Customer Reviews

Apocalyptica Plays Metallica By Four Cellos

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Being a cellist and a Metallica fan, this album was a perfect match when I was introduced to it by a friend. Many of my friends (and even my parents!) have listened to it and enjoyed it. I haven't heard a bad thing about it from anybody who's listened to the album. "The Unforgiven" and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" are probably the best songs on the album, but the whole disc is great! The cello is a very versitile instrument, and the guys from Apocalyptica (who are classically trained musicians, and big Metallica fans) give a stellar perfomance. They show the HUGE range of the cello (and their talent), and still keep the spirit of Metallica alive in the music. My die-hard Metallica fan friends love this stuff as well as my non-metal liking friends. This is an all-in-all GREAT album that, in my experience, can really be appreciated by almost anybody. Check out their second album, Inquisition Symphony, as well!

Take the music of Metallica. Definitely something to be impressed by in the first place, Metallica has created some of the best songs ever made. Now take four cello players from Finland who play Metallica's music. Does it sound like it'll end up cheesy? Yes. Is it? Definitely not.

From the opening track, "Enter Sandman," to the closing, "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," "Plays Metallica by Four Cellos" is an excellent album. The best song on the album is "The Unforgiven," which sounds so good on the cello, it's hard to believe. These guys seem to have a guitarish quality while playing their cellos. The cellos actually do sound like guitars at some points. No matter what the critics say, "Master of Puppets" will also be another one of my favorites on this album, just because it sounded so close to the original and because the ending is so damn cool, you can't help but say this, "These guys rock."

Apocalyptica is a group of four very talented cello players. One listen and you'll become hooked. This sounds even darker than Metallica's own music with the absence of percussion on some of the songs. This is an amazing album that's quite worth the money.

The only reason I would have to take away a star from this GREAT cd is that I've heard their two more recent releases, Inquisition Symphony and Cult where they have a more evolved and heavier sound plus original songs. But except for that this is a wonderful cd. I play cello and like Metallica as well, but when I heard about Plays Metallica By Four Cellos I was a bit confused at first and didn't think such a combination was possible until I listened to some of the songs. All I can say is that I was amazed!! WOW never have I heard anything so great!My favorites on this cd are Welcome Home (Sanitarium) and The Unforgiven because both of these fit the cello soooo perfectly!But I also have to recommend their other two cd's as well which I think are even better than this one, which is their first release. But it is still totally a great cd and I would recommend it to anyone who just plain enjoys music!

In my opinion, a great album should do one of two things: 1) it should introduce you to something new, and 2) it should stand up to repeated listening. A phenomenal album does both. That's exactly the label I'd give to "Plays Metallica by Four Cellos."

I was not much of a Metallica fan when I was introduced to Apocalyptica. I thought it would be interesting for the novelty, so I took it home and gave it a few spins. By the fifth listen, I started to catch all the nuances and craftsmanship in the music, and by the tenth I realized that this was a truly groundbreaking sound.

String Quartet Tributes are starting to pop up all over the place; Apocalyptica distinguishes itself from those out-for-a-quick-buck releases by demonstrating, through each of the 8 tracks, a genuine love for Metallica. The music is faithfully reproduced, right down to the vocals, in cello form. In the process, the songs are lovingly elevated from 'just' metal into incredibly artistic compositions.

This album made me a diehard fan, not of just Apocalyptica, but of Metallica as well. After hearing these versions, I was able to go back to the originals and experience much more of the depth and layering. From there, I began to enjoy songs that Apocalyptica didn't cover, and a fan was born.

This album has stood the test of time for over 5 years now. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of Metallica or people looking to try something new. It may surprise you.

Incidentally, Apocalyptica puts on an amazing live show. See them if you can!

some of the metal purists will no doubt hate the idea of a tribute band/album such as this...but give it a shot. i have to admit that i love the cello but am not the biggest fan of metallica (lots of great childhood memories associated with their early cassettes but i haven't actively sought to buy them on cd as of this point in time). so basically i bought this cd by Apocalyptica based on the fact that it's an interesting novelty item. but...by the ghost of cliff burton, there is actually some great music that merits worth! these four cello players work up a frenzy of metallica songs and get away with it brilliantly! there's alot of bare tension and drama illustrated within these pieces that sort of gets shuffled aside for raw electric fury of the originals. i find the centerpoint of the album (The Unforgive, Sad But True, and Creeping Death) to contain the best playing. a really nice and interesting disc which may not be 100% suitable for the diehard metallica fan, but certainly for a music fan with an open ear and an open mind.

I've been a metallica fan as long as i can remember but i'm not really into tributes. And Metallica's tunes played on cellos? I wasn't expecting much.But when I jummped to 'puppets' and it started, I almost had a heart attack! I could NOT believe how seamlessly the bands music was played on these instruments.It is an incredible sound!You can almost believe that these songs were written and arranged for a 60 piece orchistra and not a metal band.If you're a metallica fan with an open mind to music or if you are just curios to hear metallica really 'unplugged',or even a classical music listener I would say snatch this one up NOW! I sure hope that these cello players like other metal bands just as much. Could you imagine Testament or Megadeath on cello? SICK!

The music is wonderful. It's one of the few CDs that I will regularly leave in the car, and I love the look of surprise on people's faces when they realize that it's Metallica.
I'll be picking up some of the other Apocalyptica albums for gifts this Christmas.

in one word: Powerful. This album is a must for those who have diverse musical interests, and wish to hear Metallica's music in an entirely different light. I sincerely believe that "The Unforgiven" is done better on this album than Metallica's original.

Mesmerizing, truly mesmerizing. I love playing it for friends who don't enjoy rock music, and then telling them who he musc is originally from.

1. Enter Sandman-Wonderfully done. That being said, I still consider this to be one of the weaker tracks on the album. It follows the original closely and precisely and I can really hear their admiration for Metallica in this song, but it's missing something. If I find out what it's missing, I'll let you know. :P 9/10
2. Master Of Puppets-I don't really know what to say about this one. I absolutely adore the job the did on the intro and the chorus. Those are some pretty rockin', sockin' cellos. 10/10
3. Harvester Of Sorrow-Hmm...love the song, but it's definitely one of the weaker tracks. The solo is great though. (I usually fast-forward to the middle to hear it.)
4. The Unforgiven-The best song on the album, BY FAR! Nice job on the chorus, but spectacular job on the verse. What really made the song for me would have to be the bowing rhythms they used on the verse. "The Unforgiven" has been, is, and always will be my favorite Metallica song. The cover by Apocalyptica really serves it justice. I sometimes have to refrain myself from singing, "New blood joins this earth, and quickly he's subdued..." 12/10
5. Sad But True-Fourth best song. It really does the original justice. 10/10
6. Creeping Death-This is a pretty good song. I'm not sure how to describe it, so I guess I won't. 9/10
7. Wherever I May Roam-Third best song. I love how they start soft with pizzacato (sorry, my spelling is atrocious) and just start rocking out. I'm sensing a bumper sticker coming on that says, "My brother can beat up your brother. Mine plays the cello!" Haha, it needs a little work, but you get the idea.
8. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)-The second best song. I still find it hard to believe this is still the same song everyone hears and shouts "SANITARIUM!" along with. I think I just may like this version better.

This is a wonderful album, and whether you're a metalhead or you tried talking your parents into changing your name to Beethoven, give it a shot. And parents, show this to your kids. These are all instrumentals so you don't have to worry about any offensive lyrics and maybe they'll even start to enjoy classical instruments. Heck, I sure did! (This coming from a teenager.)