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Gli Apocalyptica sono violoncellisti finlandesi di formazione classica (provenienti dall'Accademia Sibelius), noti per avere eseguito brani heavy-metal (principalmente dei Metallica, ma non solo) con strumenti classici. Un'idea bellissima, sviluppata ad accordature più basse dell'inferno, con le parti vocali affidate ad un violino, ed un'atmosfera tenebrosa come nessuna band con "strumentazione rock" è mai riuscita a ricreare. E, particolare degno di nota, senza far sentire l'esigenza di un batterista (che i nostri sfruttano solo dal vivo, oltre che in dischi come "Apocalyptica" e "Reflections"). I nostri non si "limitano" a coverizzare anche questa volta brani di Hetfield e Co. (relegati, non a caso, alla fine del disco: una devastante "Fight Fire With Fire" e "Until it Sleeps"), ma vogliono proporre altro, delle PROPRIE composizioni, confermando la loro attitudine di grandi musicisti, dotati di tecnica sublime, aggressività e capacità di proporre arrangiamenti perfetti. Tuttavia, il risultato non si discosta apparentemente dai precedenti CD, risultando a tratti un po' "pesante".
Potremmo pensare ad una naturale evoluzione della musica classica, a dimostrazione di come esista, effettivamente, una linea di continuità tra il repertorio metal ed la musica classica. Al tempo stesso, si tratta di un lavoro indubbiamente sperimentale, che mentre conferma quanto già consolidato in precedenza, dimostra la classe degli Apocalyptica. La novità introdotta dal proporre buona parte di "Master of Puppets" in versione oserei dire "Wagneriana" (all'epoca mi fece gridare al miracolo) sembra qui essere naturalmente proseguita: permane il piacere di fare ascoltare brani sostanzialmente classico-gotici, profondamente oscuri, sofferti, anche al "purista" musicale più accanito. E non dimentichiamo che 10 brani su 13 sono composizioni originali!
Probabilmente, l'unico modo per apprezzare "Fight Fire With Fire" senza amare il metal, e, con la scusa, gustare qualcosa di inedito. Nessuno, credo, non potrà fare a meno di ammirare l'evocativa "Romance", la struggente "Path", la pesantissima "Coma" (fortunatamente, non è la cover dei Guns'n roses!) senza dimenticare "Hope", lo speed-metal (!) di "Hyperventilation", i sopracitati classici dei Metallica, e la spettacolare "Hall of the Mountain King", che mette in bella mostra la scuola frequentata dai nostri. Manca la batteria magistrale di Dave Lombardo (presente nei successivi "Apocalyptica" e "Reflections") e ciò un po' dispiace: ma ciò nulla toglie ad un'espressione artistica più che degna di nota, che richiede diversi ascolti per essere compresa, senza cèdere alla tentazione di cambiare CD dopo 10 minuti. Chi (come me) apprezza la musica classica senza essere un cultore del genere non potrà che amare le sonorità di "Cult", che però potrebbero spingere, in alcuni brani, a passare direttamente al pezzo successivo: il lavoro in certi momenti suona un po' monocorde, ma è questione di abitudine (e di apertura mentale). Non mi stancherò mai di ripetere che musicisti quali Schulze facevano composizioni di 20 minuti su pochissime note, risultando noiosi e stantii solo all'ascoltatore più superficiale.
Dunque un lavoro da 5 stelle, comunque meritevole di attenzione e da valutare con cura.
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
08 Hope (03:22)
Hope is beauty
Personified
At her feet, the world
Hypnotized
A million flashes
A million smiles
And on the catwalk
She flaunts her style a long mile
An angry sign of darkness
Our hope lies lost and torn
All flame like love is fleeting
When there's no hope anymore
Pain and glory
Hand in hand
A sacrifice
The highest price
Like the poison in her heart
Like a whisper she was gone
Like when angels fall
And in this side of darkness
Our hope lies on the floor
All love like flame is fleeting
When there's no hope anymore
Like the poison in her heart
Like a whisper, she was gone
Like an angel... angels fall
Lyrics transcribed by Diego Vanegas
11 Hall of the Mountain King (03:25)
Far away
In a land caught between
Time and space
Where the books of life lay
We fear
This castle of stone
The mountain king roams
All alone in here
But he's not the only one
Lost inside
Forever hidden from the sun
Madness reigns
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah
His deep
Dark eyes
Keep watch on his kingdom
And the mysteries that sleeps safe inside
His hall
His towers of stone
Shall not be overthrown
For eternity
It is guarded by the king
Insanity and the power that it brings
Madness reigns
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come with me
Stay close by my side
As the darkness of night closes in
Don't fear
In the thunder, it roars
When the Mountain King calls all his children home
To where I hid him we must run
Refuge(?) here but I was forever on the run
Madness reigns
(my friends)
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
12 Until It Sleeps (03:12)
[Instrumental, but here are the lyrics in any case]
Where do I take this pain of mine
I run but it stays right by my side
So tear me open, pour me out
There's things inside that scream and shout
And the pain still hates me
So hold me until it sleeps
Just like a curse, just like the stray
You feed it once and now it stays
Now it stays
So tear me open, but beware
There's things inside without a care
And the dirt still stains me
So wash me until I'm clean
It grips you so hold me
It stains you so hold me
It hates you so hold me
It holds you so hold me
Until it sleeps...
So tell me why you've chosen me
Don't want your grip
Don't want your greed
Don't want it
I'll tear me open, make you gone
No more can you hurt anyone
And the fear still shapes me
So hold me until it sleeps
It grips you so hold me
It stains you so hold me
It hates you so hold me
It holds you, holds you, holds you
Until it sleeps...
I don't want it.....NO
So tear me open, but beware
There's things inside without a care
And the dirt still stains me
So wash me til I'm clean
I'll tear me open, make you gone
No longer will you hurt anyone
And the hate still shakes me
So hold me until it sleeps
Until it sleeps
Until it sleeps
Until it sleeps
13 Fight Fire With Fire (03:22)
Do unto others as they have done unto you
But what in the hell is this world coming to?
Blow the universe into nothingness
Nuclear warfare shall lay us to rest
[chorus:]
Fight fire with fire
Ending is near
Fight fire with fire
Bursting with fear
We shall die
Time is like a fuse, short and burning fast
Armageddon is here, like said in the past
[chorus]
Soon to fill our lungs the hot winds of death
The gods are laughing, so take your last breath
[chorus]
14 Enter Sandman (03:27)
Say your prayers little one
Don't forget, my son
To include everyone
I Tuck you in, warm within
Keep you free from sin
Till the sandman he comes
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never never land
Something's wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of snow white
Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon's fire
And of things that will bite
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never never land
Now I lay me down to sleep
- Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray the lord my soul to keep
- Pray the lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
- If I die before I wake
Pray the lord my soul to take
- Pray the lord my soul to take
Hush little baby, don't say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It's just the beasts under your bed,
In your closet, in your head
Exit light
Enter night
Grain of sand
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to never never land
15 Master of Puppets (07:14)
End of passion play, crumbling away
I'm your source of self-destruction
Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear
Leading on your deaths construction
Taste me you will see
More is all you need
dedicated to
How I'm killing you
Come crawling faster
Obey your master
Your life burns faster
Obey your master
Master
Master of puppets I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Just call my name, cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Needlework the way, never you betray
Life of death becoming clearer
Pain monopoly, ritual misery
Chop your breakfast on a mirror
Taste me you will see
More is all you need
dedicated to
How I'm killing you
Come crawling faster
Obey your master
Your life burns faster
Obey your master
Master
Master of puppets I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Just call my name, cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
(interlude)
Master, master, where's the dreams that I've been after?
Master, master, you promised only lies
Laughter, laughter, all I hear and see is laughter
Laughter, laughter, laughing at my cries (thanks to me?)
(solo)
Hell is worth all that, natural habitat
Just a rhyme without a reason
Neverending maze, drift on numbered days
Now your life is out of season
I will occupy, I will help you die
I will run though you, now I rule you too
Come crawling faster
Obey your master
Your life burns faster
Obey your master
Master
Master of puppets I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name, cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
Just call my name, cause I'll hear you scream
Master
Master
[fade out with evil laughter].
(transcribed by blueflu)
16 Sad but True (02:49)
Hey, I’m your life
I’m the one who takes you there
Hey, I’m your life
I’m the one who cares
They, They betray
I’m your only true friend now
They, They’ll betray
I’m forever there
I’m your dream, make you real
I’m your eyes when you must steal
I’m your pain when you can’t feel
Sad but true
I’m your dream, mind astray
I’m your eyes while you’re away
I’m your pain while you repay
You know it’s sad but true
Sad but true
You, You’re my mask
You’re my cover, my shelter
You, You’re my mask
You’re the one who’s blamed
Do, Do my work
Do my dirty work, scapegoat
Do, Do my deeds
For you’re the one who’s shamed
I’m your dream, make you real
I’m your eyes when you must steal
I’m your pain when you can’t feel
Sad but true
I’m your dream, mind astray
I’m your eyes while you’re away
I’m your pain while you repay
You know it’s sad but true
Sad but true
I’m your dream
I’m your eyes
I’m your pain
I’m your dream
I’m your eyes
I’m your pain
You know it’s sad but true
Hate, I’m your hate
I’m your hate when you want love
Pay, Pay the price
Pay, for nothing’s fair
Hey, I’m your life
I’m the one who took you there
Hey, I’m your life
And I no longer care
I’m your dream, make you real
I’m your eyes when you must steal
I’m your pain when you can’t feel
Sad but true
I’m your truth, telling lies
I’m your reasoned alibis
I’m inside open your eyes
I’m you
Sad but true
18 Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (04:23)
Welcome to where time stands still
no one leaves and no one will
Moon is full, never seems to change
just labeled mentally deranged
Dream the same thing every night
I see our freedom in my sight
No locked doors, No windows barred
No things to make my brain seem scarred
Sleep my friend and you will see
that dream is my reality
They keep me locked up in this cage
can't they see it's why my brain says Rage
Sanitarium, leave me be
Sanitarium, just leave me alone
Build my fear of what's out there
and cannot breathe the open air
Whisper things into my brain
assuring me that I'm insane
They think our heads are in their hands
but violent use brings violent plans
Keep him tied, it makes him well
he's getting better, can't you tell?
No more can they keep us in
Listen, damn it, we will win
They see it right, they see it well
but they think this saves us from our hell
Sanitarium, leave me be
Sanitarium, just leave me alone
Sanitarium, just leave me alone
Fear of living on
natives getting restless now
Mutiny in the air
got some death to do
Mirror stares back hard
Kill, it's such a friendly word
seems the only way
for reaching out again.
19 Creeping Death (05:04)
Slaves
Hebrews born to serve, to the pharaoh
Heed
To his every word, live in fear
Faith
Of the unknown one, the deliverer
Wait
Something must be done, four hundred years
So let it be written
So let it be done
I'm sent here by the chosen one
So let it be written
So let it be done
To kill the first born pharaoh's son
I'm creeping death
Now
Let my people go, land of Goshen
Go
I will be with thee, bush of fire
Blood
Running red and strong down the Nile
Plague
Darkness three days long, hail to fire
So let it be written
So let it be done
I'm sent here by the chosen one
So let it be written
So let it be done
To kill the first born pharaoh's son
I'm creeping death
Die by my hand
I creep across the land
Killing first-born man
Die by my hand
I creep across the land
Killing first-born man
I
Rule the midnight air, the destroyer
Born
I shall soon be there, deadly mass
I
Creep the steps and floor, final darkness
Blood
Lambs blood painted door, I shall pass
So let it be written
So let it be done
I'm sent here by the chosen one
So let it be written
So let it be done
To kill the first born pharaoh's son
I'm creeping death
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