In a more just world, Sehnsucht and Mutter would tie for the top spot, but this is the internet and lists aren't fair. So what's the determining factor for why Rammstein's certified star-making sophomore effort edged out the later, more polished Mutter here? Simply put, you can't fuck with the bangers on this record. Inarguably their most recognizable hit (at least to Americans), "Du Hast" is nearing classic-rock status in its iconic stature, and tracks like "Engel" and "Buck Dich" have both earned their rightful spots in the industrial-metal hall of fame as incorruptible essentials. The latter notably led to Lindemann and Flake's arrest following a particularly raunchy performance.

Outside of the obvious beloved hits on Sehnsucht, its flow and dynamism are the concrete proof that naysayers who write Rammstein off as merely shock-value seekers are abjectly wrong. From the vigorous entry point of the album's namesake track through their darkly cheeky rendition of Depeche Mode's slinky "Stripped" found on expanded versions of the release, the 1997 record remains the defining moment when Rammstein became more than an interesting band who started a new wave of techno-metal-industrial fusion music; they were a worldwide sensation who would go on to garner a devoted fan base and righteous legacy 20-plus years on.