Apocalyptica is one of the most original and experimental groups not only of Metal but also of modern music in general. Even by their name one can understand the Metallica influences. Their first album: "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica By Four Cellos" in 1996 surprised metal fans not only due to the combination of classical music with Metal (and other bands have introduced classic parts in their music like Therion, Haggard etc), but also for the fact that no one since then had ever tried to play exclusively with non electric instrument, let alone with only four cellos. This experiment was absolutely successful because the metal feeling wasn't lost at all and a new perspective was given to the covered tracks. However very few believed that Apocalyptica would continue as a normal band writing their own music and not just performing covers. The releases after "Cult" (2000) contained their own songs and were successful as well. Apocalyptica have visited Greece a couple of times before but unfortunately I haven't seen them and although I was too tired and had a very busy weekend I squeezed my program and found some time to see them live because I was very curious to listen how they would look and sound live.

The concert begun at about 9:30 at Gagarin Club, which was satisfactory full. When they started with "Path" the audience started to approve the band loud. Apart from the 4 cellists, the band was supported by a drummer. Next song "Master Of Puppets" and the audience as a choir sang every verse. Apocalyptica seemed very pleased, they left their seats, came closer to the audience and played with passion while doing the same time headbanging! This should be much more difficult for a cellist -given the weight of the instrument- than for a guitarist or a bassist and wasn't done for only some songs but almost continuously throughout the concert! The only one who stayed calm at his position was the session cellist (it should be the ex-member Antero Manninen but I am not sure). This of course doesn't diminish his contribution, however it seemed a bit strange to see 3 guys headbanging and moving up and down the stage carrying their heavy instruments while he (playing the role of "the calm intellectual guy") was dressed in a costume played sober but passionate when needed. By sight he made a difference, in the essence (and this is the most important) there was none.

The setlist contained both their own songs and covers. Of course the audience was more familiar with the covers, and played the role of an unofficial singer, however their own songs were of equal value and passion. Those who initially thought that Apocalyptica are just good performers and can't write their own songs were proved to be wrong. I am not 100% sure about their exact setlist but apart from the pre-mentioned songs they also played: "Somewhere Around Nothing", "Life Burns", "Betrayal/Forgiveness", "Nothing Else Matters", "Refuse/Resist", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Hope", "Faraway Vol.2" "Bittersweet", "Seek And Destroy", "Creeping Death" and finally "Inquisition Symphony" in an amazing performance that the Club was shaking by these ardent rhythms and the enthusiasm of the fans who was gradually escalated at these 3 last songs. Apocalyptica thanked the audience and disappeared from the stage.

The audience asked for more and after a while they appeared on stage under strong approvals, playing splendidly "Enter Sandman" and then with an extreme velocity "Hall Of The Mountain King". They were exhausted since they had played for about 100 minutes and were dripping with sweat all over their body. Their veins and nerves were at about to explode and their fingers should have reached their utmost limits. After the concert they should put them in a bucket with cold water to cool them down!

I suggest them at the next shows to have a fire extinguisher near by the stage because the strings and the fiddlesticks should have reached their thermal and friction limits. Even the drummer Mikko Siren has done it pretty well that night.

They thanked once again the audience for the obvious demonstration of its zest and disappeared definitely from the stage. The people deified them and shouted "We want more" for a long without moving from their positions. However it is absolutely difficult to play more songs in such a pace. We are talking about heavy cellos not guitars or basses. Even the ones who don't like much Metal, should see Apocalyptica live, not only for their interesting musical experiment but also for their amazing passionate performance. Those who claim that Heavy Metal is just a noisy music here is the answer: Heavy Metal music played by cellos without loosing nothing from its sentiment.