In 2009, APOPTYGMA BERZERK left home (Fredrikstad, Norway) to tour their latest album Rocket Science around the world for more than nine months. It was their biggest, most extensive and most exhausting tour to date; met by ecstatic audiences, die-hard fans in every country…
Shortly after these show (which was recorded in Cologne, Germany on February 12) Stephan Groth, Geir Bratland, Angel and Fredrik Brarud agreed that they would not returning to the stage together. In this constellation they would no longer perform the songs that made them the people they are, the people they have grown into since they were kids…
That is as far as the history is concerned behind this CD/DVD release. But what has Imagine There’s No Lennon to offer?

Of course this DVD consists of the entire show in Cologne, introduced by a short time-lapsing intro of the stage and light design and sound-check. Right after APOPTYGMA BERZERK enter the stage kicking off with Weight Of The World. The guys pretty much look wiped out, this long touring has obviously left its mark on all members. So the band’s engagement and activities on stage are not that overwhelming anymore. Also said strain and stress that eventually led to the split could not be ignored, especially not from this direct viewer’s perspective.
Video quality is just average, which is once again based on light compositions. It was either just way too dark, too much smoke or too many red lights that just blurred everything, or to much of these new LED lights, current cameras cannot handle due to its different wave-lengths. Furthermore it seems like they have much reworked the film material afterwards; there are quite a couple of differences and little mistakes in the cut.
Besides, this show does not reveal any surprises. If you have seen any of these shows on this tour, you will identify with what you get to see here.

The following bonus part consists of two short backstage episodes, totally dark or overridden, sometimes bizarre but somewhat of chaotic in any case. It does not really give any idea, hint or insight of the band’s life or whatever behind the scenes. The rest are five regular video clips.

The live CD offers the show again in a shorter version as pure listening pleasure.

Imagine There’s No Lennon comes in a nice CD book version with a few nice live shots and credits in the booklet. But all things considered I have to say it is not enough to appreciate the end of an era. And I can hardly imagine that aforementioned die-hard fans are satisfied with this effort here. It much appears like a halfhearted must-do release to me.

Setlist: Weight Of The World, Apollo, Eclipse, Mercy Kill, Asleep Or Awake?, Lost In Translation, In This Together, Shadow, Black Versus White, You Keep Me From Breaking Apart, Until The End Of The World, Butterfly Defect, Bizarre Love, Triangle, Kathy's Song, Shine On // Starsign, Non-Stop Violence