There is a general consensus on the grapevine that Rammstein’s latest album will be their last.  After admitted disputes over musical directions the band could be parting ways.  If so, then they certainly went out with a bang.

Rammstein had only three UK dates on their latest tour.  London, Manchester and Birmingham were lucky enough to be included and thousands flocked to see a band that has matured progressively since their last UK tour in 2005. 

To kick off the night at the LG arena, Norwegian band CombiChrist opened up.  The set was a very suitable warm up for Rammstein, incorporating elements of industrial techno and electronica.  Lead singer Andy LaPlegua commanded the stage with his energetic presence and consistent hollers.

Despite the fact he remained at the centre of attention during the set, it took nothing away from what was a great collective performance.  Standing as an unconventional four piece band (two drummers, a synth player with the vocalist) CombiChrist created a sound that was slightly Manson-esque and resembled a dark Prodigy.  While one drummer maintained a constant dancey rhythm, the other slogged at the kit, pounding out a trudging downtrodden beat.

After Andy Pleguas’ rally for Rammstein, the fans were ready for the main act. 

Rammstein’s opener came with convincing force.  As Rammlied began its haunting operatic tune, guitarists Paul Landers and Richard Kruspe smashed their way through plywood doors, with every kick opening a hole for a beam of light to shine through.  The anticipation of the Birmingham crowd was slowly broken down with each strike.  Eventually burly front-man Till Lindemann made his appearance with deafening blows of heavy guitar and drums. 

It wasn’t until their second song Bueckstabue that the atmosphere rallied and a mosh pit ensued. Lindemann’s face was contorted as he yelled the chorus of a twisted metal frenzy. 

In spite of the epic opening, the best was yet to come.

Performances of the older songs were made heavier throughout.  This was done more so by drummer Christoph Doom Schneider’s style which cemented a solid direction for the set, focusing more on the songs from what some have dubbed as the heaviest album yet.  Weisses Fleisch featured a longer drum solo in the middle of the song and set the standard for a sound that packed a lot of punch. 

Known for their intense fire shows, it was expected that there would be some flames to heat up the arena.  Rammstein delivered with a pyrotechnic display that was second to none.  Popular favourite Feuer Frei got the crowd going as Landers and Kruspe had flamethrowers attached to their faces, with bursts of flames protruding from their mouths as they chanted Bang Bang!. 

The controversial new single Pussy was about as disco-esque as Rammstein will ever get.  A large phallic shaped foam machine blasted out wet liquid while the crowd sang along.    

A beautiful rendition of Fruhling In Paris calmed the crowd to a more reflective state, before Ich Tu Dir Weh.  The song featured keyboardist Christian ‘Flake’ Lorenz assaulting Lindemann in a rehearsed act, only to be put in a steel bath. Lindemann was then elevated on a platform to about 15 feet higher than stage level, where sparkles rained down on Flake and explosions followed.  Flake emerged in a new glittering costume and re-assumed his post beside the keyboard, where bizarrely, a treadmill started up and he continued for the rest of the gig on it. 

The stunts simply didn’t stop.  While baby dolls dropped from the ceiling, with green lasers on their heads, Lindemann patted his face with despair in Wiener Blut, a song about the acts of Josef Fritzl.  

Engel topped off the bill in what was a spectacular finale.  Lindemann returned after the encore with angel’s wings on his back blazing fire from each wing.   

This tour does seem like it could be the end for Rammstein.  It would be a shame for those who haven’t experienced this truly extraordinary show.  But if it is to be the end for one of the most controversial bands on the planet they would be finishing on a high note.

Calum Robson

Always a favourite with UK audiences, the thoroughly entertaining threesome have a new album to plug and a new show to unleash. EES play a full headline tour prior to their Hellfire date in support of latest record Sugoi Indeed so expect some Asian mayhem in the West Midlands on November 6.

Cancer Bats will join EES on the main stage on the opening night  – fueled by a burning desire to rage harder, play louder and have more fun than any other band, they mix hardcore, Southern metal and punk to create a lethal rock and roll explosion.

The band’s latest release – Hail Destroyer - sees the Bats taking their musicianship to a whole new level. Lead singer Liam Cormier’s heated vocals keep the energy high while axe-wielding Scott Middleton’s electrifying solos and shredding riffs must be seen to be believed.  

Katatonia have been confirmed for the main stage on Sunday and will be joining headliners Fields of the Nephilim and My Dying Bride to create a tri-party alliance of spectacular atmospheric darkness! 

Hellfire’s Rob Ferguson said: “It’s great to see all of the stages starting to take shape now and I’m really pleased that we are able to achieve our objective of offering something for everyone in the mix of bands. 

“I am particularly excited to see a strong representation from the wealth of talent in the British underground and breaking scene which I personally work very hard to champion.”

Check out the latest bands to join the Hellfire line-up at the following: 

Cancer Bats – www.myspace.com/cancerbats

Electric Eel Shock – www.myspace.com/beatme

Katatonia – www.myspace.com/katatonia

Ted Maul – www.myspace.com/tedmaul666

Hellfire II takes place at the NEC Birmingham from November 6-8. Tickets for Hellfire II are on sale NOW. Check out  http://www.hellfirefestival.com/?page=tickets  for more details.

This cracking tune has all the hallmarks of a hair metal band hailing from the Sunset Strip. And had the production been better on Broken Heart this could and should have been the big hit the hard rocking  Birmingham boys deserved.

Sadly the band had a number of run-ins with producer Roy Thomas Baker during the making of their 1989 album Misspent Youth. As a result Broken Heart and the bulk of that record’s better tracks lacked the polish to take the Brummies to the next level.

Up until the early 90s Shy always seemed the band most likely to challenge the likes of Dokken, Ratt, Cinderella and Posion as the UK’s answer to MTV-friendly pop rock. That it never really happened is nothing to do with a lack of effort – Tony Mills and guitarist Steve Harris put their hearts and souls into establishing Shy as serious contenders.

In 2009 the band are still chasing wider recognition and a new record is mooted for anytime soon. If it’s anything like Misspent Youth, for all it’s production gremlins, then expect a real treat.

And the veteran metallers will be joined by resurgent reality movie stars Anvil with the Canadian crew confirmed as main support to Biff and the boys.

Saxon delivered a typically robust set as the Sonisphere festival made its Knebworth debut at the weekend. But adding them to the bill at the NEC on November 7 is a real coup for Hellfire bosses as they combine the 10th anniversary of Music Live with a slew of hard rocking bands across three days.  

Hellfire’s Rob Ferguson admitted: “Saxon are one of the most popular bands to grace any festival line up and we are pleased to be able to put them in their rightful place at the top of the bill at the forthcoming Hellfire Festival.”

Anvil continue to live the dream and are set to deliver Metal On Metal with their main stage set. Also confirmed for Hellfire are goth rock legends Fields Of The Nephilim and Brit metal merchants Sacred Mother Tongue.

More bands will be added soon and tickets are available now – with individual Hellfire and Music Live entry or combined entry prices on offer.

Now: 2008 Snakes And Arrows Live (Atlantic) is the end-game to Rush’s latest release and world tour which saw Geddy, Neal and Alex take a truly remarkable record across the world. Stopping off in Newcastle en route, and with roasted chickens in tow, the prog rock maestros thrilled hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe with faultless performances night in, night out.

What you get on Snakes And Arrows Live is the band’s Rotterdam show recorded in all its glory and on two CDs there’s enough room to pack in 27 new standards and old classics. Whether The Main Monkey Business floats your boat (and it is rushonrock‘s fave new Rush song bar none) or you prefer a Tom Sawyer backed trip down memory lane you’ll find more highlights here than in David Coverdale’s hair circa 1987.

Check out the 2008 version of Subdivisions and you could be excused for thinking you’ve been missing something all these years. Listen to Mission and you might even get down off your high horse and accept Hold Your Fire was a brilliant record after all (we’ve always suspected as much).

It takes a lot for a live album to make us sit up and take notice, let alone play more than once. But Snakes And Arrows Live is the kind of record that has you coming back for more – like that little rock chick you used to know from the Mayfair with the smudged eyeliner and quirky skirts…

rushonrock rated: 9/10 Rush Out And Buy This Now!

…And Then 1989: A Show Of Hands (PolyGram) is the often overlooked live Rush record which, like a good red wine, simply improves with age.

In this day and age of 5.1 sound and high definition it’s difficult to draw a direct comparison between the band’s live records of today and their legacy from the past. Our battered rushonrock copy comes on two slabs of vinyl within a gatefold sleeve so straight away some of Rush’s trademark production quality is lost.

On the flipside there’s a certain atmosphere about this record and the fact that it brings together performances from five cities on both sides of The Pond shouldn’t detract from the listening experience. Rather than settle on one show and take the risk that certain songs could be substandard, a more sensible approach means fans get to hear the best versions of the best songs from the Hold Your Fire tour.

And there are plenty. Again there’s only half as many to choose from as you get with Snakes And Arrows Live but there’s only so much quality you can squeeze onto 20-year-old vinyl. Again you can’t look much further than Subdivisions (recorded in Birmingham, UK) for an obvious highlight but we just love Time Stand Still. It remains a statement of its time for a new generation of Rush fans and sounds suitably awesome belted out live.

Wrapping up the B-side of the second record with Red Sector A and Closer To The Heart brings a brilliant set list to the perfect conclusion. Rush in 2008 might be peerless as production kings but for a raw and more rounded view of the band you simply must buy this record (on vinyl, if you can).

rushonrock rated: 9/10 A Show Of Strength