APOCALYPTICA Name New Album

Finnish cello-rockers APOCALYPTICA have set "Apocalyptica" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in February 2005.

"In my opinion, our next album comes across like a mixture of 'Reflections' [2003] and the group's current live sound," Eicca Toppinen told Finland's Sonera Plaza. "So I think that we are now about to reach the essence of APOCALYPTICA. So that's why we decided to make the new album a self-titled affair."

Last weekend, APOCALYPTICA travelled to Tallinn, Estonia to shoot the second video off the new CD, "Life Burns". The track features lead vocals and lyrics by THE RASMUS singer Lauri Ylönen, who also appears in the clip.

"The song was written about the thin line between life and death," Lauri explained. "It's not a political song in any way, but when I was writing it, I pictured burning towers and other horrible disasters in my head."

APOCALYPTICA's first single off the new album, "Bittersweet", is scheduled for release on November 29 via Universal.

"Bittersweet" is described as "a dark ballad" that features fellow-countrymen Ylönen and Ville Valo from H.I.M. on vocals.

APOCALYPTICA members Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso appeared alongside Lauri and Ville in the video for "Bittersweet", shot in the band's hometown Helsinki and directed by renowned finish director Antti Jokinen (NIGHTWISH, CELINE DION, SHANIA TWAIN). View the video at this location.

As previously reported, SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo will be guesting on "Apocalyptica" on a song called "Betrayal". The track, which is described by APOCALYPTICA's Perttu Kivilaakso as a "really fast, thrash metal-influenced song," will mark the second time Lombardo has played on an APOCALYPTICA CD, having previously performed on "Reflections".

Lombardo recorded the drum tracks for "Betrayal" at Finnvox studios in Helsinki when SLAYER's "Unholy Alliance" tour hit Finland in October.

APOCALYPTICA and Lombardo have known each other since 1998 when Lombardo played the "Mandatory Suicide"/"South of Heaven" medley with APOCALYPTICA at Holland's Headbanger's Heaven festival.

With regards to the band's touring plans, Toppinen told Sonera Plaza, "I guess we will play some dates in North America during March 2005. And we will probably play in South by Southwest in Austin, too. All in all, I hope that we will play about a hundred shows next year."

(Thanks: Timo Isoaho / Sonera Plaza)