Apocalyptica - Cult (Spec)
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Free Music Notes for Cult (Spec)
Free Music Review: Apocalyptica - Cult LOVE LOVE LOVE
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a huge fan of Apocalyptica and it's been a bit diffcult to find this album in stores (at least around here) and it's not on iTunes. I am so glad I got the special edition! It was defintitely worth it! Every single song on this album, especially the extra ones only available on the special edition, is AMAZING!!! Seriously, these guys can do no wrong in my eyes!!Free Music Review: Their best yet
Hit: 5 Stars
No one can be disappointed by this album. This is Apocalyptica's finest work to date. Incredible.Free Music Review: Bought it as a gift
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought this cd as a gift for someone and he loves it and says it delivers more then expected.Free Music Review: Get this
Hit: 5 Stars
Buy two, just incase you loose your first one. It is that good.Free Music Review: Surprisingly, very Metallica
Hit: 3 Stars
Like everyone else, I was thrilled about hearing an all-original Apocalyptica album. Breaking away from doing Metallica covers was definitely a necessary step.Unfortunately, the great irony of this album is that much of it sounds like late-period, ho-hum Metallica. Rather than building on the classically-minded complexity and nuance of earlier originals like Harmageddon, the songs on Cult seem to be written for a standard rock line-up: it's easy to pick out what would be the vocal line, the rhythm guitar, etc.
Structurally, the songs are also lacking. Given the simplicity of their compositions on Cult (and the decidedly "metal" production, rendering the fact that they play cellos almost pointless), I can't fight back the sensation that this is pop/rock mediocrity: verse/chorus/verse, a few hard songs separated by the obligatory ballads, and so forth.
The addition of percussion is a mixed blessing. It does add another layer to their sound, but at the same time, it allows them an easy escape route. I direct the listener to Unforgiven, from their first album, which contains a brilliantly articulated "drum fill" played on the cello. Very simple, very effective (equally effective in the original Metallica recording), and without the obvious use of actual drums. It would have been interesting to see how Cult could be re-interpreted without the use of actual percussion, instead incorporating those textures into the cellos.
So why three stars? Because I'm being hard on them. Really, this is a fine album. I would give Cult two stars and call it "pretty good", were it not for some astounding pieces. In Memoriam, Hyperventilation, Kaamos, and Coma are among the finest Apocalyptica pieces, and easily raise the listening value of the album. And their rendition of Hall of the Mountain King is stellar (the two Metallica covers are embarassingly lifeless).
For the most part, with Cult, we see Apocalyptica becoming a heavy metal band with some solid classical sensibilities. Oh, and by the way, they play on four cellos (though at times you wouldn't know it, the distortion makes them out to be guitars). Now, with Reflections, they seem to have all but abandoned subtlety and nuance. My hope is that they will return to top form in a few years, as bands of genuine talent tend to do.
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