RAMMSTEIN @ Estádio da Luz, Lisbon

Four years have passed since Playground tour affiliate ramstein Started in Germany. More since the track was originally announced, and with the pandemic in between, it’s just under 365 days since tickets for the concert in Portugal went on sale. However, after waiting so long for the German group to return to the national soil, the day has finally arrived when the industrial metal giants once again graced us with their presence. It was the debut of a visiting band who debuted here for two shows in 1998, at the Paradise Garage and Hard Club, and saw the national audience grow step by step. Despite the absence we’ve had over the past decade (the last show here dates back to 2013, at the time, Pavelio Atlântico), the reach of the Germans has turned Lisbon into a sea of ​​black. Indeed, a simple trip to the supermarket in the morning would be enough to realize that there were people from all over the country (and abroad), almost all Portuguese with backpacks on their backs, converging to greet a band about to celebrate three decades of work. In the minds of some, recent accusations that Till Lindemannthe lead singer of the group, has been the target of much talk in recent months on social networks and in the media – the story is unfortunately recurrent in the world of entertainment.

Let’s face it, on this one, that was Third Way’s national history Playground tour On the ancient continent, and ramstein He arrived in Portugal with more shame than grace. However, the metro ride to Estádio da Luz was accompanied by an exciting atmosphere. Inside, we were greeted by a sea of ​​people around the entire usable perimeter, the bars packed and the cool breeze beginning to rise in the late afternoon, chasing away any shadow of an ‘elephant in the field’. Whether or not you’re thinking about it, or realizing that the future looks increasingly uncertain for the band (or for the band with Till), the truth is that everything is there to welcome you with open arms. You can see why when you look ahead. A huge stage dominates the stadium with several towers dotted across the lawn. There, the gray sky is preparing to receive all the explosives that will be detonated throughout the 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 in order to understand the scale and scale of everything that lies ahead. And yes, even though the line-up has been widely circulated since the start of the tour, expectations are still high for the performance in itself. But here we go, because that stage is really cool; It was built to recreate a majestic dystopian urban landscape, which could have come straight from the classic Silence “Metropolis”in Fritz Lang, which could be confused with the future structure of the current SLB house. Score with the French Abelard Playing piano versions of the headliners’ classics (on a raised chassis to the left at center field), it was all in just the right place for a band with a penchant for imposing subtle, dramatic gestures to shine in all their splendor.

We can try here to twist the text as much as we want, and sometimes it may seem pointless to write about showing a force such as that of ramstein. They are a huge fireteam when they have to be; Designed to the last detail – and truth be told, they’ve set the standards for what a great concert can be over the past two decades. With all a trip Becoming larger and more impressive than its predecessor, by this time nothing would allow them to present anything but an exceptional concert. Despite the limitations, this, which was one of the unmissable events of the year, also proved no exception to that rule and, once again, reinforced the notion that no one performs live like these guys. The main export of Germanic minerals became popular for two reasons; They cause more explosions than a fireworks factory fire and deliver music at a volume often heard up to 17 kilometers from the places where they play. Well, that’s what happened here too, with powerful and huge sound (probably a bit too low for where we attended the concert), well supported by strategically placed sound towers so everyone can hear everything loud and defined. With the volume pumped up, you could feel a faint thump through the stadium’s foundations. Point taken: On stage, nothing has changed significantly since we last saw them, but everything just got a lot bigger and bigger.

01. shocked | 02. Links 2-3-4 | 03. Bestraff Mitch | 04. Giftig | 05. sync | 06. Maine Herz Prenette | 07. Puppy | 08. distress | 09. Zeit | 10. Deutschland | 11. radio | 12. Maine Teal | 13, Du hast | 14. Sony /// Encore 1 /// 15. Engel | 16. Auslander | 17. Do richest so jute | 18. Ohne Ditch /// Encore 2 /// 19. Rammstein | 20. Ich | 21. Good-bye

Four minutes later than scheduled—21:34 seems to have been strategically chosen to ensure that the musicians would only take the stage at night—and the stadium was dark. on the voice “Music for the Royal Fireworks”now a hymn to ramsteinOn the screen of the structure’s massive central tower, the band’s symbol is raised. The stage lights up, and we see Lindemann being lowered by the elevator. The first flames appear and ramstein Starting the engines, like the saying goes, with “Ramled”. Cell phones remain in the air, recording the moment, but bodies move to an always well-behaved sound «Links 2-3-4»with invaluable Christian “Dr. Flick” Lorenz To still be unable to stop on the treadmill next to the keyboard and the audience sometimes dancing, sometimes shaking their heads, lulling with undeniable hooks. past trip with «Bestraff Mitch » that it “sync“with the”Giftig » In the middle, the nerves calmed down a bit. This or all was turning into what he saw. After that feeling “Mine Hers Prenette” and vitalitydummy “ They got everyone to sing in unison again. For two hours, the sold-out crowd at the Estádio da Luz did not see a band perform some of their greatest hits. This has already happened. Almost every adult played He hitsthe «Deutschland»the “Du Haast”the «Maine Tail»the “Sun”the “what will” And even the homonymous song, but it was the same show – performance — which turns out to be completely out of this world.

The pyrotechnic levels are indescribable, with Lindemann wearing a wheel on his back that spews fire in all directions and guitarists Paul Landers that it Richard Crosby They use two huge flamethrowers attached to their guitars and shoot huge flames. There are more innocent things, like huge cannons Colored paper clips that blankets the entire stadium with paper tapes. And there’s a fire, a lot of flames everywhere. Sometimes the heat could be felt in your face, anywhere, from the grass to the stands furthest from the main structure, while waves of fireworks lit up not only the stage, but also the four towers that rose above the crowd and left dark clouds of smoke hanging in the sky. It literally felt like we were in the wreckage of some decimated post-future city. Then there were more earthly things, with a small stage, set up in the middle of the audience (a little more to the left of those facing the stage), where the musicians joined the crowds. Abelard to explain “Angel”, which opened the first Encore. Afterwards, the band members returned to the main stage in inflatable dinghies and attacked a luxury trio of «Auslander“,”Do richest so jute” that it “Ohne Ditch». in a second appear Planned, but still very much in demand) There was still time to listen to «Rammstein“,”Ich“And at the moment of farewell is very appropriate.”Good-bye».