On Friday night, my brother phoned up and asked if I was interested in seeing the mad German metallers Rammstein at the Manchester MEN Arena on Sunday night; he'd found out there were still a few tickets left for the show. Having heard reports of the theatricality of their live show, I decided this was a show worth going to.
The support act were the four crazy Finnish cellists Apocalyptica. Accompanied by a live drummer, they tore through their mix of instrumental Metallica covers and original compositions with a tremendous amount of energy. It's weird how much they made the quiet bit in the middle of 'Master of Puppets' sound like 18th century chamber music. They closed with a manic take on Greig's 'Hall of the Mountain King', a weirdly rock version of a classical piece played on classical instruments. Is this the new rock'n'roll?
Rammstein preceded their set with what has to be the longest intro tape I've ever heard; something like ten minutes of Krautrock-style drone before the band finally launched into the opening song, the title track of the lastest album, 'Reise Reise'.
The stage resembled the famous inner sleeve of Blue Öyster Cult's "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" crossed with the set from some 80s science fiction movie; the backline spread right across the back of the stage, with the drumkit perched on top. Most of the band started the set on top of this backline too before being lowered down on hydraulic lifts to join singer Till Linderman, who spent the first number prowling the stage below on his own.
Rammstein's music matched the stage set; monstrous walls of guitars leavened by slabs of symphonic keyboards, topped by Till Linderman's Darth Vader vocals. Sung, of course, almost entirely in German.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Sounds awesome - after a bunch of beers - check out my review of "Reise Reise".
2 - Tim Hall
Those beers were two nights before the show, but there were further beers before the show :)
3 - SFC SKI
You're lucky you were able to go. They sold out almost immediately in Germany, and I don't know if they will play in the US, though they seem to have quite a following here.
4 - Tim Hall
The Manchester show was in a 10000 seat enormodome, and was almost, but not completely full. I think the three London shows (at the 5000 seat Brixton Academy) were completely sold out.
5 - Leif
I was on the show in Nottingham,and i have to say it was great show. If you see the link then you can see pictures from that show.
6 - Leezig
I too went knowing almost nothing about Rammstein...has to be about the best gig I've ever been to. I'm a convert; I've seen the light and felt the heat!
7 - Coatsie
I say Rammstein in 1999 in an outdoor festival in Switzerland - they were fantastic then (including a flame throwing pen1s) but the show in Brixton was far far better. Simply awesome.
8 - Julie
I saw Rammstein in Berlin, Manchester and more recently at B'ham NEC. They are just awesome, all 3 shows were just amazing, Berlin & B'ham were better than Manchester. You have to witness the sheer pomp, splendour and utter madness of a Rammstein show to be able to really appreciate Rammstein in all their glory. Plus, Till is just sex personified.
9 - Ideaman
I had this idea for a Rammstein mix (literaly a mix!) not long ago: mix of text from the song "Rammstein", and "Sonne" (it fits perfectly). Use "Sonne" music, but replace parts of it's lyrics with parts from "Rammstein" song: - at the end of the last verse of each part of "Rammstein" Till says "the sun shines.", connect that with "Here comes the sun" from each part of "Sonne". It fits really good.