Apocalyptica: Music for the End of the World?

Finnish cello-metallists Apocalyptica played Yugong Yishan on Friday, in what was one of the more interesting foreign visits this year.

Though they built their fame with cello covers of Metallica songs, over the past 15 years the band has developed a unique and complex brand of metal with classical flourishes.

Friday night wasn't a full house at Yugong Yishan, but the crowd seemed most appreciative of songs from their more recent albums, particularly 2003’s Reflections. Unfortunately, the quality was somewhat marred by a muddy sound mix, meaning the cellos were often difficult to distinguish and the drums overrode some of their best parts. The singer was also drowned out quite badly on few songs where vocals were required.

However, the moments where the band played their simpler, more classical-focused pieces offered glimpses of what they are capable of when everything comes together, and the excellent lighting added greatly to the atmosphere.

It might not have been the gig for the end of the world, but Apocalyptica certainly offered a refreshing change for Beijing’s music scene.

Photos: Zach Hoy