Apocalyptica
Cult
(Spitfire)

The heavy metal cellists are back with another great album. For the first time, Cult is made of all but 3 original tracks. The band have taken what they learned from covering metal classics and added their own touch. They cover Greig's "Hall of the Mountain King," Metallica's "Until it Sleeps" and "Fight Fire with Fire'." This nod to their roots gives someone new to the band a quick band history lesson. It is unfortunate they chose to end the disc with a throwaway sung piece featuring Sandra Nasic of Guano Apes. One can only hope that is not a new direction for the band. The rest of the CD is a stunning collection of metal tinged classical played only on the cello. The music is dark, dense, and menacing, everything you have come to expect from this lot. I cannot recommend this album enough; the perfect album with which to brood over your troubles. Let us hope that Max's recent departure will not affect the band too badly. A must have for any fan of goth, symphonic power metal or, of course, Wagner & Greig.

Marty Dodge: 10