Plays Metallica Vol. 2

Plays Metallica Vol. 2 is a sequel on which the present-day APOCALYPTICA once again re-sounded the spirit of their debut, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos. Through the cello’s heavy low end, the friction sound of bow against string and the breadth of classical ensemble, METALLICA’s songs gain a different shading while keeping the skeleton of the riffs. More than a quarter-century after their debut, it is a record that returned to their origin. On “Ride the Lightning,” “The Call of Ktulu” and “One,” they move between respect for the originals and their own language. Collaborations with star guests also drew attention — Metallica’s James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo on “One,” and Dave Lombardo on “Blackened.” Songs like “St. Anger,” “The Unforgiven II” and “Holier than Thou” breathe the band’s full playing too. It is a record on which metal’s aggression can be savored together with a chamber-music expression.