Apocalyptica and Nita Strauss are all set to embark on their highly anticipated 2025 North American tour. The tour, titled “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2”, will kick off on February 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C., and will make stops in major cities across North America before concluding on March 8 in Houston, Texas. Tickets for the tour will go on sale starting with a Citi presale on Tuesday, June 11 at 11 a.m. local time, followed by the general on-sale on Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. local time. Citi is the official card of the tour.
The tour dates include stops in cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Montreal, Toronto, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Apocalyptica recently celebrated the release of “Apocalyptica Plays Metallica, Vol. 2” at the Black Box of Helsinki Ice Hall in Helsinki, Finland. The album, which was released on June 7 via Throwdown Entertainment, is a sequel to their legendary debut record and continues the journey that began in 1996 when cellists from Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy paid tribute to METALLICA with a symphonic twist.
One of the standout tracks on the album is “One”, which features a soul-stirring, spoken word performance by METALLICA frontman James Hetfield. In an interview, Apocalyptica’s lead cellist Perttu Kivilaakso shared how Hetfield’s involvement in the track came about, expressing his excitement and gratitude for the collaboration.
The album also includes a guest appearance by METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo on the track “The Four Horsemen”. Kivilaakso shared the story behind Trujillo’s involvement in the album, highlighting the band’s long-standing relationship with METALLICA and the mutual respect between the two groups.
“Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2” marks the band’s final studio release with drummer Mikko Sirén, who departed the band after the album’s completion. Produced by Joe Barresi, the album showcases Apocalyptica’s unique blend of classical and heavy metal influences.
Reflecting on their 1996 debut “Plays Metallica By Four Cellos”, Apocalyptica members have expressed their excitement at revisiting METALLICA’s music and bringing a new perspective to the iconic tracks. The band’s live performances of the album have been met with enthusiasm from fans, creating a nostalgic and exhilarating experience for both the band and their audience.
With a history of collaboration and mutual admiration between Apocalyptica and METALLICA, the upcoming tour promises to be a memorable experience for fans of both bands. As they take the stage across North America, Apocalyptica and Nita Strauss are set to deliver a unique and electrifying performance that pays homage to the timeless music of METALLICA while showcasing their own musical prowess and creativity.