APOCALYPTICA may have made a name for themselves as an instrumental band but the truth of the matter is that many if not all of their songs that also feature vocals are just as engaging and mesmerizing as the ones that focus solely on cello and drums. The Finns invited many top-tier vocalists to sing on their songs – from Nina Hagen, Ville Valo, Lauri Ylönen, Cristina Scabbia, or Corey Taylor earlier in their career, to the likes of Joakim Brodén, Lzzy Hale, Simone Simons, Eliza Ryd in recent years – and each song suited the vocalist to a tee. However, I don’t think anyone would have imagined APOCALYPTICA having a recurring vocalist, yet that happened last decade when Franky Perez sang on their eighth full-length “Shadowmaker,” which was released on April 17th, 2015, via Harmageddon Records, and also toured with them for a few years.
So, how did APOCALYPTICA’s surprising collaboration with Franky Perez shape the sound and feel of “Shadowmaker”? To give a bit of backstory, when the band decided to hire just one vocalist for this album and the subsequent tour they mostly wanted to avoid the hassle of dealing with multiple labels to get multiple guest vocalists for the songs they composed vocal melodies for. Getting Franky Perez proved to be a brilliant idea as in doing so, they got much more than they bargained for because he checks various boxes. First off, for this album to be the classic that it is today, APOCALYPTICA needed more than just a random voice on top of their cellos and Mikko Sirén’s drums, the Finns needed to find someone who could match their delivery to the demands of the music. Secondly, they needed someone who could easily balance between a more rock-ish attitude and a more soulful approach; thirdly, they needed someone who would bring their own touch and personality to the album.
I may be outdated in my thinking, but I am of the firm belief that an excellent vocalist elevates the material they sing and this is where the band struck gold with Franky Perez as his delivery – besides giving the album the usual cohesive feel and smooth flow that you get when you have the same voice on most songs – gives “Shadowmaker” the two extremes it needed: edge and soul. From the heavier and more aggressive tracks like the hooky “Cold Blood” or the metalcore-ish “House of Chains” to the more emotional and moody songs such as “Sea Song (You Waded Out)” or “Hole in My Soul,” Franky’s vocals are dynamic and flexible enough to easily to cover this spectrum. He really proved himself to be a versatile singer by showcasing many shades of his warm voice as well as many different singing styles, and this played extremely well with what APOCALYPTICA needed from him. The fact that he was part of the pre-production of this record definitely shows in how tight and refined the compositions are and in how solid the album is, overall.
A longer and more dynamic composition like the epic title track, “Shadowmaker,” is especially poignant in how his vocals merge seamlessly with the band’s instrumental side as the longer cello sections in this track and his raspy vocals don’t feel disjointed at all as both project the same sense of anger and hostility. Conversely, the melancholy feelings that permeate through both the wistful closing track, “Dead Man’s Eyes” and the romantic “Slow Burn” are only enhanced by his soft, warm vocals that gradually build in intensity alongside the cellos. There’s a fine line the band threads as the vocals and the orchestral instrumentation don’t overpower each other but rather they work perfectly in sync to enhance each other. Elsewhere on this album, such instrumental tracks as the short but intense intro “I-III-V Seeds of Chaos,” the catchy and hypnotizing “Riot Light,” or the lengthy and gentle “Till Death Us Do Part” keep the listeners on their toes with APOCALYPTICA‘s signature cello metal soundscape that proves to be quite expansive in its scope.
All-in-all, the main merit of “Shadowmaker” is that it showed you can make a cohesive, solid album with plenty of melody, vocal dynamics, and emotion even if you play non-traditional metal instruments… if you find the perfect vocalist. Now the question is whether APOCALYPTICA will ever make this type of standalone album again or will stick to just playing instrumental music, and occasionally inviting someone to perform with them. I am happy with either choice as the Finns have proved to be reliable on both accounts with “Shadowmaker” and “Cell-0” being among my top favorite albums in their rich discography.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
1. I-III-IV Seed of Chaos (Instrumental)
2. Cold Blood
3. Shadowmaker
4. Slow Burn
5. Hole In My Soul
6. House of Chains
7. Riot Lights (Instrumental)
8. Sea Song (You Waded Out)
9. Till Death Do Us Part (Instrumental)
10. Dead Man’s Eyes
Lineup
- Perttu Kivilaakso – lead cello
- Eicca Toppinen – rhythm cello
- Paavo Lötjönen – bass cello
- Mikko Sirén – drums
- Franky Perez – vocals
Label
Harmageddon Records
