event Apocalyptica
Also Playing: Dir En Grey
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Thu Sep 2
5:30 pm
Apocalyptica and Dir En Grey at First Avenue
It doesn’t get much more theatrical than a Finnish metal band with three cello players—except for when that same group of cellists play shirtless while headbanging and with a fog machine blasting in the background. Taking a classical approach to heavy metal, Apocalyptica employs tight arrangements over a more contemporary rock influence. The results are mixed: While the new 7th Symphony is beautifully assembled in parts, in others it’s just far too ostentatious to take seriously. Japan’s Dir En Grey moved away from its earlier, more flamboyant tendencies on its last full-length, 2008’s Uroboros. The record is a noticeably more straightforward take on prog-metal, with album artwork that nods to King Crimson’s Lizard—which certainly says something about where Dir En Grey is getting its inspiration these days.
First Avenue 701 1st Ave. N., Twin Cities, MN
It doesn’t get much more theatrical than a Finnish metal band with three cello players—except for when that same group of cellists play shirtless while headbanging and with a fog machine blasting in the background. Taking a classical approach to heavy metal, Apocalyptica employs tight arrangements over a more contemporary rock influence. The results are mixed: While the new 7th Symphony is beautifully assembled in parts, in others it’s just far too ostentatious to take seriously. Japan’s Dir En Grey moved away from its earlier, more flamboyant tendencies on its last full-length, 2008’s Uroboros. The record is a noticeably more straightforward take on prog-metal, with album artwork that nods to King Crimson’s Lizard—which certainly says something about where Dir En Grey is getting its inspiration these days.
Updated 08/25/2010
