On 27 January at the Apelsin club, a concert took place by German band TANZWUT — a band grown on medieval folk motifs, playing music of an unusual style that can be characterised as industrial-folk-metal.
This concert was announced as the presentation of the new, long-awaited album Schattenreiter, which was released in 2006.
TANZWUT were not visiting for the first time, and it is nothing new for them to charge their fans with a furious dancing rage — but despite this, one could not say the club was bursting at the seams with fans.
The concert was announced to begin at 20:00, but the German lads were in no hurry to take the stage, stoking anticipation and inflaming the audience's impatience. Closer to 21:00 the restless audience, chanting "Tanzwut! Tanzwut!", was treated to recordings of compositions from various albums, which provoked a curious stir.
And then at last the first chords rang out, the first beams of light swept across the stage, and everything was off.
The musical madness began with a composition called "Toccata" — performed on keyboards and accompanied by rhythmic sweeps of the spotlights. This "Toccata" was none other than J. S. Bach's immortal creation in new musical dress. About the lighting I can only say a few words: enormous respect to the lighting designer.
The programme was very intense. The musicians spared nothing — neither songs nor emotions — and throughout the entire concert performed with undiminished energy the rousing compositions beloved by fans from all four albums. We heard "Königreich," "Augen Zu," "Bitte Bitte," and the lyrical ballad "Niemals Ohne Dich" in red spotlights, and "Dämmerung," the provocative "Was Soll Der Teufel In Paradies" (What does the devil want in paradise), "Auferstehung," the philosophical "Dein Zweites Gesicht," and others. "Luegner" was also heard, as was the fan concert favourite "Partika," and the strange and mysterious "Im Tiefen Gras" from the new album.
True to themselves, the musicians played their legendary hit as the second number in the programme — the one that delivers a powerful charge of good humour: "Ihr Wollt Spass (Den Sollt Ihr Haben)" (You want fun, and you shall have it) — followed by "Das Labyrinth" and the sea-like rolling "Meer."
This time TANZWUT fans finally heard the live performance of songs from the new album Schattenreiter, released in 2006.
Between songs the musicians maintained contact with the audience — now thanking the emotionally generous fans, now accompanying their songs with brief comments. One composition they prefaced with the words "ganz teuflisch und schoen" (frankly diabolical and beautiful), while the song "Der Arzt" was preceded by a humorous story about a doctor who, together with a nurse, came to visit a woman who wanted breast enhancement surgery, and in the end doubled his enjoyment of the evening.
The title track of the album — "Schattenreiter" — proved particularly successful in terms of energy and drive.
The next burst of energy for TANZWUT fans was the song "Vulkan" from the same album.
The musicians were true to their style — they took the stage fully painted in makeup, some in kilts, some bare-chested, adorned with tattoos, neckbands, and iron chains. Particular attention was drawn to the band's new piper Ardor — not so much for his costume as for his overall image, which throughout the entire concert radiated an unmistakable Captain Jack Sparrow energy.
Compared to the previous concert, physical contact with the audience was this time extremely limited. Only rarely did Teufel extend a hand into the crowd for a handshake; for the most part he teased the fans with his unattainability. The pipers, meanwhile, charged toward the edge of the stage as if about to leap into the crowd, but at the last moment held back.
The musicians came out for an encore only once — but took their time during it, bowing for a considerable period. For a second encore, despite all efforts, the audience was unable to draw them back.
So for nearly two hours without the slightest sign of fatigue, the former Black Ravens of CORVUS CORAX soared in the whirlwind of TANZWUT's dancing rage.
Report by Flolo
Photos by Gunslinger
Thanks to the Apelsin club and personally to Ilya Zinin for the accreditation provided