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28 October 2014

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Live reviews

Rammstein

Rammstein at the Arena - 10/10

Adam Farrer (gig: 06/02/05)
A lot has been made of Rammstein鈥檚 appeal. It has been said that had the German band not developed an addiction to pyrotechnics, their strength would have been severely diluted and they would have been a run of the mill industrial band.

I can鈥檛 abide such statements. Having spent the last three years with their albums as constant companions, I can鈥檛 think of their music as anything other than exhilarating and unstoppably powerful. The fire and the explosions bring an extra something to the table but all that is just icing to the exceedingly good cake of their music.

Apocalyptica

Ahead of the exhilaration of the main band, though, were the thrilling Apocalyptica. Four long haired Finnish cellists playing Metallica covers might seem a prospect best observed with amusement but in truth, they are one of the best live bands I have seen in some time. Hacking away at their instruments and whipping out the familiar riffs of Seek And Destroy and Enter Sandman, shred solos and all, the band stalked the stage like a teen Goth fantasy. They left the crowd more worked up and satisfied than a support band normally has right to with their aggressive reworking of Grieg鈥檚 Hall of The Mountain King still ringing in their ears.

Rammstein

Finally though, it was Rammstein time and little can prepare you for it. An initial bombardment of discomforting industrial sound sees the band鈥檚 road crew (quite the sharpest looking roadies you鈥檒l ever see) take to the stage in short sleeve shirts and ties. Looking like body doubles for Michael Douglas in Falling Down, they wander the stage, menacingly swinging aluminium baseball bats and invasively shining torches into the crowd before a throb of blue light appears behind a black backdrop that drops to reveal the band tearing into Reise Reise atop an immense, futuristic stage set.

The stocky frame of singer Til Lindeman advances from an HR Giger style orifice below the drum riser and we are on our way into a set of drama, lunacy and pummelling metal mayhem. Til and guitarists Richard and Paul don fire breathing face masks that blister the rafters through the breakneck Feuer Frei, the controversial pro-consensual cannibalism tune Mein Teil comes complete with keyboard player Flake boiled in a pot with a flame-thrower until he emerges in an explosion, and the set closing Amerika features Flake hurtling about the stage on a keyboard mounted Segway whilst red, white and blue ticker tape sprays the audience.

Rammstein

But gimmicks are only part of the appeal and whilst it is immensely entertaining watching a serious band revelling in the dumb joy of explosives and walls of flame, the music is clearly still king. Where many industrial rock bands concern themselves with sick imagery in the name of shock value, Rammstein鈥檚 music has grown over time into a unique and emotionally deep canon, drawing on the dense balladry traditions of their homeland. These are best displayed during the encores with the dramatic Sonne and the achingly heartfelt Ohne Dich, which both draw, if somewhat abstractly, from the same well as Kurt Weill and Marlene Deitrich.

Rammstein have created, and I say this without a grain of hyperbole, the greatest arena rock show you could ever hope to see. It may sound like hyperbole but its not, it鈥檚 just the firework-emblazoned truth.

last updated: 16/02/05

Have Your Say

Da hoole rammstein maniac
Ihave seen them in manchester and in newcastle excallent in both but in manchester more pyrotecnics the best show on this blooming earth

Joe Hopley
Damn!!!my first Rammstein gig and defo not my last!!at the start of feuer frei they didnt have the masks on and i was worried theyd been forced to abondon them by the arena staff or something but when the music broke down and flake was the only one left on stage, i knew exactly where the others had gone!!what a show!Gotta be the best Rock show ever!

Amias
The show rocked! i ws luvin every minute! the heat from the pyrotechnics was instant and shocking! Awsome show - cant wait 4 them 2 cum around again!

Davey
The Rammstein show is the Hottest show on earth. Never mind KISS, Rammstein are now the hottest band!!!

faz
rammstein are the best bvand ever and i love all ur albums

BuDReAPeR
Its excellent how some people appreciate the awesomeness of the Group.

Till
JESUS CHRIST, THAT ROXXORED!

baz liverpool
a truly breathtaking experience.I was so p****d off when i realized i'd left my camera at the hotel,and the concert was about to start.Still i have my memories.

Anne in Scotland
I have been going to concerts since I was little, Rammstein in Manchester was the best concert i have been to. In terms of music (which is ace) and the show pyrotechnics, we are still all talking about it. Wunderbar

Liz, London
Saw them at the Brixton Academy! BRILLIANT!!!!!!

Tom in czech
Just seen them in Ostrava (Small City in North Czech Rep) review correct.AMAZING!!!! And they did a 8 song encore after Amerkia:)!!!

T
Must admit I was a bit sceptical about going to the show (was going with a true fan). However, over 15 years of going to concerts of all sorts this one has been the best so far.

Richard
Awsome show . Music is the most important thing and doesnt disapoint. The heat is unbelievable. Needs to be experienced to be believed. And so many friendly people

Dr Worm
What a breath of fresh air! You did your research first and wrote a review worthy of being paid to write! This show was amazing, the 6 German rockers get better and better all the time! Thankyou Rammstein for another night of delight and thankyou Adam Farrer for giving Rammstein a review they deserve!

MICK COLLINGS
I could not agree more,i'd been keenly looking forward to this show since buying Reise,Reise and from someone who has been a massive Gary Numan fan since '79 I can honestly say it is the best live show i've ever seen.

Jack Jarvis
Rammstein are at their peak and nothing is stopping them. Everything about the gig was amazing !

Nath666
show was amazing i had never heard Apocalyptica, but they were really good, and a hard act to beat, But with the quality (and the pyro's) Rammstein stole the show. For my first gig it was amazing, i was at the other end of the arena (seating) and i could feel the flames/fire as though it was against my face, brilliant!!!

Trev Spencer
I have to say it was the best gig I have ever been to.Rammstein seem to hit the spot with the northern european audience I only hope they hit the US as well.It was contrary to the Times and the Guardian one of the best of all time.Hoping somebody has had the sense to capture it on DVD.

Rasmus, (from Denmark)
I didn't atend the concert, but I did when they toured Copenhagen. It was the best concert I have ever been to, so I am sure the one in Brixton was as good as in Denmark. Rammstein is just the best band.

caty
it was so good that i'm going to Berlin to see them at the 3 concerts ..again..i can't have enough of rammstein ..good music, good show everytime..happy!

Meurig Hughes
Been to many gigs. Some excellent, some ok. This is up there with the excellent ones. One of the best ever gigs I've seen. Great review too.

Nige Hall
The above review totally sums up possibly the best concert I have been to for a number of years (except Dream Theater where the music was exceptional but the show itself was average). Greatest show ever - not sure. If you are older and remember Pink Floyd at there best then maybe not. That said, in the days of high prices and average performances this can be said to be the best show for many a year. So good I would go again without hesitation even if I didn't understand one work of the lirics (well maybe a few). Deutsland uber alles.

jana
great review! it is nice to read something written by someone who understands how good Rammstein are.

Becks
that was very nice to read! To me Rammstein's music is at the heart of why I love them too - the wonderful stage show is a grand bonus. :)

Marjolein Hensen
Thanks for the very nice review, but Apocalyptica has 3 members: they are only playing with the four of them on live-performances. And only 2 of the four have long hair. ;-)