Since forming in the 1980s, Rammstein have been heralded as the poster boys of the Neue Deutsche Härte movement alongside other German industrial metal bands like Oomph! And KMFDM. If their 1995 debut Herzeleid became a turning point for the genre, their fourth album Mutter (Mother) cemented Rammstein’s legacy in it, bringing a heavier but also more symphonic sound to the mix. The album offers what we’ve come to expect from Rammstein as a band — lyrics critical of rightwing extremism, capitalism, sexual taboos, and scathing critiques of Germany’s history soundtracked by grinding, industrial guitars, rapid fire drumming and ominous synths. Mutter is also full of bombastic bangers like “Feuer Frei!,” “Mein Herz Brennt,” and “Links 2 3 4,” a track which plays like a military parade made up of misfits, while also incorporating  symphonic elements in songs like “Sonne” and “Mutter.”

Industrial metal’s equivalent of the Blue Man Group, Rammstein’s popularity lies as much in their sheer spectacle as it does their demented destructo-pop. Their follow-up to the album with the big world-conquering hit takes their music in a more symphonic direction. Just because the music is in tuxedos doesn’t mean you want to run their lyrics through a translator, mind you — they remain as disturbing as they are catchy. XXX-rated pyrotechnic display “Feuer Frei,” mechanistic militaristic “Links 2 3 4,” and longing-filled “Sonne” pack the most potent explosives but the whole thing’s a powder keg.