This is the fifth studio album from the Finnish cellists who started out playing Metallica covers, and mixed amongst the strings-led instrumentals are some star names - among them, Slipnot's Corey Taylor, Rammstein's Till Lindemann and Lacuna Coil's Cristina.

It's not a bad album, but the celeb tracks do sit proud of the whole. Taylor's track, typically, sounds like a movie theme in the making. There is something about the Germanic tongue that lends an air of menace to 'Helden' featuring Lindemann whilst Cristina Scabbia's 'SOS' is perhaps the most accessible.

Of the instrumentals. the title track is not dissimilar to GRTR! Diarist Anna Phoebe and elsewhere the band evoke Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

'Ion' could easily have fallen out of the Tomb Raider movie soundtrack circa 2001. 'Stroke' is perhaps the most appealing instrumental, with an attractive theme and harmonies whilst 'Last Hope' (with Slayer's Dave Lombardo) rattles along at breakneck speed with a grinding riff.

'I Don't Care' (with vocals by Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace) is - like the Taylor track - another widescreen wannabe.

Apocalyptica promote the album in the UK this autumn and if you like your metal mixed with the classics this band is well worth investigating.

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Review by David Randall