Rammstein
Rammstein: Paris


2.5
average

Review

by Simon K. STAFF
May 14th, 2018 | 16 replies


Release Date: 2017 | Tracklist

Review Summary: An experience you won't forget.

There’s solace in knowing a member of Rammstein is as floundered by this live project as me. I think I’ve spent as much time staring vacantly into space wondering what the hell happened here as I have actually watching it. Asked as a passing question in an interview which largely attempts to filter out information for a new Rammstein record, Richard was asked what he thought of Rammstein: Paris, and his passive response about sums up everything I’ve felt for the album; unsure whether he loves it or loathes it but gives credit to the unique efforts being made from its creator: Jonas Akerlund. For those unfamiliar with the name, Jonas is a long-running friend and director responsible for a good chunk of Rammstein’s controversial music videos, including “Mann Gegen Mann” and “Pussy”. Indeed, from a technical aspect, Rammstein: Paris is an impressive feat; a concert that was filmed over the course of two nights in Paris using 26 cameras to get every angle imaginable. Jonas’ painstaking attention to detail has developed and directed a DVD that flows with the songs here: shot and edited in the same way he would a music video. The results from this style of directing is uniquely distinct, captivating and even emotional at times; on the other side of the coin it can be hideously nauseating, ugly and infuriating.

It’s true, you won’t come across a filmed concert like this, but its idiosyncrasy is a blessing and a curse. The obvious problem from this is most notably the unorthodox tempo cuts which are an acquired taste and will leave many seasick before the end of it. It’s like merging a music video with a conventionally shot live show, and it’s hard to ever fully settle into it. The artistic vision is taken to the nth degree here and you can’t fault the effort that went into it, but where some ideas work, more tend to hinder the positives. The soft, faded cuts on “Mutter” develop a poignant atmosphere and extravagant grandness with the pyro and slo-mo frames, but its constant shifting onto the next shot is what causes so much damage here. Your eyes can’t settle onto anything before being transported onto the next visual; it gets to the stage where silly amounts of technique, filters and ideas all merge onto the screen at once, becoming a matter of indulgence over practicality. These moments have you breaking away from the band and their songs to question just what the hell’s going on.

It’s a tough one to give a score on, because the pros and cons are tied right down the middle. This is a beautifully shot show; the stage production emits a wonderful aesthetic, and the crystal-clear picture displays every bead of sweat, every string on the guitar and every hit on the drum skins and cymbals in a way that is both distinct and breath-taking, but the fundamentals for this package are wired wrong. You aren’t given the chance to stop and smell the roses – take in all these great visuals – and it left me questioning whether these efforts fell in vein. Maybe if Rammstein: Paris was offered a conventional option, as well as Jonas’ intended vision, I could have appreciated this more. As it is, it’s a DVD I’ve struggled with since its release, but the overall message has endured, which is ultimately a missed opportunity. It’s well worth experiencing, but just make sure you have a vomit bag next to you.

AVERAGE.

FORMAT/VERSION: D̶V̶D̶/̶/̶BLU-RAY/̶/̶2̶C̶D̶+̶D̶V̶D̶/̶/̶2̶C̶D̶+̶B̶L̶U̶-̶R̶A̶Y̶/̶/̶4̶V̶I̶N̶Y̶L̶+̶2̶C̶D̶s̶+̶B̶L̶U̶-̶R̶A̶Y̶/̶/̶2̶C̶D̶+̶B̶L̶U̶-̶R̶A̶Y̶(̶F̶A̶N̶ ̶E̶D̶I̶T̶I̶O̶N̶ ̶S̶T̶E̶E̶L̶B̶O̶O̶K̶)̶

PACKAGING: N/A

SPECIAL EDITION: N/A



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user ratings (40)
4.2
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
BlackwaterPork
May 14th 2018


4390 Comments


A bit late

Davil667
May 14th 2018


4052 Comments


Very good review. Will def avoid that one, I really hate those fast cuts where you get nothing at all from the concert as a whole in the end.

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
May 14th 2018


12191 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Great review and I see where you're coming from, but I definitely disagree. From the trailer that was teased I was expecting to have an experience like you described, but honestly the finished product was one of the most fun live DVDs I've watched, hell I even dug the stupid CGI that popped up every now and then. The cuts didn't bother me as much as I expected they might, I don't think there was any point that they became seizure inducing at least (if you wanna see that check out Arch Enemy's live DVD - it's horrid). Nice writing regardless, and I can see why it's not your thing but I was pleasantly surprised for my part.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
May 15th 2018


18465 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

cheers guys.



aye, I've heard of that arch enemy one haha. I really do want to like it, it's just too frantic for my taste though

BigBlob
May 15th 2018


5885 Comments


the director wrecked this. I hate that guy. just film the fking concert like they did with Volkerball. all this fast cuts made it horrible

BigBlob
May 15th 2018


5885 Comments


great review btw. sums up exactly what I think about this. only rammstein release I've not bought

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
May 15th 2018


18465 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

thanks blob.



yeah, from what I gather, there was a bit of tension between the band and Jonas during the editing process.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
May 15th 2018


18465 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

the digital effects are also pointless

BigBlob
May 15th 2018


5885 Comments


I'd say if I was to rate just the audio cd this would be a 4/5 as the production is so clear and clean for a live show. the video dvd would be a 2/5

Davil667
May 15th 2018


4052 Comments


This thread quickly aroused my couriosity contrary to my previous statemet. Will give it a shot, hopefully soon.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
May 15th 2018


18465 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

aye, it's a feast on the eyes and ears davil, just watch the vertigo

Davil667
May 15th 2018


4052 Comments


Just checked the Wollt Ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen clip on YouTube from this one... Totally exhausting to watch for me. What a shame, the quality of the pictures is fantastic, such a waste of potential...

Davil667
May 15th 2018


4052 Comments


And the sound quality is superb indeed.

Your last paragraph sums it up perfectly, nothing more to say here I guess.

BigBlob
May 15th 2018


5885 Comments


yeah just jam the audio CD. live rammstein songs always have little extra bits here and there so its always fun to listen to

DominionMM1
May 15th 2018


21267 Comments


not a fan of live recordings personally

Zig
August 15th 2019


2751 Comments


Nice show. Annoying editing.



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