Customer Reviews

Cult

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I came across Apocalyptica when a co-worker from Mexico had insisted that I play this "Cult" CD on my way home from work. He kept insisting and I finally relented, taking the CD and leaving it in the trunk of my car for almost a month when until the end of our engagement, like the day before I had to give it back, I said what the hell and put it in the cd changer. Man oh man if this CD isn't one of the most original musical performances EVER!!

Apocalyptica ROCKS on those cellos, their music is DARK and DEEP, really getting to the core of some instinctual emotional outlets. Apocalyptica does for the cellos what Beethovan did for the piano, really using it to convey a feeling. In fact, just listen to the audio sample on this webpage of the "Romance" song #3, and you will know what I mean.

The Hall of the mountain King is done so perfectly, I feel that Apocalyptica should be writing/performing music for Tim Burton films alongside Danny Elfman. Also Song #2 is pretty freaky, with it's "Psycho" like introduction and crazy take-off.

Apocalyptica Cult is a fantastic new direction for music and I look forward to forming my own collection of their music. I've started off by purchasing the Special Edition of the Cult album, a 2CD case where the bonus CD has vocals/lyrics added to the Cult Cd's songs...plus a couple live performances where you can really hear the crowd "get into" the music. I give 5 stars to Apocalyptica because it is one of those rare albums that can draw you into the music and make you one again with primal emotion.

When I first heard about this group on a car radio while working drive through at a Burger King. I heard Enter Sandman, from their first release, but couldn't recognize the intruments. "Oh My Gosh they're doing what?" is what I remember asking. "Playing heavy metal with cellos." was the responce. As a fan of classical, and metal. The guy played a bit of each song. I got it the very next day.

Cult features mostly their own stuff. These songs were written by Eicca Toppinen. This is quite a remarable accomplishment to be able to write such passionate music with just cellos as your main instrument. They've added double bass, played by Eicca, and drums, also played by Eicca. What an amazing talent.

The tracks here are much darker and fast paced then anything that they've previously done. Their passion for classical music is not lost on these tracks, though. There is serious depth and passion in every track on this winner.

The speed at which these guys play their cellos is a shock to the system and proves that these guys are laden with talent. The sounds that the create with cellos is rather remarkable.

The last three tracks on this album include, "Hall Of the Mountain King" which is one of my favorite all time classical pieces, so it was nice to see it on here. They also to Until it Sleeps and Fight Fire with Fire by Metallica.

Their next album, Reflections, which is almost as good as this one, features all their own songs and adds even more.

I was blown away by Apocalyptica's first album. They made a fan out of me and since then I snatched their latest release at the first chance I could. And the only thing more impressive than their musicianship is that they keep sounding better with each release.

Cult is defintely their best album to date. Furhtermore, this is technically their first album since they do mostly Metallica covers in their earlier releases. With the experience of two records under their belt, the confidence of the studio exec to give them a budget, and the freedom to write their own songs; the Cult sounds bolder than anything Apocalyptica has done. You get the feeling that they're not simply mimicking heavy metal, they're pushing the envelope with just how far cellos and metal mix.

In fact, most of the songs are not very metal-like. You can detect influence of trash metal and classical, but the songs are neither one nor the other.

With that said, Apocalyptica is an acquired taste. It's for people who have fondness for string instruments, heavy bassline, with structured but nevertheless complex progression.

As a sidenote, Apocalyptica's latest album Reflection (apparently only available in Europe) is not as good as Cult. While Reflection is basically a very lound album with cellos blasting like guitars, Cult is more refined as a hybrid of the classical meets metal.

I have had this CD over two years now and it seems that I never get tired to listen it again and again. I have about 200 CD's in my collection and I am quite sure that this is the one I have listened most. The older cover albums were good too, but this record Cult proves that the band truly has skills and creativity required at composing new good music. This CD is different. It is not like the Metallica cover albums that Apocalyptica started with. This album is not pure heavy metal, but it is not classical either, however it includes elements of both and very much something original. Is the magic in the way Apocalyptica succeeded to combine metal and classical, I don't know, but one thing is sure: The mood in the music matches my mind. It was very easy for me to give five stars.

I first discovered Apocalyptica in 1996 when they limited themselves to Metallica covers. It might sound cheesy but I was moved to tears the first time I heard them play. The music is absolutely breathtaking. But this CD, Cult, is by far the best music I have heard in my entire life.

Each and every song on this CD is an experience. A curiously potent, self-actualizing, mind warping experience. "Pray", "Hyperventilation", "Path II" (my copy does not have vocals), and the cover of Grieg's "Hall of the Mountain King" are my favorites.

Slowly moving Apocalyptica away from covers, Eicca Toppinen has composed most of the songs on this CD. Eicca is astoundingly gifted and has crafted a truly unique sound. I call it heavy classical. There is nothing else out there like this. Anyone who enjoys classical, heavy metal or speed metal will love this music. I have grown a deep, deep appreciation for this band and this music. And given the chance, I'm sure you will too.

If you are a fan of metal, but really prefer the music to the noise, or you are a fan of classical, but don't really like falling asleep to your music, this is ideal. I consider it the best of Apocalyptica to date, as the addition of the bass and percussion adds a great amount of depth, and their original compositions are brilliant. However, I, like many of the other reviewers, really could have done without the singing on the first track; it's not bad, just not really their forte, and it obscures the brilliance of the playing, but since it is included without the vocals, that should not at all keep you from rushing out and getting this CD as fast as possible.

As a fan of dark modern music, the online reviews of this album motivated me to pick up a copy. Apocalyptica's original compositions on CULT are ominous, opulently textured tone poems reminiscent of David Darling's DARK WOOD, Univers Zero's HERESIE, and Ennio Morricone's Argento soundtracks. The opening track with vocals by Sandra Nasic and two Metallica covers struck me as pandering to the expectations of the band's established metal audience; from my non-metalhead perspective, Apocalyptica finds their true, haunting voice in their original compositions. While Apocalyptica's instrumental renditions of apparently well-known heavy metal songs are not my cup of tea, the group's fusion of rock and chamber music is infinitely more powerful than the Kronos Quartet's studied, soulless "Purple Haze," or the Ordinaire's flimsy acoustic version of "Kashmir." While I am only completely captivated by 8 of the album's 14 tracks, CULT has secured my devotion to Apocalyptica's dark art. if I could hear Apocalyptica perform Glenn Danzig's BLACK ARIA in its entirety, with a Finnish female choir, I'd die a happy man.

Once again, Apocalyptica has done it again, this time with most of the music being their own. The addition of the string bass and percussion adds to the overall sound (especially the string bass!) Their own music is pretty powerful, showing the true extent of what man can do to a cello when he puts his mind to it. While I still like their second effort the best (I've had it longer), this one is still pretty good. Try it... you'll like!

These guys always deliver the goods and this may be my favorite of all 3 discs avaliable. There is a wide array of sounds these guys create with alot of dark brooding and intense feeling. Puts you in another world (as long as you want to go).

If you dig this disc I also recommend "Carmina Burama" by Carl Orff, if you like Apoc you will also love Orff.

Let me put my 2 cents in real quick. I just went through the entire album, my sister has been trying to get me to for a while. Let me just say that this is never coming out of my CD player for a LONG time. Each song beautifully transistions to the next, and... it's hard to explain the emotions you get, its something you have to experience yourself. This is a music lovers cd, go and get it.