Apocalyptica
Created | Updated May 23, 2003
This cello quartet from Helsinki, Finland, has been unbelievably successful with it's intriguing fusion of Classical Music with Heavy Metal.
The band formed in 1993 and included the four Sibelius Academy graduates Eicca Toppinen, Max Lilja, Paavo Lotjonen and Antero Manninen.
The albums
But it was not until 1995 when they got their first contract and released their 1996 album "Plays Metallica by Four Cellos". This album featured cover versions of popular hits by Metallica and was indeed a great success. Hits like "Enter Sandman" in this new and exciting form ensured the success of their first European tour.
Their second album "Inquisition Symphony" followed in 1998 and was well received, too. It again featured tracks by Metallica, Faith No More, Pantera and Sepultura, but it includes also three tracks entirely composed and produced by Apocalyptica themselves. Shortly thereafter Antero Manninen left the band and was replaced by Perttu Kivilaakso.
Then in late 2000 the third studio album named "Cult" followed. Here Apocalyptica mostly relied on the song writing skills of Eicca Toppinen, but the record also features an impressive interpretation of Grieg's "Hall of the Mountain King".
Experiments
Though Apocalyptica is playing on classical instruments, they nevertheless use electric amplifiers. And in their last two albums they also tend to use more distortion effects and also percussion. In their last two single releases "Path II" and "Hope Vol 2" Apocalyptica also explored the possible use of vocals, though they have produced until then strictly instrumental songs.
In "Path II", which is a rewritten song from "Cult", they invited the "Guano Apes" singer Sandra Nasic to join them. Likewise Mathias Sayer from the Farmer Boys joined them on the single "Hope Vol 2" in late 2001.
