Artist: Apocalyptica
Venue: Nokia Theatre Times Square (New York, NY)
Opener: Dir En Grey, Evaline
Date: 7/28/2010
Label: Jive Records
Apocalyptica was back in NYC once again and this time the master Finnish cellists would be supporting their recently released “7th Symphony” album. The music found on the CD follows a similar premise as we found on “Worlds Collide” from a couple of years ago where the group is accompanied on some tracks by vocal personalities of note.
Evaline: I walked in on this independent group, and didn’t mind much of what they were playing but I had to admit that it was not enough of a dose to formulate a sound opinion on what they were all about. Had I hated the two songs I heard it would be unfair to lambast them and had I loved the two songs I heard it would be equally unfair to toss them roses at the end of the performance. That being said, they did not sound bad and I would check them out again in the future if the circumstances found me being able to do so.
Continue reading Apocalyptica @ Nokia Theatre Times Square (8/24/2010) →
Artist: Apocalyptica
Venue: The Fillmore NY (New York, NY)
Opener: DJ
Date: 5/5/2008
Label: Jive Records
When I sit back and think about the band Apocalyptica, I remembered that while I was slightly curious about them, I also had a healthy dose of negative thoughts about how their premise could even work in the Heavy Metal genre. I mean, let’s be honest here – four guys on cellos playing Metal? The statement still sounds absolutely ridiculous when said aloud but truth be told it works beyond your wildest imagination. Personally, I was sold from the very first moment that I heard their album “Cult”. The release had a large amount of their originals but also presented a few tunes by Metallica and for those unaware, this was one of the first things that called attention to the group. After I absorbed the album I felt that I had once again found a group who could inspire a larger amount of bands to raise their own game and deliver more and more “difference” for the benefit of the genre. “Reflections” would be my next go at the group and while I enjoyed it all I was now compelled to see them do this stuff live. Luckily, the full length concert DVD entitled “Life Burns Tour” came out and showed the world at large just how they execute this masterful idea. The band moved on to Jive Records not too long ago and had recently released “World’s Collide”, an album that continues the bands quest for originality in their craft and like the others before it, finds incredible instrumentals mixed together with some awesome vocal tracks. Tonight at The Fillmore NY, the band would perform to a sold out crowd and be celebrating the new album and many of their other established classics. It was surely an exciting night since the group had not been in this region since early 2006 to my knowledge. I got there early enough to hopefully enjoy some interesting opening band but instead of having another group on the tour with them, Apocalyptica chose to have some DJ spinning records. Talk about a disappointment, I mean the guy didn’t even play anything edgy and instead played the same old stuff you could hear anywhere at any given time.
Continue reading Apocalyptica @ Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza (5/5/2008) →
Artist: Apocalyptica
Title: “The Life Burns Tour”
Label: Jive Records
Release Date: 2/6/2007
Genre: Classical Metal
Rating: 5/5
I am sure that each and every Metal fan has someone in their circle of friends that consistently tell them that Metal is either boring or never changes. To protect us against those inane mutterings we have this DVD to both shut them up and wave in their faces. The great thing about a band like Apocalyptica, is that there is no other band that comes to mind as fast as they do in terms of continually proving those kinds of statements false. The reason is based on how they approach things and if you are one of those people who are hearing their name for the first time they are a group that originally became popular because of their rather unique take on Metallica covers. You see, the band is fronted by three cellists – and they deliver amazing originals as well as do the most unique covers of the Bay Area Thrashers that you will ever hear. They hail from Finland (big surprise right?) and they all studied at the Siblius Academy in Helsinki. Their talents as a “Metallica on Cellos” act took the world by storm and soon this group that began as a fun side project ended up becoming what they would do for a living. We should all be thankful for this occurrence and this concert film from Dusseldorf, Germany is a fantastic way to catch on to the way this group brings Metal to life. The wide mix of their unique originals and the covers guarantee that there is not a boring moment anywhere on the film.
Continue reading “Life Burns Tour” by Apocalyptica →
Where Heavy Music & Pop Culture Collide
