M.E.N. Arena Manchester - Sunday 6th Feb 2005
Setlist
Reise Reise
Links 234
Kiene Lust
Feuer Frei
Rein Raus
Morgernstern
Mein Teil
Stein Um Stein
Los
Moskau
Du Riechst So Gut
Du Hast
Sehnsucht
Amerika
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Rammstein
Sonne
Ich Will
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Ohne Dich
Stripped
It's pretty difficult to know where to start, really. Anyone who's heard about Rammstein shows, knows they take some explaining. I caught them on their last tour, and needless to say, it was one of the best shows I ever went to. Tonight, is right alongside it.
Firstly, Apocalyptica. Brilliant, they know how to shred. They played seven songs, four of which were covers: Master Of Puppets, Seek And Destroy, Enter Sandman and Hall Of The Mountain King. All in all, they were a surprise.
Now, to the main event. And that's the only way to describe it, an event. Choosing a set which was heavy on songs from their new album, Reise, Reise they burst out with the title track, on a stage which looked like the Nostromo in Alien, and high on podiums only for the two guitarists to be lowered to the stage by hydraulic lifts (one of whom, wearing one of two ridiculous outfits sported by the band, laderhosen). There's the usual liberal amount of pyrotechnics - some old favourites, like the flamethrowing facemasks in Feuer Frei.
Feuer Frei
This is pure theatre, sometimes hammy, always tongue-in-cheek. Case in point was having singer Till Lindemann play the role of Psychotic Cannibal Chef, chasing keyboardist "Flake" Lorenz (dressed part nazi stormtrooper, part gimp) around the stage, barbequing him in a giant pot with a flamethrower.
Sonne
Never subtle, always going for the specticle, painting with HUGE strokes, there's a touch of the Beavis' about most of the reaction from the audience to ever bang, crack and boom! That said, it's the music which is the biggest winner, played flawlessly tight and prompting huge singalongs with the 15,000 strong crowd.
Amerika
The latest addition to the huge show, is the paper-cannons, giving a touch of pomp and ceremony to the closing song of the main set, Amerika. Red, white and blue, no less.
Encores brought around popular classics, Rammstein, Sonne and Ich Will, with Till ditching the old flaming coat in favour of two huge flamethrowers for Rammsteins eponymous anthem.
Stripped
Second encore brought a change of pace, in Ohne Dich and Depeche Modes Stripped, during which the - now traditional - dinghy trip across the crowd for bass-player, Olli.
All in all, it was awesome. If you're a detractor of Rammstein, it probably won't be your cup of tea, but for me, I love it!
I'm knocking off points for some criminal omissions from the set, namely: Weisses Fleich, Asche Zu Asche, Wollt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen? and - unbelievably - Buck Dich.
That was a small complaint. 9/10
[small]The pictures aren't mine, I borrowed them from the Brixton show, too illustrate what it was like.[/small]
