# Apocalyptica, and other unconventional metal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805 "2002-05-25T16:46:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/1 "2002-05-25T16:46:05Z")
I’ve had this band’s first disc, a collection of Metallica covers, for some time. Their deal is, they do instrumental pieces, using four cellos. I just recently picked up their other two discs, “Inquisition Symphony” and “Cult,” and I must say, godDAMN I like it. Cult in particular I’ve been listening to over and over again–I hope in the future they do more tracks with the guest vocalist who lends her voice to the first track. I’ve felt for quite awhile that metal in general needs to make more use of string instruments; and in general that it would be a genre that would experiment with sound more. My Dying Bride is a group that’s done some uneven experimental things with blending strings and pipes into the usual “couple of guitars, bass, and drums” sound, and I wish they’d do more of it. In its early albums, Paradise Lost had a couple tracks (the best ones, IMO) with too-brief appearances by soft and beautiful (quasi-Enyaish) vocals, which made for a remarkably appealing contrast with the underlying harshness of the music. I’m wondering if there are other groups out there who are trying unconventional directions with metal these days, recommendations and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/2 "2002-05-25T23:58:00Z")
I love Apocalyptica. But then, I played the cello in high school. If I’d found them sooner, I might still play it. 😃 I hadn’t heard of “Cult.” I’ll have to go find it. ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/3 "2002-05-26T03:20:24Z")
Not sure how many of these you have heard of - I’ll throw out a few bands I like that aren’t the standard metal style: **Opeth** - atmosphereic death metal **Nightwish** - power metal with a female opera singer who rocks! I’m guessing you are familiar with these but if not check out **Theatre of Tragedy** _Velvet Darkness They Fear_ or anything by **Lacuna Coil**. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/4 "2002-05-26T06:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Opengrave \* > \*\*Not sure how many of these you have heard of - I’ll throw out a few bands I like that aren’t the standard metal style: > > **Opeth** - atmosphereic death metal > **Nightwish** - power metal with a female opera singer who rocks! > > I’m guessing you are familiar with these but if not check out **Theatre of Tragedy** _Velvet Darkness They Fear_ or anything by **Lacuna Coil**. \*\* Some very good recommendations there **Opengrave**. I suggest _Blackwater Park_ from **Opeth** , although I get a sense that most **Opeth** purists think the album is too polished. If you’re really up for some experimental music, along the lines of **Opeth** come [**Orphaned Land**](http://www.orphanedlandisrael.cjb.net/). Mp3 samples on the “misc” page. Hailing from Isreal, and singing (mostly) in English, this band uses traditional rock instruments as well as traditional middle-eastern instruments. An interesting combo… While I’m at it, [**Green Carnation**](http://www.green-carnation.de/) are another band worth checking out. THeir second and latest album _Light of Day, Day of Darkness_, consists of _one_ 60-minute song. You will hear a variety of instruments and vocals on this album. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/5 "2002-05-26T06:36:22Z")
Whoops, just a warning - that **Orphaned Land** link is going to feed you a pop-up or two…sorry. ---
**Author:** ![tetsusaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@tetsusaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tetsusaru)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/6 "2002-05-26T13:44:01Z")
“It`s called Lick My Love-Pump” ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/7 "2002-05-26T14:05:29Z")
Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll definitely be checking them out. (OT, I fear no pop-ups, at least when I’m on my home pc–the latest release candidate build of Mozilla 1.0 is pretty durn nice.) ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/8 "2002-05-26T16:16:42Z")
I’ll third the **Opeth** recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/9 "2002-05-26T16:39:08Z")
I’d highly recommend the following for experimental metal and post-metal: Ulver: “Themes From William Blake’s ‘Marriage Of Heaven And Hell’” Solefald: “Neonism” Dodheimsgard: “666 International” The 3rd & The Mortal: “In This Room” Arcturus: “The Sham Mirrors” Carnival In Coal: “French Cancan” Chaostar: “Chaostar” Virgin Black: “Sombre Romantic” Devil Doll: “The Sacrilege Of Fatal Arms” Fleurety: “Department Of Apocalyptic Affairs” In The Woods…: “Strange In Stereo” That should keep you busy for a little while 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tetsusaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@tetsusaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tetsusaru)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/10 "2002-05-27T13:54:32Z")
Intravenous de Milo, by Spinal Tap ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/11 "2002-05-27T16:42:04Z")
Theres a band called **Cadaver** that uses a stand up double bass (I think its like a big assed cello). They actually manage to pull it off. Look for the album with… A cello rammed through someones eyesocket on the cover. 😃 (seriously thats the cover art) ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apocalyptica-and-other-unconventional-metal/110805/12 "2002-05-28T18:02:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sacrilegium \* > **Ulver: "Themes From William Blake’s ‘Marriage Of Heaven And Hell’"** I almost mentioned **Ulver** myself!