Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica live in Wacken 2005.
Background information
Origin	Helsinki, Finland
Genre(s)	Cello metal, Symphonic metal, Instrumental rock
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
Website	www.apocalyptica.com
Members
Eicca Toppinen Paavo Lötjönen Perttu Kivilaakso Mikko Sirén
Former members
Max Lilja Antero Manninen

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.

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.

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 31st, 2008. Here they made their American television debut with a performance of "I Don't Care" with Toryn Green.

Members

Current members

• Eicca Toppinen – Cello
• Paavo Lötjönen – Cello (1996–present)
• Perttu Kivilaakso – Cello (1999–present)
• Mikko Sirén – drums (2003–present,a permanent band-member since 2005)

Former members

• Max Lilja – Cello (1996–2002)

Sessional members

• Dave Lombardo of Slayer – drums (2003–2007)
• Antero Manninen – Cello (1996–1999, 2002-present)
• Toryn Green - Lead Touring Vocalist (2008-present)

Guest musicians

• Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace (“I Don't Care”) rhythm guitar and vocals
• Corey Taylor of Stone Sour/Slipknot (“I'm Not Jesus”) Worlds Collide North American Tour 2008^[4]
• Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil (“SOS (Anything But Love)”)^[5]
• Dave Lombardo of Slayer (“Last Hope”, “Betrayal/Forgiveness”, "Prologue [Apprehension]", "No Education", "Somewhere Around Nothing", "Resurrection", "Cortége")
• Emmanuelle Monet of Dolly (“En Vie”)
• Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus (“Life Burns!”, “Bittersweet”)
• Ville Valo of HIM ("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, Cavalera Conspiracy, Nailbomb, ex-Sepultura (“Repressed”)
• Nina Hagen (“Seemann”)
• Till Lindemann of Rammstein (“Helden”)
• Sandra Nasic of Guano Apes (“Path Vol.2”)
• Tomoyasu Hotei^[5] (“Grace”)

Covered artists

Apocalyptica have covered songs by the following artists:

• Metallica
• Edvard Grieg
• Faith No More
• Pantera
• Rammstein
• Sepultura
• Slayer
• David Bowie

Often people mistake the String Quartet Tribute Series for Apocalyptica covering bands other than the ones mentioned above.

Discography

Main article: Apocalyptica discography

• 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

Apocalyptica in media

• On Angelzoom' 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

References

External links

• Apocalyptica - official website
• Harmageddon Publishing - official sheet music
• Apocalyptica at MySpace
• Apocalyptica channel at YouTube
• Live videos
• In depth interview with Mikko Sirén
• Apocalyptica On Demand