Apocalyptica, the Finnish orchestral rock band has released its sixth studio album and is back in the US for its North American Tour. Playing a number of cities and venues this fall, the Cello-playing foursome is prepared to entrance their audiences with breathtaking original instrumentals, vocalized performances, and instrumental recreations of some of the most iconic songs. Starting out in 1993, Apocalyptica rose to prominence in the US with their album “Plays Metallica by Four Cellos”. Audiences were mesmerized by the originality of the band, despite playing covers. Apocalyptica’s shows are pure love for music and must-be events. Apocalyptica Tickets for their American tour are available now.

7th Symphony

Apocalyptica’s latest album, 7th Symphony is a purely (and deliberately) instrumental album, the latest release of the four-piece. The album is not just symphonic, it is practically a symphony. Fans, however, have resonated to the album because it, at the same time, rocks harder than any of their other works, including their Metallica covers and the album Cult. This is certainly a step in a different direction, an attempt at commercializing their signature music. It is also a musical collaboration, produced by Joe Barresi from the Queens of the Stone Age and Tool, and by Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Papa Roach).

This is what lead songwriter and cellist Eicca Toppinen had to say about the album, “The instrumental stuff is more instrumental than anything we’ve done before. For the previous albums, we sometimes had songs which had the potential for vocal tracks, but turned out to be instrumentals. This time, the instrumental tracks are pure instrumentals with long, progressive passages. We wanted to write instrumentals where nobody’s feeling ‘Oh, it’s great, but where are the vocals?’”

However, there are some vocal performances on the album as well. Brent Smith from Shinedown sings on the track “Not Strong Enough”. “End of Me” is co-written with Johnny Andrews and Gavin Rossdale, the latter is on lead vocals as well. This collaboration, according to the band, is expected to particularly please metal fans.

What Sets Apocalyptica Apart

When one looks at four Finnish men holding cellos and basses on-stage, one doesn’t expect them to rock out to Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”. Nevertheless, that is exactly what Apocalyptica does: it redefines refinement. With its band members beginning their musical training at the tender ages of five and nine, they have incorporated their favorite musical genres into classical music, and gained appraisal for it. They have been around for twenty four years now, and have created a relevance and tradition of their own over this time period. There was nothing like them when they started out in 1993, and now there is nothing quite as good. Apocalyptica fans are particularly fascinated by the group’s unpredictability.

They’re kept on the edge of their virtual seats, never knowing what the band is going to produce next. Having gained their fame through covers, Apocalyptica is now dabbling in original pieces, not just instrumentals but actual songs with vocals and lyrics. This is an interesting venture, and one that has led to incredible collaborations, such as on 7th Symphony. The band is showing their diversified skill, such as songwriting, and flexibility as artists. While Apocalyptica’s music may seem to be a niche, their longevity cannot be questioned as they constantly find new ways to employ their instrumentals.

For the Sake of Art

Apocalyptica knows no bounds when it comes to expressing themselves. In recording 7th Symphony’s “Beautiful”, the band decided to play the track naked. According to Toppinen, this allowed for the track to sound as bare and vulnerable as it does. The four-piece are not just artists, but incredible translators of music: being in a vulnerable position allowed them to produce sensitive music. “It was a moment where there were four guys naked in the room just playing acoustic music. Being naked always brings good feelings. We tried with clothes on, and we were like, ‘Oh, something is missing.’ Mikko wanted to celebrate his bass playing by being naked, so he was already naked so we thought, ‘Okay, everybody else should get naked, too.’ Immediately, it was much more fun.” —Eicca Toppinen

Touring America

Apocalyptica first toured the United States in 1996. Despite being a Finnish band, the group was inspired by heavy metal music and Metallica particularly, due to which it was able to resonate with American audiences. The band’s popularity is evident in their sixth North American tour, expected to be launched this fall. Make sure you have booked your Apocalyptica Tickets now for a venue near you.