Formed in 1993 at the world-renowned Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, Apocalyptica began life as a loving, lo-fi nod to Metallica from four classically-trained musicians with no greater ambition than to explore their favorite band’s music with their chosen instrument. As founding band leader Eicca Toppinnen explains, the project would take on a life of its own when they finally released Plays Metallica By Four Cellos in 1996. More than a debut, it was a monster in waiting.

The band has since evolved and grown beyond the bounds of their beginning as a loving tribute to Metallica, establishing themselves as gifted songwriters in their own right. A host of collaborations would follow with artists as far-ranging as Ville Valo of HIM, Bullet For My Valentine, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, and Slayer and Mr. Bungle drum hero Dave Lombardo among many others.