Finnish four piece Apocalyptica have just dropped a brand-new compilation of cello-metal reinterpretations of classical compositions called Metal Classic, Classic Metal.
Speaking about the EP’s focus track, “Flight of the Bumblebees”, which was originally by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakow, band member Perttu Kivilaakso said, “‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ is one of the most well-known virtuosic pieces. I have played it during my classical years many times, always aiming for faster and faster performances. This time I thought it would be the coolest thing to make a rough and heavy ‘Bee’ for our band, basically creating the slowest and most doomy ‘Bumblebee’ ever! It’s fascinating how musical structures can work out in many various ways! This ‘Bee’ is heavy and angry, but surely flies out with a smile on her face and a blink in its eye!”
The enthralling three track EP begins with a riveting rendition of Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero” that grows increasingly invigorating as it unfolds before the spotlight shifts to a delightfully dramatic and extremely energising version of Beethoven’s “5th Symphony”, after which the baton is passed to the aforementioned “Flight of the Bumblebee” to bring the record to an enormously rousing conclusion. The end result is a trio of wonderfully elegant and fantastically forceful reimaginings of renowned classical creations that bury themselves deep in the mind and refuse to withdraw.
“Flight of the Bumblebee” is also available to stream on Spotify and download on iTunes along with the rest of Metal Classic, Classic Metal now. And be sure to keep an eye out for Apocalyptica on tour on the dates listed below.
APOCALYPTICA – Tour Dates 2022/2023
US Tour /w Leprous and Wheel
19.09.22 – Ft Wayne, IN – Pierres
21.09.22 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
22.09.22 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival
23.09.22 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
24.09.22 – Indianapolis, IN – Vogue
25.09.22 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles
26.09.22 – Sauget, IL – Pops
27.09.22 – Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall
28.09.22 – Denver, CO – Summit
30.09.22 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
01.10.22 – San Diego, CA – Observatory
02.10.22 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
04.10.22 – Las Vegas, NV – Bowl
05.10.22 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Theatre
06.10.22 – Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst
07.10.22 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
08.10.22 – Guadelajara, MX – Coordenada Festival
12.11.22 – Wroclaw (PL) – Hala Stulecia
Finnish Tour w/ Wheel
16.11.22 – Tampere (FI) – Pakkahuone
17.11.22 – Oulu (FI) – Tullisali
18.11.22 – Seinajoki (FI) – Rytmikorjaamo
19.11.22 – Kupio (FI) – Musiikkikeskus
20.11.22 – Helsinki (FI) – Ice Hall (*special guests – Leprous)
“The Epic Apocalypse Tour” w/ Epica and Wheel
19.01.23 – Vilnius (LT) – Compensa Concert Hall
20.01.23 – Riga (LV) – Arena Riga
21.01.23 – Tallinn (EE) – Saku Arena
23.01.23 – Oslo (NO) – Sentrum Scene
24.01.23 – Stockholm (SE) – Berns
25.01.23 – Copenhagen (DK) – Amager Bio
27.01.23 – Amsterdam (NL) – AFAS
28.01.23 – Hamburg (DE) – Georg Elser Halle
29.01.23 – Brussels (BE) – AB
30.01.23 – Bristol (UK) – O2 Academy
01.02.23 – Nottingham (UK) – Rock City
02.02.23 – Glasgow (UK) – O2 Academy
03.02.23 – Manchester (UK) – Academy
04.02.23 – London (UK) – Roundhouse
06.02.23 – Luxembourg (LU) – Atelier
07.02.23 – Paris (FR) – Zenith
08.02.23 – Toulouse (FR) – Le Bikini
10.02.23 – Barcelona (ES) – Razzmatazz 1
11.02.23 – Murcia (ES) – Murcia Gamma
13.02.23 – Madrid (ES) – La Riviera
14.02.23 – Lisbon (PT) – Coliseum
12.03.23 – Hanover (DE) – Capitol
13.03.23 – Colonge (DE) – Carlswerk Victoria
14.03.23 – Wiesbaden (DE) – Schlachthof
15.03.23 – Ludwigsburg (DE) – MHP Arena
17.03.23 – Zurich (CH) – Komplex 4567
18.03.23 – Lausanne (CH) – Metropole
19.03.23 – Milan (IT) – Fabrique
20.03.23 – Munich (DE) – Tonhalle
22.03.23 – Budapest (HU) – Barba Negra
23.03.23 – Vienna (AT) – Gasometer
24.03.23 – Brno (CZ) – Hala Vodova
25.03.23 – Warsaw (PL) – Progresja
27.03.23 – Gdansk (PL) – B90
28.03.23 – Berlin (DE) – Columbiahalle
29.03.23 – Leipzig (DE) – Haus Auensee