Finland-based symphonic metal band Apocalyptica visited Philadelphia on February 7 on their “Plays Metallica, Vol. 2” North American Tour. Originally starting as a Metallica tribute band, Apocalyptica returned to their roots with this tour, playing an entire set of covers of Metallica classics. The tour also follows the release of their July 2024 album Plays Metallica, Vol. 2. Utilizing only cellos and a drum kit, Apocalyptica proved that metal and classical music can make a magical combination, creating a sound that has that soft quality associated with symphonic music while also maintaining the original heaviness of the tracks they covered. As a fan walking into the Fillmore and finding seats lined up across the venue, there were already signs that the audience was in for a unique musical experience. Fans across genres could find themselves immersed in the sounds of Apocalyptica’s three cellos.
Kicking off the night at 7:30pm was powerhouse guitarist Nita Strauss. Originally known for touring with renowned artists such as Alice Cooper, she quickly made a name for herself within the rock and metal scene with her inimitable talent on the guitar. Right when she walked on stage, she immediately started shredding fiery solos with ease, leaving the crowd mesmerized by her skills. During the first four instrumental songs of the set, filled with thunderous riffs and dynamic solos, the audience’s enthusiasm could barely be contained within their seats; they would absolutely be moshing otherwise! By the fifth song, Nita slowed things down and performed her song “Scorched” and invited the crowd to light their flashlights, creating an intimate concert experience that is always welcome by metal fans. Then, right before the final four songs of her set, Nita announced that she invited a special guest to perform the vocals of the non-instrumental songs of her recent album, The Call of the Void, which features several different vocalists. Walking onto the stage was none other than Deadlands frontwoman Kasey Karlsen, who has also performed with notable artists such as Motionless in White and Scene Queen. Nita allowed Kasey to take center stage for the last few songs, and Kasey expertly channeled the voices of Dorothy, Chris Motionless, David Draiman, and Alissa White-Gluz respectively. From the pop-rock anthem “Victorious” to the heavy, fierce “The Wolf You Feed”, Kasey expertly switched from melodic cleans to brutal screams whenever needed, and by the end of the set, the entire audience was jumping out of their seats and headbanging. Overall, Nita Strauss’ performance at The Fillmore further proves her to be one of the most influential and skilled guitarists of our time, easily warming up the audience for the upcoming headlining act.
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Later that night, once the clock hit 8:30, Metallica’s famed entrance song “The Ecstasy of Gold” by Ennio Morricone began to play on tape, preparing the audience for a Metallica-inspired performance they will never forget. Once the tape finished, Apocalyptica walked onto the stage as the crowd roared with excitement. Opening with “Ride the Lightning”, the first track from their recent album Plays Metallica, Vol. 2, the band took no time to ramp up the energy of the room. Starting off the song with slow melodies of the cello against intense drums and then gradually increasing the heaviness, the track made for a perfect start of the set. Composed of three classically trained cellists, Apocalyptica masterfully captured the original energy of the Metallica classic while adding an orchestral twist, replacing vocals with the sounds of the cello. The rhythmic instrumentals besides the drums are also created with cellos, which impressively sounded very similar to electric guitars. Lead cellist Perttu Kivilaakso shredded on the cello providing the melodies, and cellists Eicca Toppinen and Paavo Lötjönen provided the rhythms and bass respectively. Touring drummer Maako Kaakkuriniemi tied together the performance with his thunderous beats. Right after “Ride the Lightning”, they performed the famed “Enter Sandman”, already getting the crowd to sing along despite the performance being completely instrumental.
Apocalyptica continued to perform iconic Metallica songs such as “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “Battery”, and “The Call of Ktulu”. Any Metallica fan would remember Metallica’s collaborations with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, a partnership that provided unique interpretations of the band’s most popular songs. Apocalyptica’s Metallica covers are reminiscent of these iconic orchestral tracks, and the fact that they are able to provide a similar sensational concert experience with only three cellists is an amazing feat in its own right. The audience was fully engaged in Apocalyptica’s artistry and the captivating lighting that accompanied the performance. Additionally, later in the set between songs, the crowd began an Eagles chant, as is tradition at the Fillmore or any other Philadelphia venue. Perttu was entertained by the random show of sportsmanship and said “I hope the Super Bowl isn’t a Super Blow for you guys”. Maybe his wish of luck was why the Birds won the big game?
During the final few songs of the set, Apocalyptica pulled out the big guns and covered some of Metallica's most famous tracks of all time. Cheers filled the room as they began “Master of Puppets”, and once they got to the pre-chorus, the entire crowd started singing “Obey your master”. The band then slowed things down and played “Nothing Else Matters”, but the crowd’s energy remained as they continued singing the lyrics of the song. For the second to last track of the setlist, they played “Seek and Destroy”, another fan favorite, as proven by the crowd yelling the famous chorus during the performance. The band closed with “One”, a track from Plays Metallica, Vol. 2 that featured James Hetfield and Rob Trujillo themselves, and the spoken word voiceover from James on the studio track played on tape. Before leaving, Apocalyptica thanked Philly for being a great audience and promised to return as soon as possible. Everyone that night left the Fillmore with an irreplaceable memory after a masterful concert experience that combined two polar opposite genres, cementing Apocalyptica’s stance as one of the most artistic and creative metal bands today.
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