Biography
When four young classical music students from Finland decided
to interpret their favourite metal classics on the cello in 1993,
who could have imagined that their idea would turn out to be such
an international success? Apocalyptica (Eicca Toppinen,
Max Lilja, Antero Manninen and Paavo Lotjonen) released their
homage to Metallica, Apocalyptica Plays Metallica By Four
Cellos, in 1997 to rave reviews and racked up several hundred
thousand sales world-wide. Their interpretations of hits such as
"Enter Sandman," "The Unforgiven," and
"Wherever I May Roam" were cheered by rock fans around
the world, and turned
many a classical music lover into a metal head. In the past year
and a half, Apocalyptica has played more than 100 gigs for
over 500,000 people, opening for the likes of The Sex Pistols and
Sepultura, and as headliners in their own right.
Here in America, the press was entranced by the group.
Entertainment Weekly raved "...this Helsinki cello quartet's
take on
eight Metallica anthems is a vicious delight that retains the
raucous spirit of the originals. 'A.'" Atlantic Monthly
mused "Not
only do the dark melody lines fit the de profundis emotional
range of the cello, but they are explored in new arrangements
that
the morbid Sibelius himself could have appreciated." And
Details perhaps said it best, describing them as a "Finnish
classical
quartet (who) puts the hell in Helsinki."
Less than two years after their breakthrough album, Apocalyptica
roars back with their sophomore effort, Inquisition
Symphony. Filled with even more virtuosic playing, this dynamic
piece of modern cello art was recorded in January and
February of 1998 in Helsinki. It was released in Finland shortly
after, landing in the Top 5 of the Finnish album charts. This
time around, the band decided to cover a wider range of artists,
including Faith No More ("From Out Of Nowhere"),
Pantera
("Domination") and Sepultura ("Inquisition
Symphony," "Refuse/Resist"). But the musicians
remain loyal to Metallica, recording
"One," "Nothing Else Matters," "Fade To
Black," and "For Whom The Bell Tolls."
Apocalyptica band leader Eicca Toppinen
also branches out, writing three stunning cello metal epics
specifically for the quartet, "Harmageddon,"
"M.B." and "Toreador."
Later this year, Apocalyptica will be heard in the movie Your
Friends And Neighbours (Propaganda Films) starring Jason
Patric, Ben Stiller and Nastassja Kinski. Three songs from their
debut album will be featured in the film, marking the first time
Metallica have allowed their music to be used in a movie (albeit
via Apocalyptica's interpretations).
