Last night, I attended Apocalyptica Plays Metallica at Palace Hall. This wasn’t the first time the Finnish cello-metal band has brought this concert to Bucharest, but they managed to keep it just as fresh and exciting. For anyone unfamiliar with them, Apocalyptica started as a Metallica cover band in 1993 when its founding members were students at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. What began as a unique experiment has since evolved into a groundbreaking act that blends classical music with heavy metal.
The evening started with Arctis, a Finnish metal band that warmed up the crowd nicely. I only caught the end of their set, but I think they did a fine job. I expect to keep hearing about them in the future. By the time their set wrapped up, the excitement in the air was palpable. Palace Hall, one of Bucharest’s larger venues, was almost completely full—only a few seats at the very back were empty. Given that this was a seated concert, the atmosphere was more reserved than you’d expect at a typical metal show, but the energy was still undeniable.
This show is part of Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour, supporting their 10th studio album. We would have loved anything from them and Metallica, but they pushed it one step further and always made sure to reimagine, to bring to light new aspects of the song. Their rendition of One is hauntingly beautiful, with Papa Het reciting the lyrics and Robert Trujillo joining on bass, bringing that extra bit of attention to just what a tragic story it is. And let me tell you, hearing it live is truly something else. The album also includes a cover of The Call of Ktulu featuring the original bass master track recorded by Cliff Burton in 1984, which they mention during the show as they project an image of Cliff.
I have to appreciate all these small or big details. Like how the show started with the Metallica Intro (The Ecstasy of Gold). How they start playing Ride The Lightning from behind a curtain and it just drops at the perfect time for a bang! I’m a sucker for that kind of theatricality
Eicca told us to get up from our seets and here in the nosebleeds where I was staying there was just one lone brave soul who did it. Immediately someone behind me asked me to tell him to sit down but I will not clip his wings. If anyone knows who that kid is, I wanna give him a chocolate.
Reminds me of the Tarja shows I attended when I was younger and the sheer frustration of not being able to stand up for it because either security or other people told us to sit down. Now that I’m older, I can appreciate the comfort of a cozy seat—but credit where it’s due: the people in the front rows stood up and lived the concert to its fullest.
Despite having performed this concert in Bucharest before, the band managed to make it feel fresh. It truly didn’t compare to the other times I saw them. They had a production, a show, lights, stage. The venue definitely helped to make it feel bigger. Last time I saw them play Metallica at Arenele Romane it felt like a metal concert with symphonic elements. This time, it was a larger-than-life show with a hint of metal—a style that suits them beautifully.
As for the setlist, every song was a highlight. We definitely got Master of Puppets, which made most people stand up and sing. We got Enter Sandman, Creeping Death, For Whom The Bells Toll. For a little spicy note, we got to hear Battery on cellos. How impressive is that? Obviously, the night wouldn’t be complete without a moment for Nothing Else Matters. And the encore with Seek and Destroy and One was just an explosion of energy and emotion.
As always, I have to give it to the guys from Apocalyptica for their impressive headbanging skills. I don’t know how they manage to sing while running around and headbanging, but they make it look easy. They are also very good at interacting with the audience. Talking to the public hits differently when you’re not also singing vocally, and they know how to connect and energize.
This show made me rediscover that I love music. And live music. I haven’t been going to as many concerts lately and when I do I feel like I am and observer and not inside the show. I used to live and breathe it. But man, what a show this was to observe. It truly filled my heart. This is why we need live music and nothing compares to it. So if you’re in doubt if you should go to a show or not, buy your ticket now.