The first, Dreadlock Pussy, is regarded as one of the leading and most promising bands of the Dutch nu-metal scene. The second is Within Temptation and they are the most successful Dutch gothic metal band at this moment.

Be this as it may, Dreadlock Pussy was the wrong band in the wrong place this evening. Only a few people could appreciate their aggressive hardcore nu-metal, filled with samples and standard melodies like so many of their colleagues produce these days.

I’ve seen them on Ozzfest just a few weeks ago and although they were then playing for a smaller audience, they gave a better impression there; playing for their own people. Rammstein fans don’t want to hear this kind of music and this became painfully clear when the band announced their last song: a cheer of joy rose from the audience.

Within Temptation
Within Temptation could count on more support of the gathered people. The stadium became more crowded and people were singing along on the familiar hit singles like “Ice Queen” and “Mother Earth”, again complete with big ventilators that blew small pieces of paper sky-high to mimic snow.

As they were only a support act, there were no inflatable trees and columns of fire as a few weeks ago at Ozzfest. Like Dreadlock Pussy, WT played better on Ozzfest. Sharon wasn’t able to reach all the high tones and hold them. In addition, the grunts on “Enter” by Robert were of a poor quality.

However, we have to take into account that this was their third performance in two days!! Keeping this in mind; it was a more than adequate performance, with a predictable set list. Most of the songs played were from their last album “Mother Earth” and seem to be known by the public. “Enter” and “Restless” from their first album produced a smaller response from the audience.

Rammstein
At about 21:00 hours Rammstein played its first tunes starting with Mein Herz Brennt (my heart burns) accompanied by some minor fireworks, but this was only the beginning. With Rammstein you pay to see a lot of fire and mosh on German marching music. This was exactly what we got. Marching and moshing on “Links 2 3 4” and huge flamethrowers mounted on the heads of both guitar players and front man Till Lindeman on “Feuer Frei”.

Big searchlights swept thru the stadium as they played the title song “Mutter” from their last album, complete with Till putting his thumb in his mouth at moments that he had no vocal part. Most of the songs played came from this last album (in total 9 out of the 11 tracks), only “Nebel” and “Spieluhr” were left out.

From the earlier work of Rammstein they performed the songs that had the most show potential. Of course the burning asbestos coat on “Rammstein” and the dildo spraying gallons of fluid over sex slave/keyboard player Flake and into the audience on “Buck Dich” (bend over). In addition large columns of fire in the front and back of the stage, which also accidentally (or not) set fire to one of the lights.

This fire was quickly put out by Flake with a fire extinguisher, which gave me the impression that it was a set up (didn’t this also happen on Rammsteins performance yesterday, on the Rock Werchter Festival?). The burning guitar and the burning microphone stands we had also seen before and were no surprise, as well as the firework rockets that flew back and forth over the heads of the public (I wondered where these wires over my head were for?).

Rammstein left the stage after just 75 minutes, and a few “zugabes” (we want more’s) later, they returned to end the show with “Sonne” (a lot of fire on this song), “Ich Will” and a less known ballad sung in English entitled Stripped (single July ’98).

I personally hoped for a more explosive end than this timid “Stripped”. They hadn’t played “Du Riechst So Gut” (you smell so nice) or “Wolt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen” (do you want to see the bed burn), which I would have thought better songs to end the evening with.

At 22:30 Rammstein left the stage permanently giving us 1.5 hours of what we had paid for to see: loads of fireworks, and Rammstein music. With not a single word to the public (apart from a thank you in the end), Rammstein had no surprises and probably will do the same thing next time you see them; but this is just one of those bands you have to see once in your life.

It remains one hell of a sight to see so much fire and lights coming your way on guitar riffs, which make it impossible not to move accordingly. Very impressive but also completely predictable.

(Review: Matthijn Vos
Pics: Marcia Gransbergen)