Apocalyptica

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For other uses, see Apocalyptica (disambiguation).
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica performing in Brussels, July 2006
Apocalyptica performing in Brussels, July 2006
Background information
Origin Helsinki, Finland
Genre(s) Cello metal
Chamber music
Neo-classical metal
Years active 1993 – present
Label(s) MCA Music, Inc.
Zen Garden
Mercury
20-20
Jive Records
Zomba Label Group
Sony BMG
Associated acts Hevein
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Tekijä Tuntematon
Website www.apocalyptica.com
Members
Eicca Toppinen
Paavo Lötjönen
Perttu Kivilaakso
Mikko Sirén
Former members
Max Lilja

Apocalyptica is a Finnish cello metal band, composed of classically trained cellists and, since 2005, a drummer. Three of the cellists are graduates of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. Their music features elements from classical music, neo-classical metal, thrash metal, and symphonic metal.

Contents

[edit] History

Apocalyptica was formed in 1993[1] when four cellists, Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, Max Lilja, and Antero Manninen gathered to play Metallica covers at the Teatro Heavy Metal Club. Among the audience was Kari Hynninen, who worked for the independent label Zen Garden Records. After listening to Apocalyptica's set, Kari Hynninen signed them on the spot to Zen Garden Records.

In 1996, Apocalyptica released their debut studio album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, which consisted solely of Metallica covers played on cellos. In 1998, Apocalyptica released their second studio album, Inquisition Symphony, which was produced by Hiili Hiilesma. Inquisition Symphony once again contained covers of Metallica, but also contained covers of Faith No More, Sepultura, and Pantera. For this album the band also decided to include three original songs written by Eicca Toppinen.

Perttu Kivilaakso live 2005
Perttu Kivilaakso live 2005

In 1999, Antero Manninen left the group, and was replaced by Perttu Kivilaakso. In 2000, Apocalyptica released their third studio album, Cult, which now featured 10 original songs, and only 3 covers. And it was after the recording of Cult that an Apocalyptica track was first seen featuring vocals, Path Vol. 2. In 2002, Max Lilja left the group and joined Hevein, leaving Apocalyptica with only three members.

In 2003, Apocalyptica released their fourth studio album, Reflections, which consisted for the first time of all original songs. Reflections featured a more experimental sound, instead of the previous acoustic style arrangements found on Inquisition Symphony and Cult. Dave Lombardo from Slayer played drums on five songs from Reflections. As he was unable to join the band on stage on the following tour, the band hired Mikko Sirén, who would stay with the band for future tours as well as the recording of the next album.

In 2005, Apocalyptica released their fifth studio album, Apocalyptica. This album featured a number of guest musicians including Ville Valo of HIM, Lauri Ylönen, and once again Dave Lombardo. They also recorded the Intro for Bullet For My Valentine's album The Poison In December 2005 Mikko Siren was announced as an official bandmember after having played around 200 shows with the band.

Apocalyptica released their sixth studio album, Worlds Collide, on September 17, 2007. To the surprise of many the album includes a cover of the German version of David Bowie's song "Heroes". Till Lindemann of Rammstein, for whom they opened on the Reise, Reise tour, was the guest vocalist on the track "Helden". This album, Worlds Collide was released on April 15, 2008 in the United States.

To end 2007, the band toured Europe successfully, selling out many of the venues they played. They were directly supported by the gothic metal band Lacrimas Profundere.

Apocalyptica announced a large world tour for 2008, so far including concerts in Europe, North America and Mexico. They have sold over two million albums to date. They are also scheduled to play KFMA Day in Tucson, AZ with Metallica on May 16 and on June 5 on Rock in Rio Lisboa, Portugal.

In June 2008, during the Rock in Rio concert in Lisbon, Apocalyptica joined the Greenpeace "energy [r]evolution campaign" and played the Beethoven 5th symphony from the stage.[2]

[edit] Members

Apocalyptica playing live with Rammstein
Apocalyptica playing live with Rammstein

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former members

[edit] Sessional members

[edit] Guest musicians

[edit] Covered artists

Apocalyptica have covered songs by the following artists:

Often people mistake the String Quartet Tribute Series for Apocalyptica covering bands other than the ones mentioned above.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Apocalyptica discography

Apocalyptica audio samples Apocalyptica audio samples

 Audio samples:
"Missconstruction"
Missconstruction
"Farewell"
Farewell

[edit] Apocalyptica in media

  • Three songs from the album Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, "Enter Sandman", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", appeared in the soundtrack to the 1998 movie Your Friends & Neighbors.
  • The song "Hope Vol. 2" served as the title song for the 2001 movie Vidocq.
  • Kivilaakso recorded the main themes of the video game Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne released in 2003.
  • Their cover of Metallica's "Master of Puppets" appeared in the 2004 Metallica film Some Kind of Monster.
  • The song "Bittersweet" served as the theme music for the video game The Settlers: Heritage of Kings released in 2005.
  • The song "Life Burns" is part of the soundtrack for the video game Burnout Revenge release in 2005.
  • Apocalyptica recorded the main theme for the sport drama movie Shadowboxing released in 2005.
  • In 2006, Apocalyptica were featured briefly in the OOMPH! filmclip, Die Schlinge ("The noose") playing their cellos as the members of OOMPH! played their instruments (and sang) on a set of gallows in accordance to the song title.
  • Apocalyptica played during the counting of votes in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki. They played a medley of the songs "Worlds Collide", "Faraway", and "Life Burns!".
  • In the Eurovision Dance Contest 2007 in London, Finland's representatives, dancers Jussi Väänänen and Katja Koukkula, chose Apocalyptica's cover of the Metallica song "The Unforgiven" as the background music for one of their numbers. The couple won the competition.
  • French figure ice-skater Brian Joubert chose a medley of "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters" played by Apocalyptica for his Free skating program for the years 2006-2007 and 2008.
  • On The 69 Eyes' album Angels, they provide music to the track "Ghost".

[edit] References

  1. ^ Billboard Music Charts - Latest Music News - Music Videos
  2. ^ Apocalyptica supports Greenpeace campaign. Video on YouTube.
  3. ^ Apocalyptica – Tony Petrossian, director
  4. ^ Blabbermouth.Net - Lacuna Coil, Gojira Members To Guest On New Apocalyptica Cd
  5. ^ Blabbermouth.Net - Lacuna Coil, Gojira Members To Guest On New Apocalyptica Cd

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Apocalyptica
Current Members: Eicca Toppinen | Paavo Lötjönen | Perttu Kivilaakso | Mikko Sirén
Former Members: Antero Manninen | Max Lilja
Discography
Studio Albums: Plays Metallica by Four Cellos | Inquisition Symphony | Cult | Reflections | Apocalyptica | Worlds Collide
Singles: Apocalyptica | Harmageddon | Path Vol.2 | Hope Vol.2 | Faraway Vol.2 | Seemann | Bittersweet | Wie weit/How far/En Vie | Life Burns! | Repressed | I'm Not Jesus | S.O.S. (Anything But Love)
Compilations: Best of Apocalyptica | Amplified - A Decade of Reinventing the Cello
DVDs: Live | Reflections Revised | The Life Burns Tour