Blog

Apocalyptica, “Inquisition Symphony”

By admin_mike In

Apocalyptica, Inquisition Symphony, released 1998 by Mercury Records

1) Harmageddon
2) From Out of Nowhere
3) For Whom The Bell Tolls
4) Nothing Else Matters
5) Refuse/Resist
6) M.B.
7) Inquisition Symphony
8) Fade to Black
9) Domination
10) Toreador
11) One

Apocalyptica is an electric cello quartet that plays heavy metal songs, as well as performing original compositions by its leader Eicca Toppinen[2]. Unlike most instrumental arrangements, however, these rock hard[2]. The cello[3] – amplified and distorted here – is well up to the task to paying tribute to the gritty and fierce texture of heavy metal guitars.

Most of the arrangements are fairly simple – three cellos on rhythm section with one playing the melody or guitar solos, occasionally joined by another. What’s inventive is the special techniques the rhythm cellos use to evoke the rough, raw sound of metal. The amplification applied to their guitars picks up the noise[4] as well as the pitch of their instruments, to good effect; and of course distortion can go a long way as well.

Their sound does get a bit monotonous at times, though they try to break up the constant chugging with the occasional quieter song. It’s actually quite impressive how fresh they manage to keep making it sound, despite the relative lack of variety between most tracks.

My favorite songs here are the original compositions – I would imagine this is because they were conceived of as instrumentals, and don’t suffer from the emptiness of wordless lyrics. The arrangements are, of course, fun and satisfying to listen to – especially the guitar solos, which sound incredibly badass on cello – but they’re not able to entirely overcome what I see as the pitfall of such arrangements[2].

Inquisition Symphony is Apocalyptica’s second release; I like it even more than their first, which I enjoyed greatly (though I don’t own a copy). In particular, the inclusion of original pieces for their quartet is heartening, as it indicates they’re interested in expanding their range in ways that, for example, converting all of Metallica’s output into cello quartet format could not.
___

(1) They provided the inspiration for my own piece Arrhythmia.

(2) Normally, instrumental arrangements of songs just plain suck. I would argue that this is because what makes lyrics compelling is how words and melody interact and give each other meaning; and that separating one from the other diminishes both.

(3) My favorite instrument, and wicked versatile. I wish I knew how to play it as well as I do the piano, but learning it proved frustrating because of the gap between how I well I wanted to play it and how well I could play. Perhaps someday they will make Cello Hero.

(4) The scrape of the bow against the strings; and they use sul ponticello fairly liberally to give their cellos the pinched sound of the electric guitar, as well as the occasional special technique.