A Finnish and probably the first cello metal band. Perttu Kivilaakso replaced Antero Manninen in 1999. Max Lilja left the band in 2002 and is often substituted by Antero Manninen in live gigs; when live Mikko Sirén usually plays the percussions.They have covered several well-known metal bands besides Metallica:Sepultura: "Refuse/Resist", "Inquisition Symphony";Faith No More: "From out of Nowhere";Pantera: "Domination";Rammstein: "Seemann".Apocalyptica featured many singers for vocalisiations of their instrumental tracks:Sandra Nasic (Guano Apes): "Path";Matthias Sayer (Farmer Boys): "Hope";Linda Sundblad (Lambretta): "Faraway";Nina Hagen: "Seemann";Marta Jandová (Die Happy): "Quutamo" -> "Wie weit?" & "How Far?";Lauri Ylönen (Rasmus, The): "Bittersweet", "Life Burns";Ville Valo (HIM): "Bittersweet";Emmanuelle Monet (as Manu) (Dolly): "En Vie";Matt Tuck (Bullet For My Valentine): "Repressed ";Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly): "Repressed ";Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour): "I'm Not Jesus";Till Lindemann (Rammstein): "Helden";Adam Gontier (Three Days Grace): "I Don't Care";Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil): "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)".
Their specialty is heavy metal music on cellos, though they also play classical music.
They started in 1993 by playing covers of Metallica, but once the concept became popular they wrote their own original works, maintaining the thrash metal influences on their albums Inquisition Symphony (mainly covers as well) and Cult. Since Reflections, they have added drums to their recordings and live performances.
Members:
Eicca Toppinen - cello
Perttu Kivilaakso - cello
Paavo Lötjönen - cello
Mikko Sirén - drums
Former Members:
Antero Manninen ? cello (1996?1999, usually plays live)
Max Lilja ? cello (1996?2002, when he joined Hevein)
Dave Lombardo - drums [session member] (2003-2004, also contributed drums on the songs Betrayal/Forgiveness and Last Hope)
Covered bands and composers:
Metallica
Edvard Grieg
Pantera
Rammstein
Sepultura
Slayer
Faith No More
David Bowie (Helden = 'Heroes' cover in German)
Collaborations with:
Oomph!
Nina Hagen
?ebnem Ferah
Tomoyasu Hotei
Lauri Ylönen (of The Rasmus)
Linda Sundblad (of Lambretta)
Matthias Sayer (of Farmer Boys)
Sandra Nasic (of Guano Apes)
Ville Valo (of HIM)
Marta Jandova (of Die Happy)
Emmanuelle Monet, aka Manu (of Dolly)
Max Cavalera (of Soulfly, ex-Sepultura, Cavalera Conspiracy)
Matt Tuck (of Bullet for My Valentine)
Waltari (of Space Avenue)
Corey Taylor (of Stone Sour, Slipknot)
Till Lindemann (of Rammstein)
Cristina Scabbia (of Lacuna Coil)
Adam Gontier (of Three Days Grace)
Toryn Green (of Fuel)
Mats Levén (of Tiamat)
Gavin Rossdale
From Wikipedia:Apocalyptica is a Finnish cello metal band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists and, since 2003, a drummer. Three of the cellists are graduates of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. Their music features elements from classical music and neo-classical metal, to symphonic metal and thrash metal. They have sold over three million albums to date.