Tag Archives: eicca toppinen

Apocalyptica Announces “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2” North American Tour

June 11, 2024 Ken Pierce Leave a comment

The Press Release:
In the lore of heavy metal, only a handful of artists can claim to have changed history, and even fewer can say they’ve done so twice. Enter Apocalyptica, and one of metal’s greatest, most unlikely success stories. By any account, it’s the stuff of legend, and it’s about to come full circle as Apocalyptica announces their “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour” across the United States, featuring support from guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss. Full routing and ticketing information is available below.

Formed in 1993 at the world-renowned Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, Apocalyptica began as a loving, lo-fi nod to Metallica from four classically trained musicians. Their debut album, Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, released in 1996, was a game-changer. As founding band leader Eicca Toppinen explains, “We just loved Metallica and we wanted to play it with the instruments we were able to play, which just happened to be cellos. We played a metal club in Helsinki, and then we were asked to do an album. Five months after it was released, we were opening for Metallica. It’s still unbelievable to me.”
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Features, Tours and Festivals

Apocalyptica Announces “Cell-O” North American Tour For 2020

November 19, 2019 Ken Pierce Leave a comment

One of the most interesting things I’ve seen on the live stage since beginning this little media journey of mine would have to be the band Apocalyptica. I mean who ever would have imagined a Heavy Metal band made up of mostly cellists and a drummer? Not me that’s for sure and I am happy to say that I’ve been a fan since I first heard them covering Metallica so many years so. Now the band has announced a brand-new US tour and their bringing along Lacuna Coil so check out the scoop down below. I’ll be back at the close.

The Press Release:
Today, Finland’s multi-Platinum cello-rock band Apocalyptica – classically-trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Perttu Kivilaakso, and Paavo Lötjönen, and drummer Mikko Sirén – announces the Spring 2020 North American leg of the “Cell-0 World Tour.” This tour leg will launch on Sunday, May 3 in Orlando, FL, and see the band performing in 20 cities over a three-week period wrapping up on May 26 in Boston, MA. With a set list that will likely vary night to night, Apocalyptica’s performances will be comprised of new songs from Cell-0 as well as the band’s rich catalogue. Lacuna Coil will support on all dates. Ticket pre-sales and access to VIP packages begin tomorrow, November 20 at 10AM (local); public on-sale starts Friday, November 22 at 10AM (local). Go to https://www.apocalyptica.com for all pre-sales, VIP packages, and ticketing details.
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Features, Tours and Festivals

Apocalyptica Will Tour “Plays Metallica By Four Cellos” This Fall

March 27, 2017 Ken Pierce Leave a comment

Here at the Metal Command HQ, we really enjoy what the band Apocalyptica is all about and have documented their releases, tours and overall general announcements when its been possible to do so. Those new to the site can peruse any of those items by clicking HERE. Earlier today the announcement came in about the bands upcoming tour which will celebrate their debut album “Plays Metallica By Four Cellos”. You can check it all out down below.

The Press Release:
On May 10, 1996 Finnish Rockers, APOCALYPTICA, released their epic debut PLAYS METALLICA BY FOUR CELLOS. The instrumental cello-driven rock opus changed the landscape of heavy music for years to come. To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the album, the group re-released it remastered with 3 bonus tracks on July 22, 2016.

Added to this new version was brand new / never-before-released instrumental recordings of “Battery,” “Nothing Else Matters” and “Seek & Destroy.” The album is available on vinyl (2 LP set) for the first time in many years.
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Events, Reviews

Sixx A.M @ Best Buy Theater (4/27/2015)

May 1, 2015 Ken Pierce 1 Comment

Artist: Sixx AM
Venue: Best Buy Theater (New York, NY)
Opener: Apocalyptica and Honor Among Thieves
Date: 4/27/2015
Label: Elven Seven Music

Tonight was going to be an interesting one for any fan of Modern Heavy Music as it was not only what appeared to be the very first appearance on the Best Buy Theater stage for Sixx A.M. but it was also the return of Finland’s Apocalyptica. The tour package across the board was to feature an opening Vamps set (those guys from Japan) and the Apocalyptica before Sixx AM but that was not to be the case for the NYC show. Opening the show would be one of the Big Apples local circuit bands called Honor Among Thieves. I’ve heard this name before in the past at some of the venues down on the Lower East Side where they generally seem to play and their sound is a solid Hard Rock when it comes down to it. I was told that one of their members works at the venue so he had a lot of staff and area friends rallying their musical charge. It was nice to see and I wish them well with their continued adventures. Vamps would pick up the final dates of the tour if I was not mistaken and even better for us fans in NYC, they would be doing a headlining show at this very venue at the end of the week. Now it was time to get classy-call, as the great Apocalyptica was ready to take the stage.
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Features, PiercingMetal Says

Finnish Metal Ensemble Apocalyptica Signs To Eleven Seven Music Group

October 28, 2014 Ken Pierce Leave a comment

A few days ago this press release came across the computer screen at the PiercingMetal Command HQ and I apologize for the delay in sharing it with you. I’m still getting used to having both of the website parts in one space and feeding your sensors with coolness but here we go. Apparently the Finnish Cello sensations of Apocalyptica have signed to the Eleven Seven Music Group. Check out the full skinny and I’ll return with some additional thoughts at the close.

The Press Release:
New York, NY – Eleven Seven Music Group is proud to announce the signing of Finnish rockers Apocalyptica in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and South East Asia. “Successful artists are about talent that differentiates them from the rest of the pack. Apocalyptica have consistently proven that they have their own unique niche,” says CEO Allen Kovac.

Apocalyptica is a Finnish cello-rock band from Helsinki, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén. Their music borrows elements from a wide variety of genres including classical music, metal, world, folk and progressive rock. They have sold over four million albums to date. The band’s recent albums included both instrumentals and collaborations with various singers, such as Corey Taylor, Adam Gontier and Cristina Scabbia. Apocalyptica have recently recruited an official vocalist, Franky Perez, who was part of Scars on Broadway, Pusher Jones and appeared on Slash’s first solo record…
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