Apocalyptica这支94年成立于芬兰的乐队,毕业于芬兰西贝流士音乐学院(Sibelius Academy)的四位大提琴手,每每提到他们,大家的第一反映都是那个翻Metallica的,Apocalyptica也确实是通过1996年发行的第一张专辑《Plays Metallica By Four Cellos》被大家所认识,同时也给大家带来了不少惊喜,但是总是称呼其为翻Metallica的,未免有欠公道。因为乐队无论从旋律的演奏上还是情感的和音乐的融合上都有其自己的特点。因此第一张专集发行后,得到大量好评的同时,乐队也意识到了翻唱的缺点,随后的几张“原版”专集充分展示了他们的实力。
今天我们来聊聊这张将Apocalyptica推向“前台”的《Plays Metallica By Four Cellos》。细腻中不乏粗犷、温柔间不少强劲,这是我对这张专集的整体感觉。虽然翻的都是M~~比较经典的曲目,这些曲目的M~~~版已经很熟悉了,但是记得当时第一次听到A~~~版也着实吓了一下,特别是Master of Puppets这首,中间的那段本应是吉他SOLO,但是大提琴质感给我一种有过之而无不及的感觉,实际也确实是这样,在局部的细腻和旋律柔和化上,大提琴是略胜一畴。整体上,四个人的配合也给我留下了很深的印象,层次感很强,显然经过长期的磨合,分工非常明确,一个或者两个演奏主旋律,另外两个配合营造气氛。虽然没有M~~~那么强劲有冲击力,但是他们用他们出色的大提琴技巧还是模仿出不少吉他半失真、solo和贝司低沉的效果。看过他们的现场版,除了一个短发外,其他均是披肩长发,黑衣着装,演奏时的甩头,确实金属味十足,并且对我这个大提琴盲来说,演奏时出现了很多非常规演奏方式,例如敲击、拍打、手指的直接钩弦。虽然没有演唱,没有歌词的陪衬,没有吉他、贝司和鼓的冲劲,但是Apocalyptica这单纯的旋律也一样可以玩弄你的神经。
The premise of a cello-playing four piece (from Finland, no less) performing the music of Metallica may seem outrageous at first, but much of the metal gods' repertoire translates surprisingly well into this "classical" reading. And while Apocalyptica chooses to concentrate on more recent hits like "Enter Sandman," "Sad But True" and "Wherever I May Roam" for obvious commercial purposes, it is Metallica's earlier, more complex compositions, like "Master of Puppets," "Creeping Death," and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," which actually work best in this scenario. The quartet's love and understanding of the music is the real key here, and their attention to detail and technically flawless performance will no doubt satisfy even the most skeptical of fans. And while it is unlikely that this album will interest non-Metallica fans, it obviously inspired the band themselves to explore the classical direction on their own terms with 1999's S&M album.