Here is my review.
Thousand thanks to Melissa for the perfect english translation !
Lacrimosa 07-10-12 Pratteln.
"Lacrimosa.
Finally.
Since 1998 that I’ve been waiting for this.
Seeing the best gothic-symphonic Metal band, nothing less. I’m talking about real gothic Metal, not about Metal bands with a few gothic aspects here and there, like Tristania and co… And still, this remains a very simplistic denomination for such a genius of composition as Tilo Wolff… Many music pieces could easily be found in a classical music catalogue (« Sanctus », « Kyrie », « Rote Sinfonie »,…) , while still proposing some blazing titles sounding much more Metal when played live than some bands which are labelled as pure Metal.
To this record must be added the omnipresence of Emotion with a capital E, the one which literally transports you and give you fucking incredible shivers, and you will now understand why I have been dying to see them on stage for such a long time.
However, when the tour was announced, with its “miserable” 15 dates enclosed in the usual triangle of Germany-Eastern Europe-Switzerland, I thought that once again I was done for, that I was going to curse aloud for a month for nothing, waiting for hypothetical other dates to come. Same story than for the last 10 years all over again…
I had even scheduled going to see Therion on that rainy Sunday. And then I saw the setlist of the first concert in Poland. Visual orgasm! A fucking awesome setlist which already made my heart jump with happiness. It’s very simple, it was almost perfect for me. If there had been « Deine Nähe », « Seele in Not » and « Siehst du mich im licht » it would have been heaven, but we’re not gonna pick over that, having at least 25 songs, so about 2 hours and a half of show, it was the dream that I had been playing with for so long.
So in such cases I stop thinking, I follow my instinct, and it was yelling me that I HAD to rush for it, so as to live something that really meant a lot to me. Because Lacrimosa, it is, for those who know me, in the same category as Savatage. A band which has supported me in dark periods, provided me with the best musical experiences ever possible, and which continues to make me melancholically happy, year after year. Unique.
So, after about 700 km of travel, I found myself in Pratteln, in that venue of Z7, where I’ve already been once, to see Jon Oliva’s Pain (coincidences, when they start) and which I find awesome as a concert hall. Sadly, the crowd remained very thin. I would say about 300 pilgrims at most. It doesn’t do justice to the band’s talent, and I was afraid at first that the atmosphere would be icily cold, in spite of the advantage of having an ideal central position, a few cms away from the stage without being bumped into.
How wrong to think so! Because just like me, people around me shivered when the lights got turned off and the « Lacrimosa theme » resounded, just like in the mythical « Live » of the Stille tour. And just like then, it was the fabulous « Ich bin der brennende Komet » that followed. With a totally ex-ce-llent sound, which remained the case during the whole concert.
And there, guys, I knew why I had been right to follow my instinct. To have a happy Tilo Wolff right in front of me and on his left Anne Nurmi with her glances of iced embers, interpreting one of my favourite titles, I was immediately submerged by intense emotion. It took hold of me, and didn’t let me go away till the end of the live. Just this « Ich bin der brennende Komet » justified my travel, so you can imagine the rest…
When the majestic « Schakal » sounded for the third title, I became mad, I started yelling the lyrics and making my hair fly everywhere, in what will remain one of the great moments of my live career… After that it becomes difficult for me to describe with words the perfect happiness that I felt, the explosion of sad and happy feelings mixed together, reflecting all the human duality. The beauty in the melancholy sadness, the dark feelings in the hope always present. The lyrics are essential in Lacrimosa and even if you don’t speak German you can feel what Tilo wants to transmit.
The band alternated with intelligence between old pieces and newer songs, among which seven of the last magnificent Revolution. Some of them are fit for stage, like « Feuerzug » and its insisting piano, the eponymous song and its industrial-metal intro, the long and persistent « Rote sinfonie », the desperate « Refugium », or also « If the world stood still a day », with a stunning singing from Anne Nurmi. The audience reacted vigorously each time, you could feel the faithful people, you felt at home with ultimate fans, it was extremely nice. People exulted on hits like « Lichtgestalt », « Alles Lüge », « Der Morgen danach » or « Feuer ».
But what an atmosphere on a mythical « Stolzes Herz » which closed the first part of the show! A pure piece of music which starts so softly at first, and then finishes in a cataclysm after an irrepressible crescendo!
And a good example of the Metal side of the combo! The guitars are sharp, a real wall of decibels, supported by a roaring bass, dry drums and a keyboard never drowned under the rest, but bringing such a particular touch. It makes me mad to hear the metal heads who criticize Lacrimosa by reducing them to a simple gothic band. Hell, but listen to the live versions of « Feuer », « Revolution », « Ich bin der brennende Komet », « Feuerzug », and « Malina » and we’ll compare with heavy bands who can definitely not rock as well!
Not to mention that the duo is accompanied by a real band, not just people who would be there to get Tilo and Anne look and sound good. The guitarists are really good, both are solists, getting us first-rate solo parts (« Stolzes Herz »’s final, « Feuerzug »’s, or interventions in « Komet », « Rote Sinfonie », or « Feuer »!) and the rhythm section supports wonderfully the structure, with no wrong notes. It’s just a pity that there isn’t a violin player for the many parts dealing with this instrument, it would have gained in intensity, I think.
Beside that, I received terrible emotional slaps in the face with the calm « Ich verlasse heut’ dein Herz », followed by « Am ende stehen wir zwei », or « Tränen der Sehnsucht », that I never would have believed to hear live one day… Not to mention « Alleine zu zweit », « Not every pain hurts », or « Weil du Hilfe brauchst »…
Honestly, seeing the songs that they had been playing on previous dates, I would have really liked to have « Halt mich » instead of « A prayer for your heart » and « Ein Hauch von Menschlichkeit » in the stead of « Apart », it would have been perfect. I was surprised though of the absence of « Durch Nacht und Flut », that I thought was a hit impossible to not to play.
Well, I don’t complain, in the contrary. Tilo’s charisma is incredible. He is immersed deeply in his music, he lives it, he shares it. Anne is more discreet, I would have thought her to be put more forward. Except that when she takes hold of the microphone you become entirely focused on her voice, her dancing, her glances.
A magnetic experience.
When I reopened my eyes at the end of the concert, I had one single thought in mind: to return to another concert, like an irrepressible need. Impossible of course, but from now on, in order not to regret missing them like all these past years, I have promised myself to go to at least one date each tour, travelling a few thousands kms if needed. They totally deserve it. Because there are few combos who have thrilled me as much as they have.
Thank you, Lacrimosa.
Setlist (taken from the mix table)
First Set
Lacrimosa Theme (intro)
Ich bin der brennende Komet
Malina
Schakal
Mandira Nabula
Feuerzug
Lichtgestalt
If the World Stood Still a Day
Alles Lüge
Tränen der Sehnsucht
Alleine Zu Zweit
Irgendein Arsch ist immer unterwegs
Ein Hauch von Menschlichkeit
A Prayer for your Heart
Apart
Stolzes Herz
Second Set
Refugium
Ich Verlasse Heut' Dein Herz
Am Ende Stehen Wir 2
Weil Du Hilfe brauchst
Not Every Pain Hurts
Ohne Dich ist Alles Nichts
Rote Sinfonie
Revolution
Rappel
Der Morgen Danach
Feuer
Gandalf
"
