Metal’s head-banging cellists are currently playing their way into metal heaven. Apocalyptica’s new album, 7th Symphony, marries Brutal to Beauty in a truly magnificent ceremony. The symphonic tone of the Finnish quartet is typical of the style of metal coming out of Scandinavia at the moment. The classical music training common to many of Scandinavia’s metal heroes is evident in Apocalyptica’s technically advanced compositions. Fourteen years ago the band grabbed the metal community’s attention with their expert covers of Metallica hits and in 2010 Apocalyptica continue to impress with innovative creations.
The songs on 7th Symphony use the expression and intonation of instruments to tell stories and the mythological/fantastical subject matter helps the album to achieve a resonance of atmospheric complexity – it is a symphony; from the melancholic plight of the hunchback in On The Rooftop With Quasimodo to the black fury of Rage Of Poseidon and the warlike confidence of At The Gates of Manala. The dark beauty on the cover 7th Symphony is a perfect metaphor for the album’s tone, which, although acutely elegant in songs like Beautiful, is enforced by some destructively heavy-as-hell riffs.
7th Symphony features some truly special guest appearances from Brent Smith (Shinedown), Dave Lombardo (Slayer drummer) and Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf) but two of the album’s most exceptional scores, End Of Me and Bring Them To Light are accompanied respectively by Gavin Rossdale (Bush) and Joseph Duplantier (Gojira). The mass of talent that Apocalyptica attracts is testament to the band’s standing within the metal community.
Apocalyptica are due to play in London at the HMV Forum in Kentish Town on 2 November 2010.
