Few other cultural phenomena have remained as controversial as the East German brute rockers Rammstein. Their visually stunning stage excesses, their scandalous transgressions and their taboo-breaking and highly sexualised fantasies of violence virtuously play with the outrage reflexes of the general public. Even in the thirtieth year of its existence, this band still polarizes like no other. They describe themselves as a “total work of art”. This book explores this approach and allows the band to speak for themselves. Anyone who wants to find out more about them will not be disappointed. However, the book primarily focuses on their creative endeavours – the music, the powerful sound, and the songs as well as their dramatic presentation in edgy videos and bombastic stage productions full of pyrotechnical special effects. What is behind the waves of outrage that the band regularly triggers? What motivates the band to constantly come up with new provocative ideas, to rebel against the self-righteous zeitgeist, and to confront the bigoted advocates of wokeism and political correctness with unrelenting guitar riffs? To what extent are the reactions to their provocations already a part of their self-presentation as a total work of art? What is it that makes this band so unique? Anyone who seeks answers to these questions will find them here. “The stage presentation with all the costumes, pyrotechnics, lights and so on, this total work of art, is often misunderstood by journalists.” Richard Kruspe, lead guitarist of the band “It has always been our job to cast some light into the human abysses and to explore corners that are not well-known but are there.” Paul Landers, rhythm guitarist of the band