Review Summary: German Industrial Boy's Still Working Hard At Their Craft
Rammstein. Personally, I never warmed up to Till and the fellas after their incredible record, Mutter, which I believe to be their best effort along with the two records that came before it. Rammstein have overcome so much adversity, and for obvious reasons. Songs like Du Riechst So Gut ("I smell you for far away. You taste so good, you smell so good") or Tier ("Look at your daughter, as she is young in her years. And like an animal, he mates with his own flesh and blood"). But of course, all the lyrics are in German and unless you know the language, or want to trawl through the net, endlessly looking for translations, then you'll be none the wiser. Neo-Nazis, poster boys for the master race etc Rammstein have been called everything under the blue moon. Volkenball is Rammstein's third release live DVD, capturing the might and humor of their on-stage personalities. Filmed in four locations, but mostly in Les Arenes De Nimes, France (19 songs). The other locations include the Brixton Academy, London, Club Citta, Tokyo and only one song from a performance in Olympisiki, Moscow. Highly praised by many music magazines, and given perfect stars, I, with every faith, quickly bought this DVD, and watched it almost every day for the last four and a half weeks. Hmm....
Important Note Before You Go On
I featured all the songs from all locations. Look for the song under (London) *4 songs* or (Tokyo) *3 songs* plus trailer or (Moscow)*one song*, to see which song was played where and what I rated it. The standard location I reviewed for is FRANCE, as it is the main event and the largest. Please take note of this while reading.
The Look
The DVD came in a very chunky little CD paper-based gold and black case, nicely put together with the CD and a large photo book. Unfolded, the case comes out like a box, covered with pictures of fans, as Volkenball in German suggests "Peoples Ball". Since I couldn’t find any other version anywhere, I assumed I brought the special version. Oh how was I wrong.
The Songs
Down to the real deal.... (CD and DVD)
Intro
Lengthy and a waste of time at two mins, why is it track one on the CD when its just random people screaming? = 0/5
Reise Reise
Finally, the synth intro the Reise slowly seeps through the speakers and the crowd goes mental. The visual spectacle here is enough to put Kiss and every 80's band to shame. Big costumes, a huge industrial stage, its a sight to behold. There’s not enough justification to explain it in words here, you simply have to see it to believe it = 4/5
Link 2 3 4
One of the 'Stein's classic songs everyone knows this song, usually not in the best way as it has been affectionately labeled "The Nazi March Song". A metallic stomping marching-esque beat as Till spits forward Left 2 3 4! Definitely the highlight Just make sure you grandfather isn’t listening, though = 5/5
Kein Lust
An HxC riff, before the HxC movement even began. A song I have not yet heard before, but have since grown on me. Nothing special happens on stage, but the song I believe you will enjoy = 4.5/5
Feuer Frei!
This is the big piece of pie, every single person is waiting for this moment, and what I believe to be the climax to which Rammstein should of saved for the end, but ripped through it four songs into the concert. Open Fire! Is simply an incredible song, mixing Gothic elements with Industrial metal. As the songs suggest, there is fire. A hell of a lot of it here. Wait for the near quite break of the song, where Till, Christoph and Richard don the flamethrowers, on their face! Unfortunately, as stunning as the performance was, the song lacked the same sucker-punch as it did on Mutter = 3/5 (London) what can I say? I think the British put something in Rammstein's drink called enthusiasm and a good punch in the teeth 5/5
Asche Zu Asche
The token catchy song. Every band has one, including the 'Stein. Too bad, the performance was going strong but soon fell flat and the song felt so forced. Maybe because 'Frei wore them out? = 2.5/5
Morgenstern
Another song, which proves that Rammstein has progressed, further and further away from their Mutter days. But no means is that such a bad thing. Morgenstern is a perfect example of why Rammstein have remained on top for so long. The lights will be plenty to give you epilisy. They mix elements of genres and create their own. A catchy metal song infused with Gothic elements = 4.5/5
Mein Teil
Laugh! ROTFL. I can’t tell you what happens. An essential watch for the performance = 5/5 (Tokyo) Yes, laughs are better when they come in two. The song feels much more stronger this time and the synths are much clearer = 5/5
Stein Um Stein
The token slow-fast song. Rammstein have finally picked up the performance and put some damn effort in. It’s about time! = 4.5/5
Los
Another highlight and another laugh and a half moment. Rammstein's hilarious attempt at a country song, and its not bad. Again, the 'Stein mix it in with metal and its perfect. Carefully watch, and you will catch Flake doing a dance. It’s a perfect ROTFL moment, as the rest of the guys look dead-set serious, Flake is making an arse out of himself, as usual. It’s so disappointing that we don’t get to see anymore. Coming in at six and a half mins, it is a very long song. Ah Flake, the keyboardist, true to his reputation, during the break-neck climax of Los, he smashes his keyboard and kicks it around a few times. The song and performance go well, but this goes out to Flake, the token band arse = 5/5 (Tokyo) Only a little tiny trailer, but you see some footage of Japanese people moshing...for a bit. I think this trailer last for 14 seconds 1/5
Du Riechst So Gut
An early song, containing some of the band's most twisted and perverted lyrics. Strangely enough, possibly even disturbing, the whole of France screams along, even the women = 3.5/5
Benzin
A great performance saves this strange song about petrol = 3.5/5
Du Hast
A true classic of the 'Stein. You Will gained commercial success back in the days as it was played on MTV for a while. A heavy as they come, and irresistible. An out of place keyboard solo sounds so wrong, but Flake pulls it off with such ease that you can’t help but to imitate it. One again, the arse strikes once more. See if you can catch him wearing something your mother would wear in the garden = 3.5/5 (Tokyo) The Japanese are wild and Rammstein know it! = 4.5/5
Sehnsucht
Longing is one of the best Rammstein songs. Period. At its peak, it was a full-on heavy metal assault, about a good cause. The lyrics flow through the song effortlessly, and the Doktor used to make strange faces to the camera, as previous performances, to keep things as creepy as they come. Disappointing performance, it seems as things have fallen though again. Where this should of been the highlight comes off as forced and boring = 2.5/5
Amerika
Ah Till's attempt at English. It's difficult to rate this song, as it is in English and everything changes. This is a song that I cannot decide for you. You have to watch it and decide what you think. Another interesting moment is when Flake rides out on something that you grandma would this time. Its your decision, but to me, the 'Stein's English, strangely feels foreign = 2/5
Rammstein
The definition of Gothic Metal. This song deserves a perfect five, but that’s on record. Live, it sounds so bland and dare I say, clean. A far cry from its slow and chilling original. The performance does feature standard fire, but it's so so = 3/5
Sonne
Sun is an average song, no doubt about it. Rammstein try there best to lift the game, and they do for a while. But for others, do find the video clip to this song. Snow White has never been so erotic = 2.5/5 (London) the performance felt much more realistic and the crowd was much more enthusiastic. The 'Stein look like they were having fun this time around, and the performance shows = 4/5
Ich Will
The song is average. Performance is okay = 2/5
Ohne Dich
Without You. This is the stunning beautiful love song moment. This time, Till lays his head on Flakes chest during the synth intro. But don’t let homoeroticism throw you off, this song is beautiful and a criminally overlooked = 5/5 (London) Without You is better a second time around, this time Ohn Dich is lifted by a hundred people singing along, and feels much more emotional and sincere = 5/5
Stripped
A cover of Depache Mode's song. Another attempt at English, this time it’s a lot better. An awesome mosh'n'roll finale to this massive concert. Watch as bassist Oliver hops on an inflatable boat and "surfs" the crowd. Not as funny as when Flake did it back in 1998 = 4.5/5
Rein Raus
This is a London-only performance, a song that I have never heard, but was immediately taken by. An incredible performance backed by an incredible song = 4.5/5
Moskow
This is a Russia-only performance. Have a burning desire for Russian girls? Well you see three here in the most skimpiest pieces of nothing. The only thing worth seeing here, which is very very rare, as any fan would know, is 5 seconds of backstage footage of the 'Stein = 1.5/5
Picture Quality = 5/5
Sound Quality = 4/5
User Friendly = 4,5/5
Extra Features 0/5
Lifespan = 3.5/5
Value For Money = 3.5/5
Overall, it’s a rock-solid performance, even if it falls short of its mark every now and again. No extra features, sadly. I did not relise there was a special edition of the DVD, with an additional DVD documenting Rammstein's recording of their last album and an even bigger cover book. Despite all my searching, this DVD version does not exist in my area, let alone the whole city of Sydney. I wanted to review it for you guys, so I went online and found out that the DVD is so incredibly inflated, that even David Hassoff can afford to buy only 6 copies. This is criminal.
Thanks for reading!
