Plays Metallica by Four Cellos

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Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
Studio album by
Apocalyptica
ReleasedJune 13, 1996
GenreClassical, chamber music, cello rock, symphonic metal
Length44:31
LabelMercury/PolyGram
Apocalyptica chronology
Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
(1996) 		Inquisition Symphony
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStar[1]

Plays Metallica by Four Cellos is the debut album by Finnish metal band Apocalyptica, released in 1996. It features eight instrumental Metallica covers arranged and played on cellos.

The band was invited to record this album by a label employee after a 1995 show in which they performed some of the songs. The members were initially unsure and thought nobody would listen to such a record, but the employee insisted and they recorded it.[2] On 22 July 2016, a remastered version of the album was released with new bonus tracks.[3] In 2017 to 2019, the band returned as a cello quartet for the first time since 2009 to perform all of the Metallica tracks they have covered at the time to celebrate their 20th anniversary of the debut album and in late 2018, a live recording of the tour was released in CD, vinyl, and a DVD with live footage entitled Plays Metallica by Four Cellos - A Live Performance. A follow-up album entitled Plays Metallica, Vol. 2, was released on June 7, 2024.[4][5]

Track listing

[edit]
Original 1996 release
No.TitleWriter(s)Original Metallica albumLength
1."Enter Sandman"
from Metallica3:41
2."Master of Puppets"
from Master of Puppets7:17
3."Harvester of Sorrow"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
from ...And Justice for All6:15
4."The Unforgiven"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
  • Hammett
from Metallica5:23
5."Sad but True"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
from Metallica4:48
6."Creeping Death"
from Ride the Lightning5:08
7."Wherever I May Roam"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
from Metallica6:09
8."Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
  • Hammett
from Master of Puppets5:50
2016 remastered bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Original Metallica albumLength
9."Battery"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
from Master of Puppets4:32
10."Nothing Else Matters" (2016 Version)
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
from Metallica4:49
11."Seek & Destroy"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
from Kill 'Em All4:24

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[6] Platinum 23,303[6]
Germany (BVMI)[7] Gold 250,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[8] Gold 50,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r260294
  2. ^ Schizodeluxe, Andrew (14 January 2015). "Apocalyptica talks to The Rockpit". The Rockpit. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Plays Metallica by Four Cellos". Amazon. 2016.
  4. ^ "Plays Metallica Vol. 2 - BLUE 2-Vinyl". napalmrecords.com. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  5. ^ Traverspublished, Paul (2024-06-04). ""They've gone beyond novelty value to become their own unique entity." Apocalyptica have made another stirring album of orchestral Metallica covers - and they've even made St Anger sound epic". louder. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  6. ^ a b "Apocalyptica" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Apocalyptica; 'Apocalyptica Plays Metallica')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2000 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 2024-10-11. Retrieved 8 January 2021.