Konzert: Apocalyptica Live 2026
In the lore of heavy metal only a handful of artists can claim to have changed history, and even fewer can say they’ve done so twice. Enter Apocalyptica and one of metal’s greatest, most unlikely success stories. By any account it’s the stuff of legend, and it’s about to come full circle. Cast your mind back thirty years. The giants of the 70s and 80s still ruled the scene, but a generation of up-and-coming artists were pushing hard on the boundaries of heavy music, and then Apocalyptica came along and smashed them down with cello case.
7.–29.8.2026
Musik, Vorstellung
Tour dates in Germany:
7.8. Parkbühne Geyserhaus – Outdoor, Leipzig
8.8. Schloss Salder – Schlosshof, Salzgitter
28.8. Schlossplatz, Schloss Coburg, Coburg
29.8. Loreley Freilichtbühne – Outdoor, Sankt Goarshausen
Formed in 1993 at the world-renowned Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, Apocalyptica began life as a loving, lo-fi nod to Metallica from four classically-trained musicians with no greater ambition than to explore their favourite band’s music with their chosen instrument. As founding band leader Eicca Toppinnen explains, the project would take on a life of its own when they finally released Plays Metallica By Four Cellos in 1996. More than a debut, it was a monster in waiting.
Unbeknownst to Apocalyptica, they’d just boarded a rocket ship that would propel them through eight rapturously received records, a staggering six million records sold, and a relentless touring schedule that would see them bringing their uniquely symphonic concept of heaviness to every time zone and countless festival stages around the world.
More importantly, the band would evolve and grow beyond the bounds of their beginning as a loving tribute to Metallica, establishing themselves as gifted songwriters in their own right. A host of collaborations would follow with artists as far-ranging as Ville Valo of HIM, Bullet For My Valentine, Rammstein’s Till Lindemann, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, and Slayer and Mr. Bungle drum hero Dave Lombardo among many others.
But for all of Apocalyptica’s countless achievements and recognition, there is perhaps one that stands above all others. They would come to know and befriend Metallica themselves, and it is that relationship which would see them not just performing at Metallica’s 30th anniversary shows in 2011 among other highlights, but cementing a friendship behind the scenes that would bespeak a powerful, mutual respect between the musicians. And it was off the back of another anniversary – when Apocalyptica’s debut Plays Metallica by Four Cellos turned 25 – that the idea came about. The response to that marathon tour, totalling over 200 shows, was hard to ignore.