Band : Apocalyptica
Album title : 7th Symphony
Label : Sony Music
Distributor : Sony BMG
Release date : 23/08/2010
Release : CD

Apocalyptica have always been this incredibly innovative band always to rely upon. Once again, with their seventh album, 7th Symphony (how original), they gave birth to one of the best albums of this year.
As usual, all songs but four are instrumental. Traditionally, those other four feature a wonderful guest vocalist: Gavin Rossdale (Bush) on End of Me, Brent Smith (Shinedown) on Not Strong Enough, Joseph Duplantier (Gojira) on Bring them to Light and Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf) on Broken Pieces. And next to these, we also have Dave Lombardo (Slayer) on drums on the song 2010.
From the very beginning on, you have to brace yourselves, for At the Gates of Manala is one heavy song to digest. It’s full of variation and wonderful melodies. It leads you straight into the underworld Apocalyptica have created for you.
Fortunately, the next song on the album (End of Me, featuring Gavin Rossdale) brings us peace and quiet for a while. The song is very catchy and a perfect metal song, though I get the idea the band is losing their usual sound here. You’ll have to listen very carefully to hear any remaining traces of Apocalyptica. An incredible song, that’s a fact, but it’s not that typical Apocalyptica sound we’ve got used to over the years. Maybe I’m not being much of a progressive thinker here? I don’t know, but it’s still a killer song!
Not Strong Enough, with Brent Smith, is very catchy as well. Here, Apocalyptica’s style is much better recognisable. Maybe I even recognise some Nickelback sounds? It’s a fantastically touching and powerful song, built upon some heavy bass lines.
Oh my God, I have been waiting a while to lend my ears to the fourth song on the album: 2010, featuring Dave Lombardo, the Slayer drumming machine. Of course, having such a quality drummer in a song, it’s quite obvious to let him take the lead. And that’s what Apocalyptica does, without fully losing what they’re all about. The cellos seem to be having a mindblowing fight with the drums, though they seem to be in perfect harmony! Such a wonderful instrumental song. Never in my life have I heard an instrumental song of this quality!
The remaining songs are all fantastically well put across. The listener can perfectly distinguish the typical Apocalyptica sound in combination with some refreshing guest vocals. Beautiful brings a certain amount of peace to your ears, followed once again by some bonehard action during Broken Pieces. Here, Lacey of Flyleaf contributes perfectly to the song. Her poppy voice is the perfect contribution to this classical metal band. It lets us taste something new as well, which is always a risk, but a great thing to do if it works out so well. Broken Pieces is an easy-going song full of variation and catchy melodies and lines.
With their 7th Symphony, Apocalyptica treat our ears to some delicious classical metal. One of the best albums of the year, without exaggerating even the tiniest little bit!

92/100

Tim Tronckoe.