ApocalypticaCell-O

Silver Lining Music
10th January, 2020
Apocalyptica hysteria
8
Poetic Beast

Cell-O is the ninth studio album from Finnish quartet Apocalyptica. This is an experience quite unlike anything else.

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In a bold move, Apocalyptica have created nine purely instrumental tracks of powerful cello music, bursting with passion, energy, and emotion.



While it has been five years since the ‘cello metal’ innovators’ last album of original music [Shadowmaker, 2015], they have nonetheless been extremely busy. Considering that this instrumental album lands in the wake of the over-two-year ‘twentieth-anniversary’ celebrations for Apocalyptica’s massively popular …Plays Metallica By Four Cellos [1996], Cell-O is a change in flavour but an epic opportunity to immerse in the true magic of Apocalyptica.

Cell-O is complex, musically and conceptually. It doesn’t provide easy access with lyrics and simple forms. It commands the deep attention of the listener. In return it delivers a sophisticated and enchanting musical experience, and innumerable spins with something new to discover, to interpret, to unlock.

At the outset, it is noteworthy that although an instrumental cello album, Cell-O is far, far from staid or austere. Apocalyptica’s calculated yet unorthodox mission to create a musically poetic beast from three cellos and a drumkit is consistently successful throughout Cell-O. In particular, the range of musical worlds conjured up between the lyric-less tracks is astounding. From the graceful and wistful cello tones in the picturesque track Rise and the sombre movements of Call My Name, to the harsh and aggressive structured chaos on En Route To Mayhem, Apocalyptica show their ability to compose both elegant and ferocious music. Distorted cellos keep the sound contemporary, which melds beautifully with subtle folk influences on tracks such as the title track and the Celtic instrumentation [from guest artist Troy Donockley of Nightwish] on Fire & Ice. Overall, the seemingly elusive idea of  ‘cello-metal’ infused with baroque sensibilities becomes a reality.

And a profoundly intense reality it is. Cell-O is complex, musically and conceptually. It doesn’t provide easy access with lyrics and simple forms. It commands the deep attention of the listener. In return it delivers a sophisticated and enchanting musical experience, and innumerable spins with something new to discover, to interpret, to unlock.

STANDOUT TRACKS: Cell-O, Rise, Fire & Ice
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Ne Obliviscaris, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Nightwish




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