Four years have passed since Stadium tour belonging RAMMSTEIN started in Germany. Much more since the itinerary was originally announced, and given the pandemic, it has been just under 365 days since tickets for the Portugal concert went on sale. However, after such a long wait for the return of the German band to the national soil, the day finally came when the titans of industrial metal honored us with their presence again. It was the stadium debut of a band that first visited us with two performances in 1998 at Paradise Garage and Hard Club and the national audience saw it grow step by step. Despite the absence we’ve been left with for the past decade (the last show here dates back to 2013 at the then Pavilhão Atlântico), the arrival of the Germans turned Lisbon into a black sea. In fact, a simple trip to the supermarket in the morning would be enough to realize that people from all over the country (and not only) have gathered there, the Portuguese almost all with backpacks on their backs, converging to host a group that is about to celebrate three decades careers. According to some, recent accusations that Till Lindemannthe band’s lead singer, has become the subject of much conversation on social media and the media in recent months – a story unfortunately repeated in the entertainment world.
Let’s face it, it was the national date for the third route Stadium tour on the Old Continent RAMMSTEIN arrived in Portugal in disgrace rather than grace. Even so, the metro ride to Estádio da Luz was electrifying. Inside, we were greeted by a sea of people all along the useful perimeter, with bars packed to capacity and a cool breeze that began to rise in the late afternoon, chasing away any shadow of a potential stadium elephant. Whether you think about it or not, or realize that the future seems increasingly uncertain for the band (or for the band with Till), the truth is that everything is set to welcome you with open arms. You can understand why if you look ahead. A gigantic stage dominates the stadium with several towers dotted across the lawn. Up there, the gray sky is preparing to receive all the explosives that will be detonated all night. Let’s face it, it’s not every day that we go to a show where we have to spend a few very long minutes to even grasp the size and scope of everything that lies ahead of us. And yes, even though the lineup had been circulating widely since the start of the tour, expectations were still high for it. performance in itself. But let’s start because this scene is really impressive; built to recreate an impressive dystopian cityscape that could very well have emerged straight from the classic silent “Megapolis”from Fritz Lang, which is easily confused with the futuristic structure of the current SLB home. Result with the French ABELAR playing piano versions of the classic headliners (on a dais at midfield left), it was just right for a band with such a penchant for imposing, dramatic gestures to shine in all their glory.
We could try to distort the text as much as we like, and at times it may even seem pointless to write about a show of force like that RAMMSTEIN. They are a HUGE, fiery band when needed; the choreography is thought out to the smallest detail – and, in truth, they have set the standard for what a great concert can be over the past two decades. with every tour becoming even larger and more imposing than the previous one, by this time nothing will allow them to give anything but an exceptional concert. Despite the restrictions, this unmissable event of the year also proved to be no exception to this rule, and once again the idea that no one represents a live show like these people was strengthened. The main export of German metal became famous for two reasons; they cause more explosions than a fireworks factory fire and play music at such a volume that it can often be heard 17 kilometers from where they play. Well, the same thing happened here, with a powerful and loud sound (perhaps too low in the place where we were present at the concert), well supported by sound towers strategically placed so that everyone can hear everything in loud and clear sound. . With the volume pumped up, you could feel the bass rumble through the foundation of the stadium. Taken into account: nothing much has changed on the stage since we last saw them, but everything has gotten bigger, much bigger.
01. ram song | 02. Links 2-3-4 | 03. Punish me | 04. Poisonous | 05. Yearning | 06. My heart burns | 07. Puppet | 08. angst | 09. Time | 10. Germany | eleven. Radio | 12. my part |13, Do you have | 14. sonne /// Anchor 1 /// 15. Engel | 16. Foreigner | 17. You smell so good | 18. Without you ///Bis 2/// 19. Rammstein | 20. I want | 21. Goodbye
Four minutes late – 9:34 p.m. seems to have been strategically chosen to ensure that the musicians would only take the stage at night – and the stadium went dark. To the sounds “Music for the Royal Fireworks”now made an anthem RAMMSTEIN, the group’s symbol hangs on the screen of the structure’s giant central tower. The stage lights up as we see Lindemann being lowered in the elevator. The first flames appear and RAMMSTEIN start engines, as is known, with the help of “Rama Song”. Cell phones stay in the air, capturing the moment, but bodies move to the sound of always benevolent “Links 2-3-4”with priceless Christian “Doctor Flake” Lorenz to remain unstoppable on the treadmill next to the keyboard, while the audience alternately dances and shakes their heads, lulled by undeniable hooks. Journey into the past withPunish me” e”Yearning“, how in “poisonous” in the middle of the passion subsided a little. This or all approached what he saw. After that there is a feeling “My heart burns” and alivePuppet” they made everyone sing in unison again. For two hours, the sold-out crowd at the Estádio da Luz not only saw the band play some of their greatest hits. It really happened. Played almost all big games hitsA “Germany”A “Do you have”A “My Part”A “Sonne”A “I want” and even the song of the same name, but it was the show itself – performance – which turned out to be completely out of this world.
The level of pyrotechnics is indescribable: Lindemann wears a wheel on his back, spewing fire in all directions, and the guitarists Paul Landers e Richard Kruspe armed with two huge flamethrowers attached to their guitars and firing huge flames. There are more innocent things like huge guns confetti which envelop the entire stadium with paper tapes. And everywhere there is fire, a lot of fire. At times, heat was felt on the face, anywhere from the lawn to the stands farthest from the main structure, and waves of pyrotechnics lit up not only the stage, but also the four towers that towered above the crowd and left them. dark puffs of smoke hang in the sky. There was literally a feeling that we were among the rubble of some devastated post-futuristic city. Then there were more earthy things, with a small stage arranged in the middle of the hall (slightly to the left of those who are facing the stage), where musicians joined the crowd. ABELAR interpret “Engel”, which opened the first Encore. After that, the band members returned to the main stage in inflatable rubber boats and attacked the luxurious trio, consisting of “Foreigner“,”You smell so good»e«Without you“. in a second bis planned, but still very much in demand) there was still time to listen to “Rammstein“,”I want“and, at the moment of farewell, very appropriate”Goodbye“.
The images in the gallery are from GEORGE BOOTS.