Year: 2024
Total Time: 59:16
Label: Napalm Records
A sequel no one asked for, 28 years later. To celebrate nearly three decades in the industry, APOCALYPTICA, the “masters” of cello metal, have decided to release a second album of METALLICA covers – a direct continuation of their debut. While some might have expected a new album, considering their last release was «Cell-0» in 2020, and with the fans having been teased by the recent collaborations with Franky Perez and EPICA during live performances, I don’t think anyone anticipated that the Finnish band would take such a significant step backward.
Undoubtedly, the album isn’t bad; like their first, «Plays Metallica By Four Cellos», it’s an enjoyable listen for both APOCALYPTICA and METALLICA fans. However, the choice to make such a move at this stage of their career seems odd – I’m almost certain no one asked for it, and at best, it feels like a “bridge” between «Cell-0» and their next original album – if that even materializes. In terms of sound, it’s essentially a more polished and modern version of their debut.
«The Unforgiven II» stands out as superior to its original version, with a more refined arrangement. The overall sound quality has been noticeably improved, addressing a major shortcoming of their first album. «One», which closes the album, also features Robert Trujillo, who makes an appearance on «The Four Horsemen» as well. However, the cinematic intro they chose feels completely out of place, both in the album and within the track itself. They attempt to reinvent the classic «One», but in this instance, the innovation wasn’t the right approach. It would have worked better had it stayed true to the original, rather than steering it in an awkward direction. «Blackened» is arguably the album’s best moment, alongside the contribution from Dave Lombardo. As for the rest of the tracks, as I mentioned earlier, they sound quite good. They aren’t particularly exciting, but they remain faithful to the original renditions – essentially, they’re just a refreshed take on the sound of 1996.
All in all, this release feels like a rather unnecessary addition to their discography. Hopefully, we’ll see a new, substantial album from them soon.
Rating: 4/10
Editor: Antonis Braikidis
Related Link: APOCALYPTICA – Official Site
