Band Origin: Helsinki, Finland
Genre: Symphonic Heavy Metal
Label: Universal
Running Time: 47 minutes
Release Date: February 10, 2003
Best Part: When people ask me if I dig classical music, I ask them if they dig Apocalyptica.
Favorite Tracks: Cortege, Prologue (Apprehension), Somewhere Around Nothing, No Education, and Resurrection
Grade: 4.5
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Reflections in way more than 20 words or less:
The fourth release from the Finnish cellists was their first to feature more instrumental experimentation, all original tracks, and drums which were in part provided by none other than Dave Lombardo.
The Band:
Apocalyptica is a four piece symphonic metal band from Finland founded in 1993 by current members Eicca Toppinen and Paavo Lötjönen, and former members Antero Mannine and Max Lilja. The four cellists gathered originally to play covers of Metallica at the Sibelius Academy, the only music University in Finland. They would go on to release their debut in 1996 entitled Plays Metallica by Four Cellos featuring eight covers played entirely on cello. Their second release Inquisition Symphony continued the trend but also featured covers of Pantera, Sepultura and Faith No More, as well as some original tracks written by Toppinen. Apocalyptica have continuously evolved their musical style over the years to first incorporate drums, and follow it up with other instruments and a wide array of guest musicians and vocalists on their most recent releases which includes among others: Adam Gontier, Till Lindemann, Corey Taylor, Max Cavalera and Dave Lombardo, who was the first person to track drums for the band. Apocalyptica are also known for the very energetic live performances put on by Toppinen, Lötjönen, Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén - of which I have seen them on at least three separate occasions.
Apocalyptica's other releases include: Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (1996), Inquisition Symphony (1998), Cult (2000), Apocalyptica (2005), Worlds Collide (2007), 7th Symphony (2010)
Apocalyptica is a four piece symphonic metal band from Finland founded in 1993 by current members Eicca Toppinen and Paavo Lötjönen, and former members Antero Mannine and Max Lilja. The four cellists gathered originally to play covers of Metallica at the Sibelius Academy, the only music University in Finland. They would go on to release their debut in 1996 entitled Plays Metallica by Four Cellos featuring eight covers played entirely on cello. Their second release Inquisition Symphony continued the trend but also featured covers of Pantera, Sepultura and Faith No More, as well as some original tracks written by Toppinen. Apocalyptica have continuously evolved their musical style over the years to first incorporate drums, and follow it up with other instruments and a wide array of guest musicians and vocalists on their most recent releases which includes among others: Adam Gontier, Till Lindemann, Corey Taylor, Max Cavalera and Dave Lombardo, who was the first person to track drums for the band. Apocalyptica are also known for the very energetic live performances put on by Toppinen, Lötjönen, Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén - of which I have seen them on at least three separate occasions.
Apocalyptica's other releases include: Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (1996), Inquisition Symphony (1998), Cult (2000), Apocalyptica (2005), Worlds Collide (2007), 7th Symphony (2010)
Jay's Take on Reflections:
Apocalyptica is a band I discovered in high school when myself and a bunch of miscreants were in charge of the high school radio, and we needed cool yet not morally or otherwise offensive material to play over the airwaves. My first introduction to them was through their debut Plays Metallica by Four Cellos and their covers from Inquisition Symphony which are simply put fantabulous. However it was always in bits and pieces, an odd song here and there that we would end up listening to the band. Reflections was the first album by the group that I listened to in its entirety, in one sitting, not individual bits. And it's an interesting entry to listen to in their history because it's definitely the staging ground for the musical evolutions of their later records, and the point where the band really took off on their own. Reflections continues down the path that they began to carve with Cult where they began to use a lot more distortion effects to create that heavier, thicker sound that really permeates the album. It is also the first album that was recorded with entirely original material as each of their three previous releases contained at least three or more covers. The most significant difference and take off from their earlier releases was the inclusion of drums, which when you think about it doesn't seem like such a giant leap, however going from three instrumental albums composed entirely from cellos to incorporating drum work by none other than Dave Lombardo from Slayer - let's just say it makes a difference. Reflections would also be the last instrumental album created by the band, as with each of their following releases they would include vocals starting for the first time on their self-titled release in 2005. This album is a good starting point for anyone who may have be unfamiliar with the band at first because it truly captures them at the core of what they're all about - kickass metal with cellos.
Sample of the Day:
- J
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