Review: Nev Pearce
Photography: Dan Maynard

When you talk about legendary frontmen, Rammstein’s Till Lindemann stands out as one of the very best. He has carved an unmistakable path through heavy music history since the mid ’90s, when Rammstein began their global rise — sparked by two tracks appearing in David Lynch’s Lost Highway and its Trent Reznor–produced soundtrack, followed by the release of their massive sophomore album Sehnsucht.

Now I’ve been lucky enough to see Rammstein twice when they toured here for Big Day Out, and while it wasn’t the full, over-the-top spectacle of their European stadium shows, both performances were still absolutely mind-blowing.

Sadly, with the sheer size of their production and the costs involved in touring, I doubt we’ll be seeing Rammstein here again anytime soon—if ever. But tonight, we’ve been given a rare opportunity: to witness the band’s legendary frontman, Till Lindemann, kick off his very first Australian solo tour — and by all accounts from those who’ve seen his recent shows, it’s the next best thing.

Tonight’s gig is being held at the mighty Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, easily one of the finest venues in the country and the perfect place to have Till Lindemann and his circus of madness take over for an evening of over-the-top debauchery, fire and industrial chaos.

Opening the tour are Melbourne’s Mélancolia, who have been working their arses off over the last few years, not only touring Australia but also taking their chaos overseas alongside metal juggernauts like Suffocation and Cradle Of Filth.

Last year the band released their sophomore record Random.Access.Misery to widespread critical acclaim, and I’ve been hanging to see them live again ever since catching them opening for Cattle Decapitation back in 2023.

Seeing these guys take their hard-hitting, blackened nu-metal to a much larger stage is seriously impressive, and they kick in with excessive force. Unfortunately, their set is cut short when the venue’s fire alarm goes off and they’re forced to leave the stage. Hopefully the rest of the tour runs smoothly for them, because they absolutely deserve to be up there.

The room is illuminated by pulsing blue light as Meine Welt is blasted over the PA and the fans absolutely lose their minds as Till Lindemann emerges from the shadows.
It’s been a long time coming and as the band kicks into Fat from Skills in Pills, the energy in the room instantly hits another level.

The stage show is incredible, with a giant screen displaying David Lynch–inspired visuals and one of the best light shows I’ve seen at this venue. Combined with the non-stop movement of the band’s members, it’s hard to know where to look without missing something. It’s a total sensory overload — though with Lindemann, you wouldn’t expect anything less.

Lindemann is as charismatic as ever, his huge, booming voice shaking the walls. The set spans his solo material, from his work with Peter Tägtgren—including tracks like Golden Shower, Skills in Pills, and Praise Abort—to his most recent releases. While no songs from Rammstein are performed tonight, there’s more than enough to keep the fans satisfied.

His live band is pretty incredible, featuring Emily Ruvidich and Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails) on guitars, Kristin Kaminski on bass and Brynn Route on keyboards — all rounded out by my favourite drummer of all time, Joe Letz, who is honestly worth the price of admission alone. He doesn’t just hit the drums like they owe him money; he somehow manages to make even the more subdued moments an absolute joy to watch.

It’s during the second half of the set that things really ramp up in unexpected — and hilarious — ways, with cake and fish (yes, fish) being thrown into the crowd and around the venue, creating quite the mess.

At one point, the show transforms into a giant rave, with Lindemann walking through the crowd alongside a cameraman during Platz Eins, showing the fans on the giant screen absolutely losing their minds as their hero approaches.

Lindemann and his band really know how to throw a party — not just putting on a performance but delivering a full-blown spectacle that exceeds any expectations. While there were no pyro or fireworks, it was still one hell of a way to kick off the new year of gigs, and something you’d be silly to miss.

Destroy All Lines Presents

TILL LINDEMANN
AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR
WITH SPECIAL GUEST
MÉLANCOLIA
TOUR DATES:

SATURDAY 17 JANUARY 2026 – HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY
SUNDAY 18 JANUARY 2026 – PICA, MELBOURNE
TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2026 – AEC THEATRE, ADELAIDE
THURSDAY 22 JANUARY 2026 – METRO CITY, PERTH

Tickets from www.destroyalllines.com