2026 Anniversary Series 075: Apocalyptica – Plays Metallica By Four Cellos

Scribed by Sandre the Giant Released: 13th June 1996 One of 1996’s most fascinating bands and debut albums, the four classical musicians that came together at a prestigious Finnish Performing Arts school to play Metallica songs on their cellos for a bit of fun probably never expected to become a worldwide phenomenon, but for Max Lilja, Antero Manninen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Eicca Toppinen ‘Plays Metallica by Four Cellos’ took their musical careers in an, I’m sure, unexpected direction. I can’t remember the first time I ever found this CD, nestled in a CD shop in Dumfries I expect, but it taken home to see just what on earth this could be and as such it became the start of a new appreciation of just what can be done within the metalsphere. And of the cello as an instrument, man that thing can sound really heavy. Did you know that Apocalyptica have actually done a ‘Plays Metallica Vol.2’, released in 2024? And Hetfield and Trujillo feature on it as guest musicians?? I didn’t until…