Apocalyptica’s cellist Paavo Lötjönen has shared insights about their influential relationship with Metallica in a recent interview with The Metal Voice.
“First time we played as a support for Metallica was in 1996 for two nights in Helsinki, we were supporting them. They were watching the show and since then we have been in contact with them,” Lötjönen said. “We played a couple of times as a support [band] and met them. We were getting closer and closer [as friends].”
“They have even said that we have given them some courage for their projects like S&M [‘Symphony and Metallica’] and some inspiration,” he continued. “Of course it’s a big honor for us that they have been so supportive.”
“I never even dreamed that it would be possible to get them [Metallica] joining our album like Rob [Trujillo] playing the bass tracks or Cliff Burton on our album [‘Plays Metallica, Vol. 2’] or James [Hetfield] talking,” Lötjönen added. “We never dared to think about it but it just happened. Once when having lunch with James he just asked ‘What would you think if we would do this kind of thing?’ I said ‘Why not?'”
Apocalyptica continues to bridge the gap between classical and metal music. Their influence extends beyond their initial Metallica covers.
Reporting from MyGlobalMind reveals that the band’s latest project, ‘Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2,’ showcases major Metallica collaborations. Rob Trujillo performs on ‘The Four Horsemen.’ James Hetfield makes a special appearance on ‘One.’
The collaboration marks a significant milestone for both bands. Apocalyptica first gained international recognition with their 1996 debut album ‘Plays Metallica by Four Cellos.’ This groundbreaking release demonstrated new possibilities for classical instruments in metal music.
The Finnish cello quartet has expanded their musical horizons since then. They have collaborated with numerous metal artists, including Ville Valo of HIM and Corey Taylor of Slipknot. These partnerships have established them as pioneers in the symphonic metal genre.
The new album arrived on June 7, 2024. It represents another chapter in the ongoing relationship between these influential bands. Their mutual respect has evolved into active creative collaboration.
