reviewsarchiv 660

Enthusiasm has always got a right to be there, even on the wrong place... (Christian Morgenstern)

Well, right now and here we are definately on the right place, and in the beginning of this evening we don't have the slightest clue, that the above mentioned enthusiasm is gonna be endless later on with a long lasting effect. And that's not only due because of the huge aura of Mr. Tägtgren, who does actually look a lot better than last time, when he was here with his other Band Hypocracy. No idea what happened, but we usually call this a result of mental balance. Dun' know whether I'm right with my guess, as I don't know him that well personally. But it is a true fact, that the 41 year old Swede is a real allrounder in Hardrock circles. Never mind what he touches, it always turns out in a decent way, whether it's some production work for other's or his own two babies Pain and Hypocricy.
Aparently at one point he stopped breathing for some seconds,which inspired him to the Pain Album 'Dancing With The Dead in the year 2005. - He spent several years in the States, but has returned to his homecountry again. And there, it says, that he own a small village named Pärlby, about 3 hours away from Stockholm.
I assume, Peter Tägtgren ain't an easy person, but it's probably this and more which put him on a status called genius in insider circles. . Although he goes for a certain understatement and doesn't suffer any rockstar ego. No he rather walks along the walls of the public eye, his face mostly hidden below a hoody of a sweatshirt, just not to get noticed too much. At least that's what it seems. But as soon as he steps on stage, he changes from Dr.Jekyll to Mr.Hyde and the laid back Swede turns into an exploding stream of energy.
And what we do experience tonight here at Munich's Backstage Halle can't almost described in words. You have to see that to believe, that this here turns out to be the best concert within this year, at least for me and I'm sure for quite a few more people who are here as well.

Two support acts are tryin to heat up the oven here. One of them is Turmion Kätilöt from Finland, whom I haven't really heard of so far.

By the way those have jumped in for Tarot, who were forced to cancel their participation on this tour. Engel are going on now for 10 years. But the band has just put out 2 albums so far. The latest release is named 'Threnody' and came out last year. I can't tell you much about their show either, due some abstinence as well. However, they are going for a socalled Melodic Death Metal, whoever this style is described. But I don't give a damn about thinking in draws anyway what's up to different categories within one musical styles such as Heavy Metal as in our case here.
In any case Engel (which is the german word for angel) have two angels in their rows what's up to attractivity. But that doesn't help, if the sound is not your personal flavour of the mouth, as we say so. At least I catch the fact, that Engel do get accepted more or less by all the Pain Fans here (aprox. 600) but they can't manage to get the crowd freak out in crazyness, such as Pain will manage later on. Well, we take it as it comes, and Engel themselves are pretty pleased anyway, that they may support Pain on this tour.
http://engelpropaganda.com/

And what's coming up next, honestly nobody here did expect so far...

To take it ahead: Pain are first of all Peter Tägtgren, and Peter Tägtgren is Pain. Although the cooperation of all band members is pretty much a 150 percent perfect.
Oh, and don't get irritated all of you who know Pain from the past. Because bassist Johan Husgaval is missing on this 25 dates - tour out of personal reasons. He's replaced by Andre Skaug of Clawfinger. who already jumped in as a replacement back in 2007. - And as we all know from his band, this man loves to jump down from high amps and boxes...

Well back to the action, and Pain shoot of, as if the very last days has just send it's first pale mist in the morning. And that's just the start of a 100.000 volt - high energy explosion. The art is to give this melodic industrial metal the concret, that even a thrashmetal band almost ain't able to.
Tägtgren doesn't give the audiance any second to rest. Probably he wants us to experience how it is, to forget to breath for some seconds, which seems like half of an eternity. And that again proves, that this is the point what makes people to sing along and divide themselves into pieces. One highlight is the demanding 'Dirty Woman', which of course is dedicated to all the women in here, thouth there aren't too many here.The song comes from the new release You Only Live Twice’, same as 'The Great Pretender'.

Another Highlight is the seated performed 'Have A Drink On Me'. That one is the start of an almost never ending encore, which could have lasted for the whole night, what's up to the audiance here. The final amen is prayed with 'Same Old Song' and... yes of course..... 'Shut Your Mouth'.

The titles of those just mentioned songs you could almost take for granted.Because the hurricane of enthusiasm doesn't slow down, most of all, when Clawfinger's Andre jumps down from the balcony (see below) caught and carried away by countless arms with a total devotion.

But the madness still ain't finished yet, though the soundman has shaken his head for a no... The pot is boiling and is demanding for even more... and a miracle happens, because Peter Tägtgren is smiling - no kiddin' - And so we got the prove, that this, usually sad looking guy knows actually how to laugh.

No he just can't leave now... and I guess, he doesn't want to... leave his faithful fans here in Munich. The earplugs are already off and the guitar is gone. And he says: "that's mad, and this is gonna be very funny" - but who cares.... And Pain start off again to a crazy punkversion of their oldie 'Bye Bye, Die Die'

After that the magic is finally finished. The batteries are completely empty, so empty as they haven't been for a long time. And also the fans have wasted themselves until their total exhaustian. I myself have to say, without over doing it, but as long as come to concerts to the 3 Backstage venues, and that' more than 20 years now, I have hardly every experienced such a madness... maybe the Exploited but I can't think of much more....
And as I've said in the beginning of this review, this show here has been without doubt the very best concert for me in the year 2011 - out of 78 other gigs so far.
Well and getting me really enthusiastic, then this means a lot, very much indeed. And it happens onyl once or twice a year.
Much later a hoody hidden silhoutte sneaks through the venue, not beeing noticed much by anybody, and that's okay. Good Night Dr.Jekyll and see you hopefully soon again...Addiction included....
http://www.painworldwide.com/