the aforementioned concert.[25] The band began teasing the release of the album's second single, "Zick Zack", in early April. They opened a telephone hotline that provided the song's release date as well as portions of the song's instrumental and vocals. The song was released on 7 April 2022, accompanied by a music video.[26] A CD release that came with a teen-style magazine designed after the music video was released on 14 April, as well as a standard 7-inch vinyl.[27]

Zeit was released on 29 April 2022 through Universal Music, receiving both physical and digital releases. Physically, the album received both a standard and deluxe CD release, both housed as a digipak, as well as a double, heavyweight vinyl release.[28] The album's release was preceded by a listening event, held at certain movie theaters around the world, on 28 April.[29] The cover art for Zeit depicts the members of Rammstein walking down a staircase connected to the Trudelturm, a monument dedicated to aerial research, located at Aerodynamic Park in Adlershof, Berlin. The photograph used for the cover art was taken by Canadian musician Bryan Adams.[30]

Accolades

PublicationListRank
Loudwire (United States)The 50 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2022
–[31]
Metal Hammer (United Kingdom)The Best Metal Albums of 2022 So Far
–[32]
Metal Hammer (United Kingdom)The 50 Best Albums of 2022
5[33]
Revolver25 Best Albums of 2022
24[34]

Track listing

Zeit track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Armee der Tristen" ("Army of the Dreary Ones")3:25
2."Zeit" ("Time")5:21
3."Schwarz" ("Black")4:18
4."Giftig" ("Toxic")3:08
5."Zick Zack" ("Snip Snap")4:04
6."OK" ("Ohne Kondom" ["Without a Condom"])4:03
7."Meine Tränen" ("My Tears")3:57
8."Angst" ("Fear")3:44
9."Dicke Titten" ("Big Tits")3:38
10."Lügen" ("Lies")3:49
11."Adieu" ("Farewell")4:39
Total length:44:06

Personnel

Rammstein

Technical personnel

  • Florian Ammon – additional producer, engineer, editing
  • Nando Bernaldo – keyboard technician
  • Daniel Cayotte – studio assistant, technician
  • Jens Dreesen – mastering
  • Olsen Involtini – producer, mixer, recording engineer
  • Svante Forsbäck - atmos mixer
  • Rammstein – producer
  • Rossi Rossberg – drum technician
  • Sky van Hoff – additional producer, recording engineer, editing

Other personnel

  • Bryan Adams – photography
  • Büro Dirk Rudolph – artwork

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[85]Platinum15,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[86]Gold10,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[87]Gold10,000‡
France (SNEP)[88]Gold50,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[89]3× Gold300,000‡
Hungary (MAHASZ)[90]Platinum4,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[91]Platinum20,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[92]Platinum20,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Rammstein - Zeit". Time For Metal (in German). 29 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  2. ^ Pope, Cervanté (29 April 2022). "Rammstein's Zeit Offers a Cathartic Reflection of These Turbulent Times: Review". Consequence. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b Shutler, Ali (28 April 2022). "Rammstein – Zeit review: heavyweights add some delicacy to their industrial might". NME. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Zeit by Rammstein Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  5. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. (29 April 2022). "Rammstein - Zeit". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  6. ^ Lawson, Dom. "Reviews - Zeit". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  7. ^ Swingle, Emily (9 May 2022). "Rammstein - Zeit". Clash. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  8. ^ Wilkes, Emma (29 April 2022). "RAMMSTEIN - ZEIT". DIY. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  9. ^ Hann, Michael (29 April 2022). "Rammstein: Zeit review – ridiculous, but no risk of boredom". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  10. ^ Law, Sam (28 April 2022). "The Big Review: Rammstein – Zeit". Kerrang!. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  11. ^ Hill, Stephen (April 25, 2022). "Rammstein Zeit review: album number eight peels back emotional new layers". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  12. ^ Horton, Ross (29 April 2022). "Rammstein – Zeit". musicOMH. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  13. ^ K., Simon (29 April 2022). "Rammstein - Zeit". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  14. ^ "It looks like Rammstein are releasing a new single on Thursday". Kerrang!. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  15. ^ Munro, Scott (31 May 2019). "Rammstein celebrate chart success as new album storms to no.1 in 14 countries". Louder Sound. Retrieved 13 March 2022.. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Rammstein – Zeit" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rammstein – Zeit" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rammstein – Zeit" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
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  21. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 18.Týden 2022 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
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  23. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Rammstein – Zeit" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Rammstein: Zeit" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Lescharts.com – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rammstein – Zeit" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2022. 18. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 18 – 2022" [The Music - Albums - Week 18 - 2022] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Rammstein". Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2022/05/04 公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  32. ^ "ツァイト | ラムシュタイン" [Zeit | Rammstein] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  33. ^ "2023 21-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Charts.nz – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  36. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  37. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  39. ^ "Zeit – Rammstein". El Portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  41. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Rammstein – Zeit". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  42. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  43. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  44. ^ "Rammstein Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  45. ^ "Rammstein Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Rammstein Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  47. ^ "Rammstein Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  48. ^ "Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2022" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  49. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  50. ^ "Rapports annuels 2022" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  51. ^ "Album Top-100 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2022". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  53. ^ "2022: La production musicale française toujours au top" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  54. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Jahrescharts: "Layla" ist erfolgreichster Hit 2022, Rammstein räumen bei den Alben ab" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  55. ^ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista - eladási darabszám alapján - 2022" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  56. ^