Zeraphine - Bochum 2010

Matrix, Bochum, Germany
2nd October 2010
Zeraphine, Mystigma, Schattenspieler

After a long wait, the new ZERAPHINE album 'Whiteout' was released in June. Alternative rock with heart and soul in German and English with their own unique style! Some songs could be heard already live at different festivals. In September and October, the guys are on tour to present the album in small clubs with some nice surprises.


Schattenspieler

SCHATTENSPIELER (German for "Playing the Shadows") represents an innovative acoustic mixture of light and shadow, transported through powerful rock and metal tunes. The combo -formed in 2000 - defined their genre as dark rock, thus circumventing the never-ending discussion, whether SCHATTENSPIELER was metal, Goth or rock music. If you are looking for comparisons, you'd probably find DEEP PURPLE, MASTERPLAN or even RAMMSTEIN elements somewhere in there: Rock music with keyboard sound and a shot of Heavy Metal. SCHATTENSPIELER is the work of six experienced musicians each of them has a very unique musical taste. Singer Big Dave’s charismatic vocals, transporting both deep growls and high-pitched screams, and Maître’s dark and epic sounds at the keyboard! Additionally, unlike most German heavy metal bands, they aren't afraid to write and play some of their songs in their native language. After having released two CDs on their own their latest output ‘Babel’ is being published internationally by Dr. Music Distribution and Intergroove. Considering both the overwhelming fan base and the fact that they have played with bands like IN EXTREMO, DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER and AXXIS, releasing on a broader scale is a logical and necessary step. http://schattenspieler.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/schattenspielermusic



Music and Performance
The guys were the opener of the evening and the one with no decoration at all. They didn't even introduce themselves. Okay, decoration is not too important; it's the music that counts. First of all, respect to singer Dave. He was doing that show even though he was very ill. He told us he had just left bed for that gig and he was doing a great job. During the first song 'In Dunkelheit', I thought how they would sound in English which they let us know with the next song 'Back to Life'. SCHATTENSPIELER's music has a little bit of everything from metal, hard rock and just simple rock with dark elements and Dave's very charismatic voice. No problem for him with all up and downs he should sing. Either the band had brought their own fan club with them, or they are already more famous than we know, because the mood was unbelievable for a support band and the fans in the audience were singing along. The absolute highlight was 'Cealum Obscurum'. After that, the guys wanted to leave the stage, but no chance, because the audience wanted more and so they returned to the stage and finished with 'Wo ist der Weg'.

Setlist
01. In Dunkelheit
02. Back to life
03. Totes Glück
04. Cealum Obscurum
05. Wo ist der Weg

Rating
Music:8
Performance:7
Sound:6
Light: 6
Total: 7.1 / 10




Mystigma

After a few releases and countless concerts under the name TEARS OF MYSTIGMA they changed their name into MYSTIGMA. 'Universal Surrender' was an important album for the band in 2005 and now since 1st October 2010 the new album 'Andagony' is out. It was produced in the Lunatics Studios from Dieter Steffan and Vincent Sorg (In Extremo, Letzte Instanz, Xandria). The official video for the single release 'Visions Incomplete' was already online in summer. Certain songs were also already released on different compilations like the 'Zillo-CD' or 'Dark Allure'. http://www.mystigma.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/mystigmamusic

Music and Performance
Talking about decorations - MYSTIGMA had the most on stage. Now with a big flag and banners there was no doubt who they were. They even used black light for the right effects. MYSTIGMA was another band with great rock riffs. Sometimes rather hard but then we heard also some melodic and sentimental parts. Also some electronic elements, which caught you at once, were part of their songs! The songs were combined with singer Torsten's aggressive as well as sensitive voice.



Somehow the audience was not as enthusiastic as with SCHATTENSPIELER before, but I can't imagine they didn't like what they heard. On the new album, which was just released, is just one German song called 'In Deine Hand' and it was also the only German song they presented. The end of the set was made with a cover version of PARADISE LOST's 'Say Just Words' and I have to say this song fitted well in their set. They didn't change it and they played it quite well. So guys, maybe next time we will see you as opener for PARADISE LOST.

Setlist
01. Quicksand
02. Antagonist of Fear
03. Vision Incomplete
04. I steal your Light
05. Never seen before
06. Irony of Fate
07. In Deine Hand
08. Say just words

Rating
Music:8
Performance:7
Sound:6
Light: 6
Total: 7.1 / 10




Zeraphine

ZERAPHINE are a gothic alternative rock from Berlin, Germany, formed in 2000 by Sven Friedrich (vocals, programming, lead song writing) and Norman Selbig (guitars) from the then-defunct DREADFUL SHADOWS. After the acclaimed Goth rock band DREADFUL SHADOWS decided to split and go their separate ways, Sven and Norman collaborated with ex-DREADFUL SHADOWS producer Thommy Hein on a project called HELIX. However, the HELIX name was taken by another band they were forced to rename themselves – ZERAPHINE, taken from the Hebrew bible’s concepts of the ‘seraph’ (or seraphim), which is a class of angel in traditional Judaism and Orthodox Christianity. Once ZERAPHINE signed onto the Drakkar Entertainment record label additional band members Manuel Senger (guitars), Michael Nepp (bass) and Marcellus Puhlemann (drums) joined the project as studio musicians. This changed after their debut album was released and each member began contributing music and ideas to all following releases.



In 2006, ZERAPHINE announced that they were severing their ties with their label, Drakkar Entertainment, so that they could have more creative control over their next record. ‘Stil’ (2006), released on the Phonyx Records label (a record label managed by the band themselves and producer Thommy Hein). The band was decidedly less active in 2007, when Sven and Norman re-joined DREADFUL SHADOWS for live shows exclusively. Also during this time Sven began working on a side project, an electronic solo project titled SOLAR FAKE. The new ZERAPHINE album 'Whiteout' was released on 11th June 2010. http://www.zeraphine.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/zeraphine

Music and Performance
The ZERAPHINE show was like we know it: Long setlist, simple but brilliant show. The audience freaked out, screaming girls and everyone was singing with the band. They started the set with one of their new German songs 'Lieber allein'. As some of you might know the guys like it to do cover versions. Over the years, they have recorded and played a few and this evening the first one was 'Mr Brightside' from THE KILLERS. I have to say I haven't heard a bad cover version so far from ZERAPHINE, so I enjoyed this one as well, but I also like the original version very much. Some girls really went mad because of Sven, and one girl shouted she wanted a baby from him. Sven could just laugh about it and said: ”No, you don't really want that - believe me!”



The middle part of the set list was a short but nice acoustic set, though they had crashed already one acoustic guitar on the tour. One English song 'I will be there', another cover version THE CURE's 'Pictures of you' (Yes, you are right it was just a brilliant cover) and the wonderful German song 'Sterne sehen. That was the moment when Sven would bury his face in his hands because he was totally overwhelmed by the fans. The audience was singing the refrain all alone. By the way, he was very impressed by the fans for a few times. After 20 songs they left the stage for the first time, but it was not the time to say good-bye yet. Some older songs still wanted to be played. Michael recognized that the football team of the city where they played had lost. No matter if they played in Munich, in Bielefeld or now in Bochum. Maybe they are a bad omen for football, but we will forgive you that. After a second break it was just time for two more songs, because the party people were already waiting outside. With the new songs 'The Stream' and the slow title song 'Whiteout' this show found its end.



Setlist
01. Intro
02. Nie Mehr Allein
03. No Tears
04. Stop Pretending
05. Rain Falls
06. Inside Your Arms
07. Die Macht In Dir
08. Louisa
09. Mister Brightside (The Killers Cover)
10. I Feel Your Trace
11. Ohne Dich
12. I Will Be There (acoustic)
13. Pictures Of You (acoustic)
14. Sterne Sehen (acoustic)
15. Never Want To Be Like You
16. No More Doubts
17. Tomorrows Morning
18. Die Wirklichkeit
19. Out Of Sight
20. Remaining Desires
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21. Be My Rain
22. Flieh Mit Mir
23. Unter Eis
24. I’ll Follow You
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25. Stream
26. Whiteout

Rating
Music: 9
Performance:8
Sound:6
Light: 6
Total: 7.8 / 10



All pictures by Martin Ebbers
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