Apocalyptica

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Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica live in Wacken 2005.
Apocalyptica live in Wacken 2005.
Background information
Origin Helsinki, Finland
Genre(s) Cello metal, symphonic metal, instrumental rock, chamber music
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, Three Days Grace, Amon Amarth
Website www.apocalyptica.com
Members
Eicca Toppinen
Paavo Lötjönen
Perttu Kivilaakso
Mikko Sirén
Antero Manninen
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,[1] thrash metal, and symphonic metal.

Contents

[edit] History

Apocalyptica was formed in 1993[2] when four cellists, Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, Max Lilja, and Antero Manninen gathered to play Metallica covers at Sibelius-Academy. They performed in an after-Christmas party as a "Jailhouse Band" at the Teatro Heavy Metal Club. That evening the line-up was Toppinen, Lilja, Manninen and Perttu Kivilaakso (who was to join the band permanently in 1999.) 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 Hiilesmaa. 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

In 1999, Antero Manninen left the group, and was replaced by Perttu Kivilaakso. In 2000, Apocalyptica released their third studio album, Cult, which featured 10 original songs, and 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 of The Rasmus, and once again Dave Lombardo. They also recorded the Intro for Bullet For My Valentine's album The Poison. In December 2005 Mikko Sirén was announced as an official band member after having played around 200 shows with the band.

Apocalyptica released their sixth studio album, Worlds Collide, on September 17, 2007. It was produced by Jacob Hellner. 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". Worlds Collide was released on April 15, 2008 in the United States. The first single "I'm not Jesus" featuring Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour from the "Worlds Collide" album cracked the top 10 of both the Active Rock and Alternative charts.

To end 2007, the band toured Europe successfully, selling out many of the venues they played. In 2008 the tour continued in US and included numerous festivals in Europe.

The band has played approximately 850-1000 concerts during their career in about 50 countries.

Apocalyptica announced a large world tour for 2008, so far including concerts in Europe and North America (including Mexico). They have sold over three million albums to date.

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.[3] They have most recently recorded 'I Don't Care' with Three Days Grace lead singer Adam Gontier.

The band also appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly on October 31, 2008. Here they made their American television debut with a performance of "I Don't Care" with Toryn Green.

In November 2008, Apocalyptica featuring Adam Gontier hit first at the BDS and Mediabase Active Rock radio charts with the single "I Don't Care". Later that month, the band ranked 3rd at Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Track chart and 2nd at Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart just after AC/DC, and just ahead of Metallica, an ironic twist, due to their origins performing Metallica covers. Recently, it reached #1 on the Billboard rock chart, making Apocalyptica the first Finnish band to top the US charts. The song "I Don't Care" was also featured in the 16th episode of season 8 of the TV series 'Smallville', which aired on March 19, 2009.

[edit] Members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former members

[edit] Sessional members

[edit] Guest musicians

[edit] Vocalists

[edit] Instruments

[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

[edit] Apocalyptica In media

  • Apocalyptica have recently finished a collaboration with the group Pilgrim on the song "Iuda" and have filmed a music video.
  • They are featured on the Amon Amarth track Live For The Kill from their album Twilight of the Thunder God.
  • They are featured on the Sepultura track Valtio from their album Nation.
  • On Angelzoom's album Angelzoom, they provide music to the track "Turn the Sky".
  • 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.
  • On Grip Inc.' album Incorporated, Toppinen provide music to the track "(Built To) Resist".
  • Apocalyptica recorded the main theme "Boy s T'enyu" (meaning "Fight with the shadow") feat. Triple X for the sport drama movie Shadowboxing released in 2005.
  • On Rammstein' single Benzin, remixes the song as Kerosiini and performance live on Concert in 2007 in Budapest, Hungary the songs Mein Herz brennt and Ohne Dich.
  • 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!".
  • On Waltari' album Space Avenue, they provide music to the tracks "Purify Yourself" and "Look Out Tonite".
  • 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".
  • Apocalyptica contributed a remix of "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)" done by Justin Lassen to the original soundtrack of horror movie "The Midnight Meat Train".
  • Grace can be found on the NHL 09 soundtrack.
  • Apocalyptica played with Hanna Pakarinen the song S.O.S (Anything But Love) live at Emma-gaala on 8 March 2008.
  • In 2008 Apocalyptica was featured in the IUDA Pilgrim video playing their cellos with the members of the band.
  • The song "Life Burns!" is featured on the soundtrack for EA's game "Burnout Revenge".
  • Apocalyptica plays the intro of the Bullet For My Valentine album The Poison.
  • The song I Don't Care was featured on the Cw's Smallville on March 19 2009

[edit] See also

  1. ^ FYE: Neo-Classical Metal - Apocalyptica Apocalyptica / CD / 2005
  2. ^ Billboard Music Charts - Latest Music News - Music Videos
  3. ^ Apocalyptica supports Greenpeace campaign. Video on YouTube.
  4. ^ a b Blabbermouth.Net - Lacuna Coil, Gojira Members To Guest On New Apocalyptica Cd

[edit] External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Apocalyptica
v • d • e
Apocalyptica
Eicca Toppinen · Paavo Lötjönen · Perttu Kivilaakso · Mikko Sirén
Antero Manninen · Max Lilja
Studio albums
Singles
Compilations
DVDs
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