Apocalyptica

Posted on January 27, 2007 by Marek

With four Finns I met for the third time. This is so our tradition, when they come to Poland, I do an interview with thme. Despite this, Apocalyptica is a band known around the world, Eicca, Paavo, Max and Antero, they are still the same sympathetic characters, which were at the very beginning. Well, maybe now they are more relaxed, do not need to prove anything. In the end they showed the world that can play metal music at chellos and anything is possible.

- First of all, tell me what has happened since the last Apocalyptica CD?

Eicca – We played lots of concerts, many of them took place in small intervals. We played concerts for 75 -80 to September. Then we had about two months’ time, then played five dates, then we had a few months off. In total, we lived almost half a year with concerts. We did not do anything specific, that is, yes, we did specific things, but nothing for the Apocalyptica. Actually, we are on tour since the release of our first album, that is, from the beginning of 1996, almost the entire time we play and recording, we do rehersals, almost all the time we are together.

- Are you still friends?

(general laughter) Eicca – noooo!
Paavo – we never been (ha ha)

- When we talked the first time, told me that your cellos travel with you on a normal seat on the plane?

- Eicca – and still so travel with us

- But then it was cheaper, because you had a discount for students?

Eicca – and now we travel as a group, we have ten tickets. But there are some airlines which do not allow to make cellos, even if you have a ticket. KLM is one of such a companies, be sure never to fly their airplanes!

- Thanks for the warning, I will remember (although I don’t carry any cello with me). On your official website I found the advertisement for sale of two cellos?

Eicca – sold

- And for how much?

Eicca – I can not say. Good price, without the strip, but we did a good deal. I sold my metal cello because I bought a new one. And I have now an appropriate instrument for playing metal, because previous one was not the best.

- And what is the difference between “normal” chello and special cello to play metal music?

Max – primarily our cellos are expensive instruments and sometimes afraid to use them during concerts. Therefore we bought cheaper, but they are very good instruments.

Eicca – Beyond the wood should be somewhat different. In normal cellos is very dry, as it is usually about 200 years old and playing on such a metal instrument is a bit difficult.

Max – One day you’re playing a festival in the open air, the other day playing in a club where there is humidity.

Eicca – Then fly the airplane, where the air is dry.

Max – It’s not good for wood

Paavo – In addition, we use of amplifiers and the instrument must be able to connect, and the new have.

Eicca – these are the cheaper the better for playing amplified yet because they have greater resonance and thus is much more opportunity to do a lot of strange things with sound.

- When we talked the first time told me that there are some songs not available to play for you. Then we talked about the composition of Metallica – “One”

Eicca, Max, Paavo, Antero – ha, ha, ha

- And when I talked with you Eicca, you told me that “One” it can even deal with, but already “Dyers Eve” you do not play because it certainly will not sound properly. So what now you say that surely “Dyers Eve” is not so difficult but?

Max – (laughing) probably we’ll record “Dyers Eve” on the new album, he, he

Eicca – We discovered that almost everything is possible to play, but it is certain speed limit. Take the fastest tracks of Slayer? They are incredibly fast. Tried one. You know, there are certain times that certain passages are difficult to play on the guitar, where the gesture is not too big. And when you play the cello, however, you must bow to make a fairly big move. And here your metronome gives you 240, so in many compositions of Slayer. Absolutely too fast. But at rehearsal, two weeks ago we played “Hell Awaits”. But the pace we had but a little lower, because the original is too fast.

- During your second concert in Poland, I saw that you could not sit on the ground. For this concert seemed to me that playing the cello standing is impossible. Especially when you play fast solos.

Max – playing fast solos on the cello in this way is not possible. You must be very strong.

Eicca –But one band from the Netherlands found a way. They have special tripods through which to play standing up is easy. We played one concert, even with such tripods, but it is not a good solution when it comes to metal music performance.

- Well, we clarified technical issues, and how there work on the new album. You may have some new compositions?

Eicca – The plan is that the new album is expected in May, but what will be on it for us is still a question mark. We have six own compositions, but tried to play only one so do not talk about it. We do not have at this point any covers. See, for the moment there are no particulars.

- And you have at least some plans for covers?

Eicca – We do not really know yet what specific songs will be on the new album. We are very open to different styles. We are not “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica By Four Cellos”) anymore (title of the first Apocalyptica record). There’s not going to be shame if we’re playing some other compositions. There will certainly be some surprises.

- You proved that you can play trash metal songs on chellos, so now you can do anything, don’t you?

Eicca – yeah, now our intention is to make something that will make even more impression. We recorded two albums with four cellos performing a metal music, now we have to do something new. We had year and a half break and we have no idea for what’s next. None of us. We need to relax first, play some classics.

- Last time I ask everyone for their views on the impact of technology on music. Technology can help a weak band to record a very good CD?

Eicca – that is why we have to use it (ha ha)

Max – the problem is that everyone can get on with making music on computer, but only a few can do it with style

Eicca – One of my friend is working with the computer. He Let me once disc recorded only on the computer and I can tell you that it was a great album. And we are very receptive to these innovations, and we try to do something with them when we are in the studio next time. Probably we not use computers, but who knows?

Paavo – But when it comes to sound, actually today almost everyone uses computers. It helps, of course, if you not overdo.

- You play with Metallica. Does this in any way affect on your play? Whether such occurred so Kirk Hammett goes to one of you and says – Listen dude in “One” you should play faster and slowing down a bit here?

Paavo – it’s a huge challenge for us to play with a group like Metallica. You know, the vast publications other conditions?

Eicca – We never had opportunities to talk long enough to reach such details (ha ha). They travel with security, have a very tight program and simply have no time to look around. It happens sometimes that we have five minutes to talk and all that.

- Well, unfortunately, my time is up also. I see you also have a tight program. I hope that when you come to Poland fourth time, we will maintain our little tradition?

Eicca – Certainly. I hope that next time we will have a promotional tour then we will have more time for everything.

Interview appeared in the Metal Hammer 10/1999