Apocalyptica
April 30, 2008
The Phoenix

It’s hard for most ordinary rock bands to pull any kind of crowd out to a show without the help of label support or publicity, but Apocalyptica aren’t the typical band. With 3 cellists and a drummer (along with an extra touring cellist), they’ve sold out every show they’ve played in Toronto. And now that the backing is there from a label, the opportunities are endless.

From the first note the audience went crazy. Perched on their massive skull shaped chairs the band played a steady mix of old favourites (“Betrayal,”) Metallica covers (“Seek And Destroy,” Nothing Else Matters,”) and songs off of Worlds Collide (“Last Hope,” “Grace”). Whether they were running around the stage carrying the cellos or sitting and headbanging while playing, there was always something to watch, which to the newcomers might’ve been slightly unexpected. The fact that cellist Perttu Kivilaakso (Apocalyptica is rounded out with Cellists Eicca Toppinen and Paavo Lötjönen, drummer Mikko Sirén and touring Cellist Antero Manninen) was doing it all with two broken fingers made it that much more fascinating to watch.

Instead of keeping it completely instrumental, the band had vocal help this time out from Fuel singer Toryn Green and Three Days Grace frontman Adam Gauntier, who lends his voice on “I Don’t Care,” the latest single from Apocalyptica’s recent release, Worlds Collide. And while most people only know Apocalyptica for their Metallica covers or recent single with Corey Taylor, the crowd seemed ready for anything. There were the metal heads, the classical music snobs, and everything in between waiting for the metal cellists to take the stage.

Had Apocalyptica played their set without the use of vocalists, I could easily say this was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen but with Green torturing what is a great cover of “Heroes” on Worlds Collide as well as one of Apocalyptica’s best vocal tracks in “Life Burns,” I was left wishing I could only hear the band and not the singer. Gontier fared slightly better. This was the first time he sang his single “I Don’t Care,” with the band live, and it sounded good.

Vocal issues aside, Apocalyptica are one of the most talented live bands I’ve ever seen. They manage to turn classical music into a metal show with ease and keep everyone in awe of what they’re able to do with just cellos. If only they’d add more of their original material to showcase what else they’re capable of to the people that only know them for Metallica covers, they could win over more fans. As it is, they’re not here often enough for the fans they already have.

Set List:

Worlds Collide
Refuse/Resist
Grace
Fight Fire With Fire
Helden (W/ Toryn Green)
Life Burns (W/ Toryn Green)
Betrayal
Nothing Else Matters
I Don’t Care (W/ Adam Gauntier)
Last Hope
Seek & Destroy
Inquisition Symphony

Encore:

I’m Not Jesus (W/ Adam Gauntier)
Enter Sandman
Hall Of The Mountain King

Encore 2:

Seeman

- Alyssa Caplin

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