A lot of music fans are probably not aware of this, but many metal artists have said they were inspired in their musical journey by classical music. Composers from the classical era such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Mozart, and Antonio Salieri helped shape the music that gave artists like Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen, and Yngwie Malmsteen the idea of hard rock and heavy metal. There is one group of musicians from Helsinki, Finland, who dare to merge heavy metal and classical music into one. I am, of course, talking about Apocalyptica. Three cello players who had a common love for Metallica, Slayer, Sepultura, Faith No More, etc., and they have this gift for performing metal tunes neoclassical style. They recently released their latest album, Plays Metallica, Vol. 2, and decided to hit the road with guitar legend Nita Strauss to give metalheads some culture. One of their stops was the famed Orpheum Theatre in Downtown LA. Rabit and I had not been there since the G4 show in 2019, so we were excited to be heading back to hear neoclassical metal at its finest.

This is the second time this year we are seeing Nita Strauss and her group. The first time was at the Observatory during NAMM weekend, so this time around was a homecoming show for the group since each member is from Los Angeles. Getting things off to a fast-paced start with “Momentum,” Nita was firing on all cylinders. This is honestly the best I have seen her as of now, probably because the show was in her hometown. She fed off the energy of the LA crowd and viciously slayed the riffs and solos. Her rhythm guitar partner, Johnny D. Young, is a mighty force on the main riffs, and he does not play around. He gets down and dirty with his performance, making him a perfect Yang to Nita’s Ying. Katt Scarlett is electrifying on the keyboards as always, but the standout in the group was drummer Josh Villalta. Nita’s husband shows off his brute strength and precision on the kit, especially during his solo. He even had me going with some intense air drumming from my seat, like a piper musically hypnotizing a cobra. I enjoy watching Villalta for he is pure potency.

For the first half of their set, they performed their instrumental tunes like “Our Most Desperate Hour,” “Summer Storm,” the classic “Mariana Trench,” “Scorched,” and “Quest.” When they went into “Victorious,” they brought out their secret weapon in vocalist Kasey Karlsen from The Deadlands. Beautiful to watch, but ferocious on the microphone. She can be harmonious and venomous, always a fun combo. She stayed the rest of the night performing “Digital Bullets,” “Dead Inside,” and “The Wolf You Feed.” A beautiful performance by the striking and brilliant guitar goddess.

Following a brief intermission, the intro to Ennio Morricone’s “Ecstasy of Gold” played over the PA. Apocalyptica then appeared onstage and started their night off with “Ride the Lightning.” Bandleader and rhythm celloist Eicca Toppinen laid out some tasty James Hetfield rhythmic licks on his Lupot cello, while lead celloist Perttu Kivilaakso channeled his inner Kirk Hammett, tapping away at the powerful solos neoclassical style. Bass celloist Paavo Lötjönen was having a ball performing the booming end of the music that Burton, Newstead, and Trujillo helped make the classic Metallica sound. Touring with the group on the drums this time around was Mikko Kaakkuriniemi. Armed with a Viking beard and powerful wallops on the kit, he was a burst of relentless energy that would make Lars Ulrich smile.

The whole evening was dedicated to Metallica and their best hits. It is hard to describe the energy because you would have to be there to witness it. When a new song was played, the fans would sing the words with Apocalyptica’s encouragement. From “Enter Sandman” to “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Battery,” “The Call of Ktulu,” “St. Anger,” “The Four Horsemen,” “Blackened,” “Master of Puppets,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Seek and Destroy,” we were hanging on every note Apocalyptica played with their bows and strings. They ended the night with the always fan favorite, “One.”

The Orpheum Theatre was filled with metal excitement of classic and neoclassical proportions. Thanks to Apocalyptica, they gave us an evening of sophisticated cultural experience, while Nita Strauss provided good old-fashioned metal fun. For anybody who wants to experience metal in a unique form, then look no further than these guys. To Apocalyptica and Nita Strauss, I salute you. Horns up!!!