Review: Apocalyptica – 7th Symphony

Palmer reviews Apocalyptica’s 7th Symphony.

Artist: Apocalyptica
Album: 7th Symphony
Year: 2010
Genre: Symphonic Rock/Symphonic Metal

7th Symphony is quite a redemption from Apocalyptica’s last album, Worlds Collide (2007). In fact, I think 7th Symphony is a second attempt at what they tried to do in Worlds Collide. The pacing, the music, even the guest artist selections are so much better than their last album – but they still manage to get another strike.

7th Symphony is Apocalyptica’s seventh studio album – as if you couldn’t figure that out (this is the kind of vigorous research that makes me the hard-hitting journalist that I am) – and is quite possibly their second best album so far, but that’s not hard considering most of their material is weak. Apocalyptica are very unique and consist of a heavy neo-classical sound (just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 5 years, they play cellos instead of guitars).They’re impressive musicians who obviously know how to craft more than just your standard rock/metal songs (check out their album Reflections before you challenge me on this), but I felt their last album was, for lack of a better word, sh*t. It was way too modern hard rock – and let’s face it, modern hard rock needs to go and worship the biggest penis it can find and never EVER show its whorish face around here again.

For the most part, the featured artists on this album are awesome. You’ve got Gavin Rossdale (Bush – Vocals), Brent Smith (Shinedown – Vocals), Dave Lombardo (Slayer – Drums), Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf – Vocals), and Joe Duplantier (Gojira – Vocals). They all contribute unique elements to the songs they’re featured in, especially Gavin Rossdale and Lacey Mosley. Brent Smith’s featured track, ‘Not Strong Enough’, made me want to hurl myself off bridge by the end of it, but that’s probably because I think Shinedown sucks.

As usual, the instrumentals remained varied, heavy, and beautiful, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was lacking somehow. The melancholy depth that Apocolyptica once had just doesn’t seem to show its face much during the album. It peers out every once in a while, pauses and says, “Hi”, then runs off, full of unabashed insecurity, back to its hiding spot. It’s quite sad really. Apocalyptica has just gotten too mainstream for their own good. Stick to your roots, guys, and maybe you’ll be able to top Reflections one day.

Verdict:

+It’s much better than Worlds Collde
+7th Symphony has hints of the sound found in Reflections
- There are only hints
- I wish they would get the HELL out of the modern hard rock scene

Best Tracks: ‘End of Me’, ‘Broken Pieces’, ‘Bring Them to Light’, and ‘Rage of Poseidon’

55/100

- Palmer Sturman
palmer@musicreview.co.za
www.twitter.com/despitefulminat