Russian commies in Rammstein row

Communists in Nizhny Novgorod face a potential copyright row after mimicking the art work and music of cult German rock band Rammstein in their campaign materials.
But while a court in the city considers whether their video ad has stolen from the band, others might question borrowing from a group once described as “poster boys for the master race” and accused of Nazi sympathies.
Nizhny communist chief Nikolai Ryabov defended himself against charges of plagiarism, saying that experts had yet to confirm that the music was even by Rammstein and not a cover version or a similar band, Komsomolskaya Pravda reported.

Combichrist to support Rammstein at MSG show in New York

 

Metropolis recording artists COMBICHRIST have been tapped as main support for RAMMSTEIN's first and only show on U.S. soil in ten years at NYC's legendary Madison Square Garden. The show will take place on Saturday, December 11, 2010.

Rammstein and Combichrist are no strangers to each other. Both bands toured Europe together for four months in 2010, strengthening a tie that ultimately brought them together for what will undoubtedly be an amazing evening of beat-driven metal and industrialized mayhem.

While Rammstein will be returning from a tour of Latin America before this show, Combichrist will have wrapped up their previously announced U.S. Monsters On Tour with Aesthetic Perfection and iVardensphere as support as well as a handful of dates in Australia. Due to the announced Madison Square Garden date, the previously announced New York City date on November 20th has been canceled (refunds available at point of purchase). In addition, the Montreal, QC on November 18th has been canceled as well. Replacement shows on those dates have been announced in Ithaca, NY and Pittsburgh, PA.

Rammstein's Only U.S. Show of 2010 Is at New York's Madison Square Garden

German aggro-industrialists Rammstein are known for their outrageous pyro and often homoerotic stage antics where sex toys that spew liquids are used as props. In 1998, the band members were jailed on indecency charges due to their performances while taking part in the Family Values Tour. So it goes without saying that a Rammstein show is often an event that will shock and inspire awe.

With that in mind, we're pleased to report that Rammstein will play their first -- and only! -- show in the U.S. this year Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden. It's also the first time the Berlin six-piece has performed in America since 2001. It's been quite the chasm between Rammstein shows on our soil, so the band's return to the Big Apple should be nothing short of a spectacle.

How do we know that? Well, besides the band's history, their European shows required a convoy of 20 trucks carrying pyro, flame throwers, bazookas and other ammo that could level a small country in two seconds flat.

"Everything for this show is perfect -- the timing, the season. We are really pumped to return to the States to play Madison Square Garden -- this is one of the most challenging shows for us in 10 years," bassist Oliver Riedel said in a statement.

The band last toured America in support of 'Mutter' in 2001, where they continued to explore social and sexual taboos. The band still resided in the mouth of controversy during their absence from American touring. Their latest album, 'Liebe ist für alle da,' moved the German government to ban its sale to minors shortly after its release. The order was rescinded a few months later once the culture war was over.

"The American audience has truly awesome rock fans, and I am ecstatic to return to the place where guitar music has such a unique and long tradition," guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe said in a statement. Where better to end their tour of the Americas than in the biggest, best and most culturally open-mined city in the world?

Tickets go on sale on Oct. 8.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE INGREDIENTS

The high-end studio setup of Richard Z. Kruspe is made up of several key components, that each rely on the others to deliver his characteristic full-spectrum sound. Each step of the recording process has been directly and accurately re-created in RAMMFIRE.

 

AMP: Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier Rev. C (#105)

Built in 1992, this is one of the legendary Dual Rectifiers carrying a pre-500 serial number. Of course, thanks to complex circuitry, no two amps sound exactly the same – but these rare models are said to be of the highest quality, possessing a sound which fans claim was never bettered in further production runs. It's a well loved, sought after amp famed for its high gain, unique attack speed and versatile control.

 

CABINETS: 2 x Mesa/Boogie 4x12

Both are the same build of classic Rectifier cabinets, but one is an original from 1992, the second is a more recent model – you will find they differ in sound and response noticeably. Richard explains this with the aging of the magnets and internal components, nicknaming the older one his 'vintage cabinet'.

 

MICROPHONES: Neumann M149 + Telefunken U47

Richard Z. Kruspe's tried and tested favorites are key for the distinctive recording sound in his studio. Both these long-term residents are attached to a robotic arm, allowing remote adjustment of the mic's placement in relation to the cabinets without leaving the mixing desk.

 

PREAMP: AMS/Neve 1081

A handmade legend from a legendary brand, this is the guitarist's pre-amp of choice - again, he gave every possible preamp a test-run, but he always came back to this favorite for its pristine tone and characteristic EQ boost.

 

All of the equipment we've detailed above is accurately re-created in RAMMFIRE. Aside from 20 ready-to-rock presets, it offers a two-fold approach to sound design through different cabinet & mic modules.

The Control Room feature is like a virtual mixing desk within RAMMFIRE. It allows you to fine-tune your mix, choosing precise blends between the different Matched Cabinets, with or without EQ, and the 2 different Microphones, with or without Pre-amp, so there's a huge range of tone and character to choose from. Choose from presets designed by Richard Z. Kruspe himself, or go deeper and design your own custom tone with the eight faders and pan-pots.

RAMMFIRE RZK

Richard Z. Kruspe on the Rammfire amp emulation

Big Day Out 2011 line-up, "fresh despite repeat acts"

Big Day Out's Line-Up has been revealed earlier this week, with some critics noting that that the line-ups contains repeat acts. Nevertheless, Big Day Out 2011's line-up is still fresh despite the repeat acts.

Big Day Out's Line-Up has been revealed earlier this week, with some critics noting that that the line-ups contains repeat acts.

"There are a few artists who have been here before, Lupe's been here, the Deftones have been here but that's balanced by the fresh artists coming through," Real Groove Magazine editor Sam Wicks said.
These repeat acts includes German's Rammstein, who was part of the line-up in 2001. Promoter Viv Lees is very pleased with Rammstein's repeat appearance on the show.
''Rammstein were here in 2001, co-headlined with Limp Bizkit, and when that act left the tour  they  took up the slot,'' Lee said.
''With their fireworks and effects, if you like hard rock, they are going to demolish the place.''
Here's the comple line-up for the Big Day Out 2011: 

• TOOL BLOODY
• BEETROOTS
• DEATH CREW
• 7RAMMSTEINIGGY AND THE STOOGES
• JOHN BUTLER
• TRIO
• M.I.A. 
• GRINDERMAN
• WOLFMOTHER
• LUPE FIASCO
• BIRDS OF TOKYO
• THE BLACK KEYS
• BLISS N ESO
• DEFTONES
• PLAN BAIRBOURNE
• PRIMAL SCREAM
• ANGUS & JULIA STONE
• LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
• THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
• PNAU
• DEAD LETTER CIRCUSED
• WARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS
• BOOKA SHADE DJs
• KIDS OF 88
• THE JIM JONES REVUE
• CHILDREN COLLIDE
• ANDREW WK
• GYROSCOPE
• LITTLE RED
• KID KENOBI AND MC SHURESHOCK
• VITALIC
• DIE ANTWOORD
• OPERATOR PLEASE
• BLUE KING BROWN
• CSS
• RATATAT
• CRYSTAL CASTLES (Auckland and East Coast only) 
• WILL STYLES and MC HAYLEY BOA
• GYPSY & THE CAT
• LOWRIDER
• SAMPOLOGY

Combichrist interview

Purple Revolver sat down to chat with underground Electrohead Andy Laplegua of Combichrist about facing demons and making monsters.

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P.Rev: So, Andy, how's 2010 treating you so far?
Andy: It's been explosive (laughs)

P.Rev: Would you say the tour with Rammstein contributed towards the 'explosiveness at all'
Andy: Well of course, but not just that. Just the past year and a half, it's been very very busy.

P.Rev: Do you feel like your were heavily inspired by that tour a lot?
Andy: Sure it was cool playing big arenas with Rammstein but inspiration comes from all around me -- everything. So to say Rammstein was a huge part of that would be unfair on the other stuff.

P.Rev: Is the title Making Monsters a reference to the last album title, Today we are all Demons?
Andy: Yeah, it's like that previous record was about facing and embracing your demons whereas Making Monsters is like...now we're gonna make our own. It's all very cynical and horror themed.

P.Rev: Could you talk us through your lyrical choices?
Andy: Well if I wanted the lyrics to be clearer, I would've written them clearer. It's up to you (laughs) what you think, y'know. It's more personal, though. I was feeling whilst writing.

P.Rev: Well I kinda saw the album in two parts, the first half being very...Combichristy and the second half being more experimental, a little like your other projects, Panzer AG and Scandy.
Andy: That's interesting you think that because I didn't plan it like that at all! Just the order that sounded best to me after listening to the songs a thousand times.

P.Rev: Would you agree the vocals are cleaner on the new record? Less harsh? Less metal?
Andy: Not neccessarily cleaner, no, just...more vocals. The first two albums have no vocals at all so it's just different I guess.

P.Rev: How did you come across finding the Bleeding Through frontman to contribute to Follow the Trail of Blood on your new album?
Andy: It just happened! We're both mutual fans of each other's work and one day just happened to be in Georgia so I was just like, 'wanna sing on my new album?' that's all there is to it.

P.Rev: What made you pick electro and aggrotech music over metal?
Andy: I grew up with metal music with the hardcore scene. There'd be underground illegal shows I'd go to and most of the music was illegal to play live. I don't think it was a conscious choice to choose electro, it's just through the bands I listened to and was inspired by...Law...Ministry. I still love metal but I feel I can express more through what I do now. Don't feel I can bring anything new to metal.

P.Rev: Just going back to the support slot you had with Rammstein, do you feel playing the bigger venues helped you guys get more fans? More publicity.
Andy: Yes and no, I mean, it's upto our promoters to do their thing. Flyers, posters and all that. People obviously hear us at one of the arena shows and they might listen to a song or two online but not neccessarily buy our record. There's not much money in it all!

P.Rev: Must've been amazing to play to such a huge number of people though?
Andy: Oh wow, of course, I mean I love playing hot and sweaty small clubs just as much, but playing arenas is just a different experience. It's like having sex and making love -- both are great -- it's the same act, but a different feel.

P.Rev: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Andy: I just have an on switch (laughs) seriously, I could be so hungover and throwing up all over the place, and I'll just get the guys to just go on stage and play the intro tape. When I hear it I'll bounce on stage and feel amazing. After the show I'm on the floor throwing up again!

P.Rev: I saw you guys playing with Rammstein in Manchester, I guess it's true about people being a completely different person on stage. You seem so laid-back (laughs)
Andy: I'm veryyyy laid-back. People are surprised I don't smoke pot!

P.Rev: So what's the big plan now?
Andy: Touring, just...touring. That's the big plan! Hope to see you all out there.

P.Rev: Thanks a lot Andy
Andy: My pleasure, thank you.