On May 8, 2019 Apocalyptica brought their classical take on some of Metallica’s greatest songs to the absolutely gorgeous Smith Center in Downtown Las Vegas.
Apocalyptica class themselves as a rock band from Finland, and most of their music is instrumental based. They’ve collaborated with a number of vocalists and other rock artists across the board, though… so it’s not all completely instrumental with these guys! (See ‘Not Strong Enough’ featuring Shinedown’s Brent Smith, or ‘I’m Not Jesus’ featuring Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor.)
This show was a bit more special, though. Fans of all ages flooded into the Smith Center’s gorgeous theater. Apocalyptica and Metallica shirts were seen all around and by the time it was show time, the entire first floor, along with the second and third tiers of seats were all full. This crowd was ready and waiting for the classical fused metal tribute that was about to come!
It’s difficult to describe this performance as anything less than absolutely amazing. It truly gives you an appreciation for the apparent influence that classical music has on heavy metal, and it’s also something I would suggest to any of my metalhead friends. I’m not even a diehard Metallica fan, by the way. But the way Apocalyptica played their music… the intensity, high energy, they truly left the crowd with an electric energy to feed off of. And feed off it they did!
Apocalyptica’s touring and making of new music!
Apocalyptica will be doing their ‘Metallica by Four Cellos’ set for crowds throughout the US and Europe through the end of May, along with more dates overseas in the fall. There is also a new single on Spotify titled ‘Fields of Verdun’ that was released on May 2 so it looks like there is possibly a new album in the works which is exciting! Hopefully we will see them back here in Vegas soon!
Stay up to date with the guys here: https://www.apocalyptica.com/en/
Here’s a look at Apocalyptica’s setlist from this show!
Enter Sandman
Master of Puppets
Harvester of Sorrow
The Unforgiven
Sad but True
Creeping Death
Wherever I May Roam
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Fade to Black
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Fight Fire With Fire
Until It Sleeps
Orion
Escape
Battery
Seek & Destroy
Nothing Else Matters
One
All photos by Courtney Ware for ZrockR Magazine 2019, All Rights Reserved.