Never before has a cello been so metal.
The Finnish rock band Apocalyptica has bum-rushed onto the American radio waves with their sixth studio album, Worlds Collide.
It features their classic symphony of celli, some impressive guest artists, and enough head banging to make Quiet Riot squeamish.
Apocalyptica is a group of classically trained cellists who live to play heavy metal that sounds like a horror movie soundtrack comprised of eerie rifts and gothic sounds.
With Worlds Collide, the band has joined forces with some top names in the rock and metal genres, including Adam Gontier (Three Days Grace), Corey Taylor (Slipknot) and Till Lindemann (Rammstein).
Considering the band's strictly instrumental nature, only about half the songs on the new album have lyrics, sung by the respective guest artists.
And while the band's cello expertise is undeniable, it would have been nice to have less orchestra and more lyrics for those uncomfortable with the ambient rock sound.
Standout tracks "I'm Not Jesus," "Helden," and "I Don't Care" feature vocals that separate the lyrics from the noise. Throughout the softer symphony in "Helden," Lindemann delivers a serenade in his native German tongue. If the track sounds familiar to listeners, it should. The track is actually a cover of David Bowie's "Heroes." When considering the song's German theme, no one is more qualified to sing it than Lindemann.
"I'm Not Jesus," sung by Taylor, brings back the priesthood child abuse theme that Tool boldly dissected on their debut album, Opiate. The song's message is squirm-inducing and disturbing, while the song itself is strong and worth multiple listens.
Worlds Collide certainly isn't the typical metal concert, but the unique blend of classical symphony with great guest vocal talent makes for a moderately intriguing visit to the land of Apocalyptica.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
