Apocalyptica - Hall of The Mountain King Video

Apocalyptica
Hall of The Mountain King
Live Video

Apocalyptica are a singular voice in music. From their days as a cover band in Finland to one of the most original metal bands in history, they've long since left their days as a musical curiosity behind them. The band that closed the chasm between Shostakovich and Metallica, between concert halls and rock venues - has become one of the most respected groups on the planet. At last, they're releasing recorded document of their remarkable rise to fame. '"Amplified - A Decade of Reinventing the Cello" is a retrospective testament to the first ten years of a soaring career that no one, not even them, could have predicted. And with their upcoming "The Life Burns Tour" DVD, they've got even more goods to prove it.

The story of Apocalyptica's 1996 debut "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos" was an unlikely story. Four students from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki gathered to play Metallica covers at the Teatro Heavy Metal Club. Unbeknownst to them, Kari Hynninen - from the tiny independent label Zen Garden Records - was in the audience and signed them on the spot. Unfortunately Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, Max Lilja, and Antero Manninen were more interested in completing their studies and, like millions of other young people, only listened to Metal music in their spare time. The situation wasn't helped by the fact that Hynninen didn't have any money for regular studio time. Apocalyptica were consigned to fiddling late at night or in the early morning hours, but their efforts paid off when Metallica's record label, Mercury, caught wind of the project and offered worldwide distribution.

But by the time of their 1998 follow-up, "Inquisition Symphony", Apocalyptica were out for blood. Hiili Hiilesma, the man responsible for producing HIM's "Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666," yanked the band out of the classical niche to altogether by modernising Apocalyptica's sound. In addition to their more traditional Metallica covers, the covers, it features renditions of classic Sepultura, Faith No More, and Pantera tracks. Toppinen also added three of his own compositions to the release, which perfectly dovetail with those ambitious re-workings, like their neck-snapping cover of Metallica's "Fight Fire With Fire". On their subsequent "Cult" tour, they began appearing up as a wild gang of head bangers clad in patent leather - the metal/classical crossover was complete.

Apocalyptica's third release also saw the introduction of Perttu Kivilaakso, who replaced Antero Manninen. The young Kivilaakso - highly trained and a Metal fan to the core - brought new qualitied to Apocalyptica. "I'm a solo cellist in the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra with a lifetime contract, basically on a very extended vacation," he says.

They may confound some and inspire others, but whatever you make of them, Apocalyptica are originals, and theirs has been a rock 'n' roll fairy tale come true.

Apocalyptica:
Eicca Toppinen
Perttu Kivilaakso
Paavo Lötjönen
Mikko Sirén