APOCALYPTICA: Worlds Collide (MELODIC METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

It's been obvious since his eponymous album of 2005: Apocalyptica has taken on a scale that forces him to deal with certain commercial imperatives. Is that why the quartet is now accused of having sold its soul to the devil? Everyone will make (or has already made) his own opinion. What is certain is that these considerations should not distort the objective approach of this new opus by the Finns, whereas the excerpts they let us discover on the occasion of the Eurovision ceremony (held in Helsinki following the resounding success of their compatriots Lordi) made us salivate.

If you didn't appreciate the evolution started with "Apocalyptica", there's little chance you'll change your mind with this "Worlds Collide" which follows the same path by moving to a higher level. For it won't be an insult to the talented Lauri Ylönen (The Rasmus) and Ville Valo (HIM), not to mention the charming Manu (Dolly), but with the presence of Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour), Till Lindemann (Rammstein) or Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil), to name only the most famous, Eicca Toppinen and his band are rubbing shoulders with the best of a genre around which are gathered lovers of well licked metal and teenagers in search of thrills. Indeed, two worlds collide on this new album: the one of the original, powerful and symphonic metal that the Scandinavian cellists have been serving us since their debut, and a more commercial metal represented by these titles with a more classical and accessible structure, sung by a few interpreters who don't leave insensitive the more consumer and fashionable audiences.

Nevertheless, Apocalyptica comes out of it with flying colours by offering a set that remains coherent despite its diversity. The nods to the radio stations are of high quality, whether it be "I'm Not Jesus" sung by Corey Taylor or "I Don't Care" sung by Adam Gontier (Three Days Grace), tracks with catchy choruses and melodic pop-metal verses. On their side, Till Lindemann and Cristina Scabbia offer beautiful performances, entering perfectly in the dark and melancholic atmosphere of the Finns, the first one adapting David Bowie's "Heroes" in Goethe's language for a martial and moving "Helden", and the second one carrying an "S.O.S. (Anything But Love)" which would have been only a classic gothic title without its superb interpretation. The other seven tracks have been working in a classical instrumental format for the quartet since Mikko Siren joined the band on drums, but that doesn't prevent Dave Lombardo (Slayer) from propelling a "Last Hope" flirting with Thrash and Death, and lit up with fiery cello solos. Finally, we won't forget the Japanese guitarist and composer Tomoyasu Hotei, who participates in the composition and interpretation of a "Grace" a bit unstructured and with a too discreet guitar.

As for the rest, between the majestic and introductory "Worlds Collide" and the delicate finale of a "Peace" bewitching like a snowy Finnish landscape, "Ion" becomes scathing, preferring harmonics and distortion to melody, "Stroke" plays on the opposition of a clapping rhythmic and a melancholic line, while the cavalcade triggered by the drums on "Burn" fades away in front of a plaintive and haunting melody. Thus, if some may regret the era of "Inquisition Symphony" and "Cult", they won't be able to deny the richness of this last delivery. - Official website

APOCALYPTICA

WORLDS COLLIDE

SONY BMG

MELODIC METAL