Plays Metallica by Four Cellos

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Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 13, 1996
GenreClassical, chamber music, cello rock, symphonic metal
Length44:31
LabelMercury/PolyGram
Apocalyptica chronology
Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
(1996)
Inquisition Symphony
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Plays Metallica by Four Cellos is the debut album by Finnish metal band Apocalyptica, released in 1996. It features eight instrumental Metallica covers arranged and played on cellos.

The band was invited to record this album by a label employee after a 1995 show in which they performed some of the songs. The members were initially unsure and thought nobody would listen to such a record, but the employee insisted and they recorded it.[2] On 22 July 2016, a remastered version of the album was released with new bonus tracks.[3] In 2017 to 2019, the band returned as a cello quartet for the first time since 2009 to perform all the Metallica tracks they have covered to celebrate their 20th anniversary of the debut album. In late 2018, a live recording was released in CD, vinyl, and DVD with live footage entitled Plays Metallica by Four Cellos - A Live Performance.

Track listing[edit]

Original 1996 Release
No.TitleWriter(s)Original Metallica albumLength
1."Enter Sandman"Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, James Hetfieldfrom Metallica3:41
2."Master of Puppets"Cliff Burton, Hammett, Ulrich, Hetfieldfrom Master of Puppets7:17
3."Harvester of Sorrow"Ulrich, Hetfieldfrom ...And Justice for All6:15
4."The Unforgiven"Hammett, Ulrich, Hetfieldfrom Metallica5:23
5."Sad but True"Ulrich, Hetfieldfrom Metallica4:48
6."Creeping Death"Burton, Hammett, Ulrich, Hetfieldfrom Ride the Lightning5:08
7."Wherever I May Roam"Ulrich, Hetfieldfrom Metallica6:09
8."Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"Hammett, Ulrich, Hetfieldfrom Master of Puppets5:50

All tracks are written by Ulrich, Hetfield

2016 Remastered bonus tracks
No.TitleOriginal Metallica albumLength
9."Battery"from Master of Puppets4:32
10."Nothing Else Matters" (2016 Version)from Metallica4:49
11."Seek and Destroy"from Kill 'Em All4:24

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for Plays Metallica by Four Cellos
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[4] Platinum 23,303[4]
Germany (BVMI)[5] Gold 250,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[6] Gold 50,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r260294
  2. ^ Schizodeluxe, Andrew (14 January 2015). "Apocalyptica talks to The Rockpit". The Rockpit. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Plays Metallica by Four Cellos". Amazon. 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Apocalyptica" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Apocalyptica; 'Apocalyptica Plays Metallica')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2000 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 January 2021.