Thunder and Rammstein locked in UK album chart battle with indie band Blossoms
Who will chart highest on Friday?
Last updated 4th May 2022
Thunder and Rammstein are both set to chart highly with their latest studio albums.
According to the Official Charts Company, Rammstein’s eight album ‘Zeit’ (which translates as 'Time') is at Number 2 at the midweek stage, and it will be their highest charting album ever in the UK if it retains the position on Friday.
Rammstein’s critically lauded untitled album reached the dizzy peaks of No.3 in 2019 and it became the German band’s first ever Top 10 record.
Thunder’s first ever double album ‘Dopamine’ is close behind Rammstein at Number 3 at the midweek stage.
Featuring the Planet Rock playlisted anthems ‘The Western Sky’ and ‘Across the Nation’, ‘Dopamine’ looks set to become Thunder’s twelfth UK Top 40 album to date and it’s on course to match the peak of their 2021 release 'All the Right Noises' (Number 3).
Rammstein and Thunder are slightly behind Stockport indie band Blossoms, who are at Number 1 at the midweek point with their new effort ‘Ribbon Around the Bomb.’
Elsewhere, Reef are currently at Number 8 with ‘Shoot Me Your Ace’ and Rush could re-enter the chart this week thanks to a 40th anniversary reissue of ‘Moving Pictures’ (Number 23).
Thunder kick of their five-date UK arena tour later this month, calling in at Glasgow SEC Armadillo, Leeds First Direct Arena, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Birmingham Resorts World Arena and London The SSE Arena Wembley. Head to Planet Rock Tickets to check ticket availability.
Rammstein, meanwhile, play epic stadium shows at Coventry Building Society Arena and Cardiff Principality Stadium in late June.
Rammstein's astonishing pyrotechnics through the years:
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's frontman and resident pyromaniac, Till Lindemann, wore a flaming silver coat at the band's early shows. Here he is on stage in Berlin in 1996.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Even when they played smaller stages, this did little to quell Rammstein's insatiable appetite for fire. Here's a shirtless Till Lindemann swinging two Catherine wheel-like fireworks at the Palace in Los Angeles in 1998.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's trademark flamethrowers have also been a mainstay of their live shows for decades. Here's Till Lindemann at Australia's Big Day Out Festival in 2001.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Another photo of Till Lindemann in his ablaze silver coat in 2001.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Creating a truly futuristic look, Till also wore Terminator-esque glasses that emitted red laser beams.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Huge blasts of pyro erupt on stage at Rammstein's San Jose Compaq Center in September 2001 on the Pledge of Allegiance tour.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Years before anyone had heard of Daenerys Targaryen, Till shouts "Dracarys" on stage in 2001.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Although Till Lindemann is undoubtedly the biggest pyromaniac, Rammstein's pyro isn't just limited to the frontman – here's Richard Z. Kruspe shooting flames from his guitar in the early noughties.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann shoots flames from his hands at Pinkpop festival in The Netherlands in May 2002.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Dressed as his deranged murderous butcher alter ego, Till Lindemann blasts his flamethrower on stage in Rotterdam in 2004.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann surrounded by pyrotechnics at the Gelredome in Holland in December 2009.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann shows off his glowing smile on stage in 2009.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein shoot flames from their pyro masks in unison at Copenhagen Live 2010. Astonishing.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Till Lindemann stands, quite literally, amongst a wall of pyro at Australia's Big Day Out Festival in 2011.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
An amazing image of Till Lindemann and Richard Z. Kruspe blasting flames at Bravalla Festival 2013 in Norrkoping, Sweden.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein are flanked by an arsenal of pyro at Wacken Open Air Festival in 2013.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Till Lindemann shoots flames from his angel wings at Download Festival Paris 2016.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's Richard Z. Kruspe at Download Festival Paris 2016.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein's muted and highly understated stage setup on the 2019 European Stadium Tour.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Rammstein drummer Christoph Schneider's view from behind his kit.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
For the 2019 European stadium tour, Till Lindemann unveiled a newly revamped pyro backpack that shoots out nine gigantic flames.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Till Lindemann fires his flamethrower at Flake during the band's 2022 stadium tour. The tour, which was delayed for two years due to the pandemic, featured the same mind-blowing set up as 2019.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
Till Lindeman's pyro backpack in action in Aarhus, Denmark in June 2022.
Rammstein's pyro through the years
The incredible stage in Denmark during Rammstein's summer 2022 stadium tour.