Rammstein, Manchester MEN Arena, February 2nd
Rammstein played at the Manchester MEN Arena on February 2nd
Also In The News
|
An inspired display by Lee Briers and a Chris Hicks hat-trick helped Warrington Wolves to retain the Challenge Cup with a demolition of Leeds Rhinos. |  |
Thursday, 11, Feb 2010 01:23
An ominous black curtain covers most of the huge stage at the MEN arena, and with a reputation to uphold, the excitement and tension of what German gods of metal Rammstein are hiding behind there is deservedly bringing the crowd to boiling point.
First, we have a set by industrial synth act Combichrist. This four piece are lesser known and have the unenviable task of impressing a crowd who know nothing can be better than what is in store. Credit to them, then, as a solid performance stirs up the floor crowd. Two drummers impressively play in time whilst all other backing is provided on keyboards, and their energy can be seen physically, with stage hands regularly having to pick up drums and cymbals finding themselves on the floor as the result of an over enthusiast chorus.
As the lights dim the curtain is still up, and eerie synth sounds accompany what appears to be a slight movement from behind. Rammstein don't simply play a rock show, performance is key to the experience and much like a metal version of the Blue Man Group, the music is simply an accompaniment to an incendiary live show. Set pieces are delivered with a sense of precision and choreography, but with the rough uncertainty of a rock show making it all the more exciting.
Holes are punched emitting light through two black boxes, Richard Kruspe and Paul Landers emerge, followed by the spark of a welding torch cutting through a box in the centre, only to be kicked open by Till XXX. The black curtain drops to reveal a lightning background, and the story is set like an old Hammer Horror style Frankenstein set. Launching into Rammlied, the sound for the evening is perfect, with vocals, synths, drums and guitars perfectly synchronised and mixed.
Each song plays as a backing to ongoing theatre throughout the night, with the majority of the set coming from new album Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (or Love Is For Everybody). Classics like Feur Frei! and Du Hast make an expected appearance, but this tour is designed around new material; with Rammstein's versatility being realised when bass player Oliver Riedel picks up a classical guitar for the soft introduction of Fruhling in Paris (Springtime in Paris) with the stage seeped in darkness rather than flames, green lasers providing an ambient focal point visually.
The interaction between Till Lindemann and Christian 'Flake' Lorenz Keyboardist is vital to the performance, and what appears to be onstage bickering is constant until a climactic battle between Frankenstein and his assistant, culminating in the singer dumping him in a metal bath and offering a shower of fire. While these set pieces are all impressive in their own right, what really makes a difference is the complete professionalism of the band members not involved with a particular 'scene'; stepping back into the darkness, allowing the necessary characters to take centre stage.
Anybody can excite with some pyrotechnics and clever lighting, but it is testament to Rammstein that their music is not overshadowed by the stage explosions (or the many other impressive props used throughout). A strong musical performance is what gives life to the evening, making this an unmissable show for anybody that can take their music with a heavy edge.
Ben brady
Set list
Rammlied
B********
Waidmann's Heil
Keine Lust
Weisses Fleisch
Feuer Frei!
Wiener Blut
Frühling in Paris
Ich tu dir weh
Liebe ist für Alle da
Benzin
Links 2 3 4
Du Hast
Pussy
First Encore
Sonne
Haifisch
Ich Will
Second Encore
Engel