The successful continuation of an experiment

Four talented cellist refuse to continue to play only classical music and rather covers their favorite band Metallica. With Success. The Norwegians went on to become stars and set their success trend continues on the next album, which first includes original songs as well as a mix of metal covers and thus cope as their first proper studio album can be designated.

The Scandinavians like it minimalistic. They act alone with their four cellos. Rarely isolated effects are used. In percussive accompaniment or even singing is dispensed tough. Can that be fun?

Yes, it can. Already on the first (self-written) number Armageddon fascinated the band played with captivating solos passages to hard rhythms, with one only becomes aware of really what can be such a cello for a hard instrument. To the accompaniment chords built on is pretty good hit. Furthermore, it should be noted that the boys their instruments mastered exceptionally well. Especially with the very dark Inquisition Symphony one of the mouth remains open when you hear, with what tempo riffs are created. In the end the instruments are then even distorted and Toppinen plays an impressive solo, in which probably looks the one or the other guitarist jealous of his (surely easier to use) guitar down.

The really neat thing is but then when the melody carried away really. Fade to Black has thereby beginning to offer some beautiful melodies that were hauntingly implemented on cellos. Pretty exciting is then the piece in its harder passages and is able to inspire true. Since just shows the great strength of the new interpretation of familiar pieces. Although the remaining own pieces MB and Toreador (with captivating Spanish elements) are not bad, they are nevertheless some classes of the catchy From out of nowhere away.

But it is precisely in these evocative and downright loaded pieces sometimes lacking but then a percussion accompaniment, which then strikes only really at Refuse / Resist. How mad here thresh the guys on a string and give the piece so the necessary metal atmosphere. However, just the pressure remains so completely without drums, something on the track.

The most famous songs should probably be Nothing else matters and One. Both are implemented insanely atmospheric, the former atmospheric downright invites the listener to dream. If one follows the gentle strings melody accompanied by chords pizzicato sounds could really mean, James Hetfield would former piece originally written in this variant, especially when Eicca then demanding intensity shines in the solo.

Equally intense is One, all the elements of Apocalyptica will do it again together worn. Pizzicato chords at the beginning, peaceful string melody lines in the midsection, and later brutally fifths and an intense and fast-paced solo.

Conclusion: The original experiment should have probably reached the mass appeal. The four Norwegians elicit their Celli previously unheard sounds, playing both terrific hard and wonderfully tender. Only some composition or some arrangement is still somewhat immature and the pressure of a missing drum set can not be fully offset. Nevertheless, any rock or metal fan should give this album a try once.

Rating: ****