Broken Pieces

The new Apocalyptica video production has exactly the same palette and devices as End of Me, so I have to assume the same mind is behind both videos. Gorgeous, emo, richly textured, ever so pretty, and entirely grey-scale, both videos make extensive use of scarily structured vamp models, architecturally classic interiors, gorgeous vocalists, and of course the wonderfully photogenic Finns. A success, I'd say.

Apocalyptica's second 7th Video

The video for Broken Pieces from the 7th Symphony album was due to be released 11 AM German time:

@apocalypticafi Heute, 11:00 Uhr deutscher Zeit, Deutschland Premiere des neuen Videos von Apocalyptica's zweiter Single "Broken... http://fb.me/KpmtQgAK

I'm thinking that was around 15 minutes ago. Okay, so I was late, but at least the news is still fresh. This is the second video from the latest album, and the song, like opener End of Me, is incredibly catchy. End of me featured Gavin Rossdale, who was absolutely stellar. Broken Pieces is lit up by Lacey, and I have to say I find her just as compelling, though Broken pieces is the extent of my experience of her.

Update: here it is:

Making Monsters

For just one week Combichrist's Making Monsters album is being streamed here. Check it out.

WARNING: This stream may lead to album purchase.

Voxy Music

Voxy posts:

A decade since ruling over BIG DAY OUT with a reign of fire, pyrotechnics, monstrous riffs, wicked humour and industrial savagery, RAMMSTEIN will return this summer to reclaim their sovereign territory. The RAMMSTEIN live experience is "dizzyingly ridiculous", says the BBC. "Rock is at its best when confrontational, subversive, curiously camp and bold, which is why RAMMSTEIN are currently one of the most important bands in the genre." Armed with their sixth album, Liebe ist fr [sic] Alle da, Germany's infamous techno-metal masters bring nothing less than the greatest show on earth: "RAMMSTEIN are in pulverising form, the crowd are going crazy, the atmosphere is electric and the firebombs launching from the stage are like World War III on apocalypse LSD" (The Quietus, February 2010). Bow down to your kings, BIG DAY OUT 2011, for RAMMSTEIN have returned.

Nice. Note the emphasis in this quote is not mine. I am not alone in my shoutiness.

Rammstein Remarks USA

TG has comment from Rammstein regarding their single US show in December. You definitely need to read the whole article linked above, but here is a highlight:

...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...
- Olli

So go on, America. Do anything to get to that show and show them it's worth booking more shows on another leg. Nobody wants another ten years to pass without any US shows.

Rammstein is COMING

Yeah, look at those upper-case letters. That's called emphasis. Get used to it. I'm going to be very shouty in the literary sense over the next four months, because RAMMSTEIN IS COMING TO NEW ZEALAND! Edit: AND AUSTRALIA! See? I did it again.

Here's what is being said down here:

Rammstein are brining six containers of pyro gear and dildos. ‘Pussy’ was my favourite single in recent memory. I can’t wait to see this live, with backing flames and pelvic thrusts.
- David Farrier - local Twit (and journalist)

The return of several major rock acts - especially German shock-metallers Rammstein and aggressive Sacramento band Deftones - will please Big Day Out fans who complained that artists like Bjork, Dizzee Rascal, Arcade Fire and Neil Young had made the main stage a little soft in recent years.
- Stuff (NZ)

Heavy metal giants Tool and Rammstein are the big names heading to Auckland in January next year as the Big Day Out announces the first of its line-up.
- TVNZ (er NZ, and LOL at Rammstein being heavy metal giants - the metalheads will be pfft!ing themselves silly)

I'll post anything and everything that seems remotely interesting to me, as it comes to hand...with emphasis on the good stuff.

Big Day Out

Yes, I will be there. Yes, Rammstein will be there. Yes, I will tell you all about it. I'm at work right now. More later...

Rammstein, Rammstein

Well, Richard's complete lack of subtlety has come to the fore (read the first answer). His remark that his ideal gig would be at Madison Square Garden in New York has been explained. Rammstein are going to America for a single NY show. Is it, as Richard said, a recce 'to feel out, like, if there is a need for us, are people waiting for us, what can we do, what would be the next step' or is this it? The US griefers are going to have conniptions.

For those who don't follow links, Rammstein will play one live show at Madison Square Gardens, December 11. Tickets go on sale October 8. More details will be forthcoming.

Believe It When I See It

GOSSIP ALERT: This is in no way substantiated, by anyone in a position to verify Rammstein fact. DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION AS ANYTHING BUT MAD SPECULATION.

The BDO rumour-mill is going a bit nuts, apparently. I wouldn't know. I'm so out of touch with the music industry my fake smile has rusted over and my air-kissing skills are absolutely nil. It's been more than fifteen years since I attended a major event. I am clueless. The Music Network has it that Rammstein is one of the rumoured acts for BDO 2011. It's probably utter fiction, but oh boy, I wish...

An Oasis in the Desert

There's nothing going on (on the surface), so it's very, very quiet. As such when I found something you might like I just had to share it. Here are some photos taken at the Sonisphere show in Turkey. There's not a lot of Rammstein, sadly.*

Hello? Is this thing on?

* Just the first one.

Knebworth Video with a Difference

Okay, here's the process: live show filmed in HD, broadcast in HD on TV, filmed from TV, and posted to the internet. Mad? No. Aside from bad sound (tinny - to be expected), a little tearing, and funky white levels this video is excellent, the video quality is much better than you'd think. Check it out.

Mexico Too

Sorry for the delay. I'm a little slow off the mark on this one. A second Mexico show has been arranged, after tickets for the first sold out straight away. Win!

Rammfire

I'm not a musician, but I'm sure a bunch of you are. Those of you who are will know who Native Instruments are, and will no doubt be interested to know about their new suite of tools, which includes an emulator RZK helped develop:

The new RAMMFIRE amp emulation was developed in close collaboration with one of Rammstein's guitarists, Richard Z. Kruspe, and models the original recording chain that is behind the band's trademark guitar sound. It can be used both as an expansion to the amplifier arsenal in GUITAR RIG 4 and as an individual product in combination with the free GUITAR RIG 4 PLAYER.

For those of you not familiar, Paul has spoken about Guitar Rig.