Information
Date: July 15, 2005
City: Birmingham, England
Author: Tilly Mann
Pictures
Review
Unfortunately I cannot remember which order the songs were performed in, but hopefully the photo's will help!
Apart from the long wait from 6.05 to 8.30 for the band to come on stage, the gig was superb, although from where we were sitting it wasn't much of a view of the band, as at the MEN on 6th February.
Owing to a mix up about whether or not digital camera's could be taken into the arena, I didn't get any photo's of the first four songs as the camera was strategically placed upon my husband's person, but I did get the camera off him in the end.
The NEC was packed to the point of "being uncomfortable" no seat was empty. Their were a lot of camera's at the foot of the stage and a camera on a large pole being sent into the audience, so presumably it was all being filmed for a video or DVD perhaps, not sure!
The band started off with Reise Reise, the atmos was quite electric as the crowd had waited long enough and were eager to get the gig on the road, so to speak, but as soon as the chords rang out the crowd went into onslaught mode, it was tremendous.
Gotta say that Till's vocal chords sounded much more harsher this time and those rolling rrrrr's could be heard all over the arena – great news!
Next was Links 2,3,4, which was really fantastic, the crowd joined in as Till shouted Links, the audience shouted ZVO! It was great!
I think Mein Teil was next, Till had Flake in the cauldron again (poor guy!) and Till chased him around the stage with a large knife, dressed as a chef, as he did at the last gig, but it was still good entertainment! (of course it is difficult to try and remember nearly two hours worth of material, but the band played the old favourites.)
Du Hast, was sung to a fountain of fire shooting up high into the arena roof. All the crowd were singing well most of the crowd.
I couldn't believe how many people were just walking about whilst the band were playing, it made no sense. In my day of gigs no-one dared move from their seat, even if you were dying to visit the loo, you didn't want to miss a thing, but people were ambling past us and jumping out of their seats at every available moment, which I thought was downright rude, but that is my opinion.
Feuer Frei was excellent, more loud bands and fire, it was so hot, it amazed me how the band members stood it, especially as we have been seeing temperatures of 86 in and around the Birmingham area.
I think I was grateful I was on the Atkins Diet as I had brought plenty of water and believe me I needed it!
Los was still hilarious as Flake took to doing his little German Dance whilst Ollie, Richard, Paul and Till formed a line across the stage, it's just one little number you can't help but move to although in a different vein to say Asche zu Asche obviously!
Amerika saw thousands of red and white bits of paper blown high into the air and engulfed the crowds below, who were still lapping up the fever in front of them. I could hear the crowd below us singing "We're all living in Amerika!" etc
Keine Lust started off unrecognizable I just couldn't make out what was being played and then it hit me a like a two ton truck and off I went singing along with the gorgeous Till, (Sorry if this is Till orientated Guys!) The lights were quite raw for this one.
Stein um Stein is a dark and moody number with thrashing chords and a guitar riff to be proud of, keyboards also favour this track.
Rammstein the song of course, was played solemnly to an array of lights and fire and of course the madding crowds.
Asche zu Asche was really powerful and seemed to turn the crowd into one frenzied animal, but hardly surprising the way they belt out those chords! I couldn't keep still and on occasions I think I even headbanged, but no surprise as this is a fast and raucous number.
I loved the newie "Benzin" it was in the same vein as Amerika, but was still unique, and was made more special as I had not heard it before. That's one I will be adding to the collection make no bones about it!
One of my regret's for the show was that they didn't sing Moskba sorry Moscow as it is one of my personal favourites, but I still enjoyed every bit of the gig immensely.
They used all the tools of their trade at this gig, like the gun that shoots flames and the masks and the claws, shooting a flame across the heads of the wary or unwary depending on whether they had seen the band or not, check the photo it is cool!
Du Reicht So Gut, saw the guys all lining up on the stage and coming forward and thrashing their heads down in time to the thrashing chords they were smashing out, it made me wish I was standing instead of sitting, not easy thrashing whilst sitting down!
Zehnsucht was another thrasher and I think I was glad I wasn't in the Moshpit for that one, I would have spent the next few hours in a coma or longer.
Ich Will, Till actually said at one point "Hands up!" which shocked me, as he sang Wir mochte eure hande sehen and instinctively hands went up in the air before Till asked, perhaps some of the fans (like myself) understand a bit of German, here's hoping!
There was a lot going on as always, at a Rammstein gig nothing unusual happens always the opposite and at the end there was a loud bang that perforated my already perforated eardrum, scaring the hell out of me – with all this talk and threat of bombs etc, it was loud enough to have rock Birmingham on it's own, but in true Rammstein style they did another loud band before the end and yes I think I am totally deaf now!
Stripped, saw Ollie on his boat across a sea of heads all eager to send him on his way and as he approached each side an uproar was heard and a lot of raised hands.
Ohne Dich was the very last number of the set and was very poignant to the point of sadness as no-one wanted them to leave the stage, but some of us had a long journey home, unfortunately so when the last number had finished it was get to the car park in record time to beat the thousands.
Finally all went quiet and that was it over until next time.
Special thanks to the really cute looking guy (who I am sure had been at the gig) smiled at me from a car on the motorway. Thanx! perfect end to a perfect evening.