 |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Helsinki, Finland |
| Genre(s) | Cello metal Chamber music Alternative metal Neo-Classical metal |
| Years active | 1993 – present |
| Label(s) | MCA Music, Inc. Zen Garden Mercury 20-20 |
| Associated acts |
Hevein Lahti Symphony Orchestra Tekijä Tuntematon |
| Website | www.apocalyptica.com |
| Members | |
| Eicca Toppinen Paavo Lötjönen Perttu Kivilaakso Mikko Sirén |
|
| Former members | |
| Antero Manninen Max Lilja |
|
Apocalyptica is a Finnish cello metal group, composed of classically trained cellists and, since 2005, a drummer. All three cellists are graduates of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.
Contents |
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.
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". Apocalyptica announced a large world tour for 2008, so far including concerts in Europe and Mexico. They have sold over two million albums to date.
Members
Current members
- Eicca Toppinen – Cello (1996–present)
- Paavo Lötjönen – Cello (1996–present)
- Perttu Kivilaakso – Cello (2000–present)
- Mikko Sirén – Drums (2005–present)
Former members
- Antero Manninen – Cello (1996–2000, occasionally plays live since 2002)
- Max Lilja – Cello (1996–2002)
Sessional members
- Dave Lombardo of Slayer – Drums (2003–2004)
Guest musicians
- Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace (“I Don’t Care”)
- Corey Taylor of Stone Sour/Slipknot (“I’m not Jesus”)[2]
- Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil (“SOS (Anything But Love)”)[3]
- Dave Lombardo of Slayer (“Last Hope”, “Betrayal/Forgiveness”)
- Emmanuelle Monet of Dolly (“En Vie”)
- Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus (“Life Burns!”, “Bittersweet”)
- Linda Sundblad of Lambretta (“Faraway Vol.2”)
- Marta Jandová of Die Happy (“Wie weit” / “How Far”)
- Mats Levén of Therion, Krux (“SOS”, “I Don’t Care”)
- Matt Tuck of Bullet for My Valentine (“Repressed”)
- Matthias Sayer of Farmer Boys (“Hope Vol.2”)
- Max Cavalera of Soulfly, ex-Sepultura (“Repressed”)
- Nina Hagen (“Seemann”)
- Sandra Nasic of Guano Apes (“Path Vol.2”)
- Till Lindemann of Rammstein (“Helden”)
- Tomoyasu Hotei[4] (“Grace”)
- Ville Valo of HIM (“Bittersweet”)
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.
Discography
Further information in the main article: Apocalyptica discography
Apocalyptica audio samples- 1996: Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
- 1996: Apocalyptica (Christmas Single)
- 1998: Inquisition Symphony
- 2000: Cult
- 2002: Best of Apocalyptica (Japan only)
- 2003: Reflections
- 2005: Apocalyptica
- 2006: Amplified // A Decade of Reinventing the Cello
- 2007: Worlds Collide
Trivia
 |
Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- 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 (film, 2005) released in 2005.
- In 2006, Apocalyptica were featured briefly in the OOMPH! filmclip, Die Schlinge 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.
- In the Eurovision Dance Contest 2007 in London, Finland's representatives, dancers Jussi Väänänen and Katja Koukkula, had chosen Apocalyptica's Metallica cover of the song The Unforgiven as the background music of one of their numbers. The couple won the competition.
References
External links
- Apocalyptica - official website
- Harmageddon Publishing - official sheet music
- Apocalyptica at MySpace
- Apocalyptica YouTube channel
| 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 |
| Compilations: Best of Apocalyptica | Amplified - A Decade of Reinventing the Cello |
| DVDs: Live | Reflections Revised | The Life Burns Tour |
