Cell-0

Last updated
Cell-0
Cell-0 apocalyptica.jpg
Studio album by
Apocalyptica
Released10 January 2020
Recorded2019
VenueSonic Pump Studios
Genre Cello metal, symphonic metal, progressive metal [1]
Length53:36 [2]
Label Silver Lining Music [2]
Producer Apocalyptica [3] [1]
Apocalyptica chronology
Shadowmaker
(2015)		Cell-0
(2020)
Singles from Cell-0
  1. "Ashes of the Modern World"
    Released: 3 October 2019 [3] [4]
  2. "Rise"
    Released: 1 November 2019 [5]
  3. "En Route to Mayhem"
    Released: 12 December 2019 [6]
  4. "Cell-0"
    Released: 10 January 2020 [7]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Classic Rock 7/10 [8]
Consequence of Sound B+ [9]
The Spill MagazineStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [10]

Cell-0 (pronounced "Cell Zero" [11] ) is the ninth studio album by Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica. It was released on 10 January 2020. It is the band's first fully instrumental album since 2003's Reflections , and their first studio release since Shadowmaker , published 4 years and 9 months earlier, marking their longest gap between studio albums.

Contents

Background

Cell-0 was prepared after a lengthy tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their debut album, the instrumental Metallica tribute release Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (1996). Such performances inspired them to go back to all-instrumental music, [12] which they hadn't done in 17 years. [3] [4] The audience's positive response to instrumental songs was also taken into account. [11]

It wasn't intended for the tour to be so long, but the positive fan reaction to the announcement of the first shows resulted in more dates being added, increasing the total number of performances from the originally planned 30 to a total of 230. [1] [13] Combined with the Shadowmaker tour shows, the band had played around 500 shows between both albums. [1]

Recording and promotion

Cell-0 took two months to be written and was recorded, edited and mixed within a five-month period. [11]

It was self-produced by the band and conceived without a label behind it, resulting in more creative freedom, which led cellist Perttu Kivilaakso to notice some progressive elements in their music, specially on the song "Fire & Ice", which begins with Celtic melodies performed by Nightwish flutist Troy Donockley and ends with riffs that he described as "chaotic" and "complex". [1]

On 3 June 2019, the band announced they had completed work on the album, with recording lasting for three months at Sonic Pump Studios, in Helsinki. [12] Later that month, they announced their signing to Silver Lining Music, through which they would release the yet-to-announce studio effort. [14]

On 3 October, the band announced the album's title, cover art and release date. They commented that "it is tough to express without lyrics, but in Cell-0, we found particles of our universe previously unknown to us. Millions of notes combine to create music just as millions of cells combine to create life, and when you visualize the whole thing, similar patterns appear." [3] [4]

On the same day, they released a video for the album opener "Ashes of the Modern World", directed by Ville Juurikkala. [3] [4] On 1 November, they released a video for "Rise", directed by Lisa Mann in collaboration with cinematographer Jason George and meant to depict a live impressionistic painting. [5] On 12 December, another video was released, this time for "En Route to Mayhem", which discuses humans' actions towards life on the planet. [6] On 10 January 2020, simultaneously with the album release, the audio of the title track "Cell-0" was released. [7]

On December 16, 2022, they released a new version of Rise, named Rise Again, with Epica's Simone Simons on vocals, prior to their shared European tour in 2023. [15]

Concept

The album revolves around a concept created by the band which relates to a "God particle". According to drummer Mikko Sirén, "in our heads, there is this undefined thing that you cannot pinpoint, that you cannot see or feel, but it is there. That's kind of the center of everything in this album." [11] [13] He also said: [11]

In the album, there is a lot about things, a lot about particles, how everything is made out of the tiniest little particles if you talk about cells to create something that is living, that a lot of cells are needed to create something, and atom-level, you need a lot of atoms to create something. But even though cells would create something, it doesn't make anything living. There needs to be this 'Cell-0', there needs to be this essence of something. And it came basically from the musical perspective. If you think of music, it's made of tiny particles. There are notes, there are rests, there are rhythms, there are this and this and this. When you put them together, it's almost like music, but it's missing the soul, the soul of the song, which is something you cannot put on a note. You cannot put it in a music sheet. It's the emotion. The x-factor. That's the 'Cell-0' for music.

He also says the album discusses "politics or social, environmental issues or something like that. It was one of those things that amazingly people have gotten disconnected from each other, from nature, from the earth and everything like that. Maybe the 'Cell-0' is the one thing we lost. We don't have the ability to connect anymore, especially in the last ten years. The world has changed." [11]

The music also reflects humanity's ability to build and destroy. "Humanity is incredible when it comes to building something, but we are capable of destroying even more easily. Like that, the songs burst into pieces at times. We wanted to take a philosophical look at what man builds and what he destroys. [1]

Cover

The cover of Cell-0 depicts a cello falling apart in particles, so it is linked to the overall particle concept of the album. [11] Kivilaakso said "since we're going back to our roots, it seemed obvious to us to put the cello in front on the cover". [1]

Track listing

Cell-0 track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Ashes of the Modern World"6:29
2."Cell-0"9:57
3."Rise"5:22
4."En Route to Mayhem"5:28
5."Call My Name"3:55
6."Fire & Ice" (featuring Troy Donockley)5:21
7."Scream for the Silent"5:12
8."Catharsis"4:58
9."Beyond the Stars"6:54
Total length:53:36 [2]
Other songs
No.TitleLength
10."Live Or Die (Feat. Joakim Brodén)"3:45
11."Talk To Me (Feat. Lzzy Hale)"3:29
12."White Room (Jacoby Shaddix)"4:03
13."Ei Vaihtoehtoo (Feat. Paleface)"3:45
14."I'll Get Throught It"4:20

Personnel

Apocalyptica

Guest performances

Technical personnel

Charts

Sales chart performance for Cell-0
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [16] 13
French Albums (SNEP) [17] 192
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [18] 24
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [19] 37
Scottish Albums (OCC) [20] 69
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [21] 76
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [22] 11

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perttu Kivilaakso</span> Finnish cellist (born 1978)

Perttu Päivö Kullervo Kivilaakso is a cello player for Finnish band Apocalyptica. Like fellow band members Eicca Toppinen and Paavo Lötjönen, he attended Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He plays a German 19th century cello; he started playing the cello when he was 5 years old and joined Apocalyptica for their third studio album Cult. Kivilaakso played in Apocalyptica's 1995 line up, but he was concentrating on his studies when the band began their professional career. At the end of 1999 he came back, switching places with Antero Manninen, who then went to play in a classical orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eicca Toppinen</span> Finnish cellist (born 1975)

Eino Matti "Eicca" Toppinen is a Finnish cellist, songwriter, producer, and arranger. In 1993 he formed the quartet Apocalyptica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paavo Lötjönen</span> Finnish cellist (born 1968)

Paavo Lötjönen is a cello player for Finnish band Apocalyptica. Paavo comes from a family where both of his parents were professional musicians. At the age of 6, he took a cello and decided that would be the instrument he would play all his life. Like fellow band members Perttu Kivilaakso and Eicca Toppinen, he attended Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

<i>Apocalyptica</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Apocalyptica

Apocalyptica is the fifth studio album by the Finnish symphonic metal band of same name. Although Mikko Sirén has been with Apocalyptica two years prior to this release, he was not an official member of the band until after this release, but this is still his first release with the band along with the band having a drummer for their first time.

<i>Inquisition Symphony</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Apocalyptica

Inquisition Symphony is the second studio album by the Finnish metal band Apocalyptica. The album branches from their previous effort, containing only four Metallica covers. The remainder of the compositions are by Faith No More, Pantera, and Sepultura, as well as three originals by Apocalyptica bandleader Eicca Toppinen. In this album, some songs add percussive beats on the cellos. Max Lilja did the arrangements for "One". A sequel to "Toreador" appeared on the album Reflections.

<i>Reflections</i> (Apocalyptica album) 2003 studio album by Apocalyptica

Reflections is the fourth studio album of Finnish metal band Apocalyptica, released in 2003 with a special-edition entitled Reflections Revised released in the later part of 2003 containing a DVD as well as the original album with five bonus tracks. The original slipcase cover is a picture of a burning cello, which is also seen in the inside traycard of all versions. The cover resembles the photograph Le Violon d'Ingres by Man Ray.

<i>The Best of Apocalyptica</i> 2002 greatest hits album by Apocalyptica

The Best of Apocalyptica is a Greatest hits album released in 2002 by the cello metal group Apocalyptica. It contains covers from their previous releases and was only released in Japan.

<i>The Life Burns Tour</i> 2006 video by Apocalyptica

The Life Burns Tour DVD is a DVD of a Concert by Classical Finnish Band, Apocalyptica. The tour was in promotion of the Untitled Apocalyptica album, named after one of their singles from that album titled Life Burns!

The following is a comprehensive discography of Apocalyptica, a Finnish cello metal group. As a band, they have released nine studio albums, that have charted in their native Finland, Austria, France, and in the United States. In addition to their nine studio albums, also released are two compilation albums, one soundtrack, one live album and three DVD albums.

<i>Worlds Collide</i> (Apocalyptica album) 2007 studio album by Apocalyptica

Worlds Collide is the sixth studio album from Finnish classical band, Apocalyptica. While this album is the sixth major release, it is also the twenty-eighth release overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not Jesus</span> 2007 single by Apocalyptica featuring Corey Taylor

"I'm Not Jesus" is a song by the Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica, featuring Corey Taylor from Slipknot and Stone Sour. The single was released on September 17, 2007 and again on March 4, 2008, on the album Worlds Collide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apocalyptica</span> Finnish symphonic metal band

Apocalyptica is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Helsinki, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso, and jazz drummer Mikko Sirén. Originally a classical-style Metallica tribute band, the band eventually adopted a neoclassical metal style without the use of conventional guitars and bass. They have sold over four million albums to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Care (Apocalyptica song)</span> 2008 single by Apocalyptica featuring Adam Gontier

"I Don't Care" is a song by Finnish rock band Apocalyptica, the song was released in 2008 as the third and final single from their sixth album Worlds Collide and features Adam Gontier, then lead singer of Three Days Grace, on lead vocals. The song reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for one week and number two on the Alternative Songs chart where it spent a year in the top 20.

<i>Live</i> (Apocalyptica video) 2001 video album by Apocalyptica

Live is the first official Apocalyptica DVD which consists of a recorded show in Munich, on 24 October 2001. It only includes tracks from the first 3 albums: Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, Inquisition Symphony and Cult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franky Perez</span> American musician

Franky Perez is an American musician best known as a solo artist, touring vocalist of the Finnish metal band Apocalyptica, and as former guitarist for Scars on Broadway. He has also released three solo albums, Poor Man's Son, My 4th of July, and Addict, and performed with guitarist Slash in his live band before Slash assembled the touring band that backed him during his first full solo tour with Myles Kennedy. Perez has also collaborated with Slash's Velvet Revolver bandmate Dave Kushner, releasing songs under the pseudonym of DKFXP, as well as the virtual band Pusher Jones, contributing the song "Count Me Out" to The Avengers soundtrack.

<i>7th Symphony</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Apocalyptica

7th Symphony is the seventh studio album by the Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica. It was released on August 20, 2010, in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, August 23, 2010, in the rest of the world, and August 24, 2010, in the U.S. and Canada. Released three years after their previous album Worlds Collide, Apocalyptica continued the practice of having four tracks with featured vocalists, while the remaining tracks are all instrumental. Dave Lombardo of Slayer was once again featured on drums, on the track entitled "2010". The band toured with touring vocalist Tipe Johnson in support of the album in Europe, Mexico, Canada, the US and Venezuela since the summer of 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maiden uniteD</span>

Maiden uniteD is an acoustic project. Musicians from different bands join together to play an all-acoustic tribute to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The songs are played with new arrangements.

<i>Wagner Reloaded-Live in Leipzig</i> 2013 live album by Apocalyptica

Wagner Reloaded-Live in Leipzig is the first live album and eleventh album overall by the Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica. It was released on 15 November 2013 in Finland and 18 November 2013 elsewhere. It was released three years after their previous studio album 7th Symphony. The time period allowed the band to prepare for a special live event to celebrate the anniversary of Richard Wagner's 200th Birthday. On 5–6 July 2013 the Leipzig Arena witnessed the sold-out première of Wagner Reloaded. This was a joint venture between German choreographer Gregor Seyffert and Apocalyptica. The event witnessed a blend of dance performances, circus and theatre arts, audiovisual effects, and live music.

<i>Shadowmaker</i> (Apocalyptica album) 2015 studio album by Apocalyptica

Shadowmaker is the eighth studio album by the Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica. It was released on 17 April 2015 in Europe and Australia, 20 April in the UK, France and Latin America, 21 April in the U.S. and Canada and 22 April in Japan. It is the band's first album with one single vocalist, Franky Perez.

<i>Manifest</i> (Amaranthe album) 2020 studio album by Amaranthe

Manifest is the sixth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Amaranthe. It was released on 2 October 2020 via Nuclear Blast.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Darialys (3 January 2020). "APOCALYPTICA (NOVEMBER 2019)". Music Waves. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Cell-0". iTunes . Apple Inc . Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "APOCALYPTICA To Release 'Cell-0' Album In January; 'Ashes Of The Modern World' Video Available". Blabbermouth.net . 3 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Childers, Chad (3 October 2019). "Apocalyptica Announce 'Cell-0′ Album, Issue Dark Single 'Ashes of the Modern World'". Loudwire . Townsquare Media . Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  5. 1 2 "APOCALYPTICA Releases Spellbinding Video For 'Rise'". Blabbermouth.net . 1 November 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  6. 1 2 "APOCALYPTICA Releases Music Video For 'En Route To Mayhem'". Blabbermouth.net . 12 December 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Listen To Title Track Of APOCALYPTICA's New Album, 'Cell-0'". Blabbermouth.net . 10 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Wilding, Philip (February 1, 2020). "Apocalyptica - Cell-0 - Back to their best baroque and roll". Classic Rock . Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ Prato, Greg (January 8, 2020). "Apocalyptica Return to All-Instrumental Roots on Cell-O". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  10. ↑ Stevens, Samantha. "Spill Album Review: Apocalyptica - Cell-0". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Interview d'Apocalyptica pour la sortie de Cell-0 !". United Rock Nations (in French and English). 9 December 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  12. 1 2 "APOCALYPTICA Completes Work On All-Instrumental New Album". Blabbermouth.net . 3 June 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  13. 1 2 Singer, Quentin (25 November 2019). "Eicca Toppinen Talks New Apocalyptica Album 'Cell-0' And Its Environmental Concept". Forbes . Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  14. ↑ "APOCALYPTICA Signs with SILVER LINING MUSIC; New All-Instrumental Album Due In 2020". Blabbermouth.net . 28 June 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  15. ↑ "APOCALYPTICA Releases New Single 'Rise Again' Featuring EPICA's SIMONE SIMONS". Blabbermouth.net . 16 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Apocalyptica: Cell-0" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  17. ↑ "Top Albums (Week 3, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Apocalyptica – Cell-0" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  20. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 3: del 10.1.2020 al 16.1.2020" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  22. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Apocalyptica – Cell-0". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.