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2015-10-03 DE – Bielefeld - Ringlokschuppen
 
 | Doors: 7 pm | Show: 8 pm | Tickets: 36.00 EUR plus fees |
 

It is always a pleasure to listen to APOCALYPTICA. Much more it is a pleasure to see them playing live. It is truly something special to see those three cellists headbang while rocking the stage with Metal-tinged Classic tunes. After some delays the new album of the Finns, Shadowmaker, is finally out, and so the European tour, postponed and pushed back to autumn, was kicked off too. It's the third date that brings APOCALYPTICA once again to the • Ringlokschuppen • in Bielefeld, Germany.

:: pics ::

Autumn, weekend, beginning of the vacations and a public day… guess what… yeah, highways were a mess. Lucky me I hit the road early and managed to get through it all without bigger problems. And though there's already a long queue at the door (the VIP ticket holders for the meet & greet as I learnt later). No Finns in sight, Aussies came first. I met singer/guitarist Michael Brown of Adelaide-based Grunge/Stoner rockers :: TRACER :: for an interview before the fans poured in and the trio entered the stage to kick some asses. TRACER caused quite a stir with their previous record El Pistolero and gained a reputation as a highly energetic live band. But tonight it did not really work out for them. They did a great job, the songs from their new album Water For Thirsty Dogs were crushing and Michael Brown was even not afraid to strip to the waist, but the crowd was stingy with applause and response. Too bad, they would have deserved it. It might be a different audience, but I think, to support Apocalyptica is though a good chance for them.
Setlist: Too Much, We’re Only Animals, Water For Thirsty Dogs, There’s A Man, Astronaut Juggernaut, Devil Ride, Us Against The World

Well, it's no secret for whom the fans were here for. As soon as something or someone was to spot on stage the crowd started screaming. Bathed in bloody red lights :: APOCALYPTICA :: finally got on stage and started with Reign Of Fear. APOCALYPTICA played almost the entire new record Shadowmaker, with some classics from the past in between. House Of Chains was the first song for the new and permanent singer Frankie Perez to appear on stage. The pros and cons are surely debatable. A regular singer consequently tours with the band, guest singers do rather not. And singing also offers some variety to the music. However, APOCALYPTICA rock the stage as if there were no tomorrow. Acrobatic feats they did with their cellos. But with communication and announcements the gentlemen Toppinen, Lötjönen and Kivilaakso were rather restrained. Drummer Mikko Sirén got his moment of fame too, when a second drumkit was placed on stage for an extended and wild drum solo. APOCALYPTICA also play interpretations of known classics: Sepultura, Grieg and Wagner. And at the end, Metallica too, of course, after all they are to blame for the existence of APOCALYPTICA ;) To sum it up: Yes, that was another excellent show by an awesome band in a great location! APOCALYPTICA will be on tour till November. If they come near your town, don't miss them. It's worth it!
Setlist: Reign Of Fear, Grace, I’m Not Jesus, House Of Chains, Sea Song (You Waded Out), ‘Till Death Do Us Part, Inquisition Symphony (Sepultura), Bittersweet, Harmageddon, Hope, Riot Lights, Shadowmaker, (Drum-Solo), Hole In My Soul, Refuse/Resist (Sepultura), Ludwig Wonderland, In The Hall Of The Mountain King (Grieg) // One (Metallica), I Don’t Care, Dead Man’s Eyes

 

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography