Plays Metallica by Four Cellos

Metallica (Tribute), Apocalyptica

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 8, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana Island
• ASIN: B000001EMW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,139 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Take four cellos, mix with a quartet of Finnish classical-music students who possess a note-for-note knowledge of metal giants Metallica, and beat gently. Viola! You have a truly stirring album that provides tangible evidence of the dramatic passages and intricate arrangements that classical music and heavy metal share. On "Enter Sandman" and "Creeping Death," the exquisite playing of the cellists intensifies the darkness and emotion of Metallica. In the process the strength and versatility of the group's songwriting is given more credence. Perhaps the most remarkable element of the album is the faithfulness that's shown to the original songs, right down to faultlessly following the vocal melodies. With Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, Apocalyptica have proved that the universal language of good music is unbound by genre. Here is a clever concept brilliantly realized. --Steffan Chirazi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cellos and Metallica...an awesome combination!,

By	Chris Meyer (Holland, MI United States) - See all my reviews

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!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So good, it's scary, June 26, 2000

By	Marquis In Spades (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classical Training Meets Metal Giants, December 30, 2005

By	MTJones (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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!