Apocalyptica will release “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2,” a follow-up to its classic debut album, on June 7, 2024, via Throwdown Entertainment. Pre-order it here.
The album continues the journey that began in 1996 when cellists from Helsinki’s world-renowned Sibelius Academy played symphonic tribute to the biggest of the Big Four. For their ninth record, the classically minded dynamos are returning to their roots.
Lead single “The Four Horsemen,” taken from Metallica’s 1983 debut “Kill ‘Em All,” features Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, setting the scene for a compendium of deep cuts and highlights spanning Metallica’s 40-year career, and there are more surprises to come.
Founding band-leader Eicca Toppinen said: “It’s the coolest thing. We didn’t push—it was offered. We played the first album live, and it was so much more fun and exciting than we expected, so we got the idea to do something like the first album, but we couldn’t do it in exactly the same way. We needed to challenge ourselves and bring a totally new perspective to the original energy and emotion of Metallica.”
Lead cellist Perttu Kivilaakso said: “We’ve been talking about making another Metallica album for around 20 years, as there were still so many great songs we wanted to play! We waited for the perfect moment to do it. Thinking of that teenage me who is now getting to play his favorite tracks gives me goosebumps!“
This will be the band’s final studio release with Apocalyptica’s long-time drummer Mikko Sirén, who amicably departed after the new album’s completion.
“Plays Metallica Vol. 2” was produced by longtime collaborator Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Tool).
Track listing:
1. Ride the Lightning
2. St. Anger
3. The Unforgiven II
4. Blackened
5. The Call of Ktulu (in memory of Cliff Burton)
6. The Four Horsemen (featuring Robert Trujillo)
7. Holier Than Thou
8. To Live Is to Die
9. One
10. One (Instrumental)
Apocalyptica will tour Europe in fall 2024. Upgrades to regular tickets for VIP experiences are available via the band’s website.
Tour dates:
08 Jun FI Helsinki – Ice Hall (public on sale 26.2.)
13 Sep AE Dubai – TBA
19 Sep TR Istanbul – Zorlu PSM
21 Sep SE Stockholm – Kagelbanan
22 Sep NO Oslo – Rockefeller
23 Sep DK Copenhagen – Amager Bio
24 Sep DK Aarhus – Train
26 Sep DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36
27 Sep NL Tilburg – O13
29 Sep UK Manchester – Manchester Albert Hall
30 Sep UK London – Royal Albert Hall
01 Oct IE Dublin – Olympia Theatre
03 Oct UK Glasgow – SWG3
04 Oct UK Nottingham – Rock City
05 Oct UK Cardiff – Great Uni Hall
07 Oct DE Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
08 Oct DE Munich – Tonhalle
09 Oct DE Cologne – E-Werk
10 Oct AT Vienna – Gasometer
11 Oct CZ Prague – 02 Universe
12 Oct DE Dresden – Alter Schlachthof
13 Oct DE Berlin – Columbiahalle
15 Oct PL Krakow – Studio
16 Oct PL Warsaw – Progresja
18 Oct LT Palanga – Concert Hall
19 Oct LT Kaunus – Zalgiris Arena
20 Oct LT Vilnius – Compensa Hall
21 Oct LV Riga – Arena
22 Oct EE Tallinn – Alexella Hall
11 Nov LX Esch Alzette – Rockhal
12 Nov BE Brussels – AB
13 Nov FR Paris – L’Olympia
14 Nov FR Bordeaux – Le Rocher
15 Nov ES Bilbao – Santana 27
17 Nov PT Lisbon – LAV
18 Nov ES Madrid – La Riviera
19 Nov ES Barcelona – Razzmatazz
20 Nov FR Marseille – Espace Julien
21 Nov IT Milan – Alcatraz
22 Nov CH Lausanne – Metropole
23 Nov CH Zurich – Komplex
25 Nov HU Budapest – Barba Negra
26 Nov RO Cluj – Form Space
27 Nov RO Bucharest – Sala Palatului
28 Nov BG Sofia – NDK (National Palace of Culture)
29 Nov MK Skopje – Boris Trajovski Arena
30 Nov RS Belgrade – Hangar