CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY: Apocalyptica Plays Metallica VOL 2 at Denver Colorado's Paramount Theatre as shredder Nita Strauss opens - SEE IT HERE

NITA STRAUSS

I recently had the great pleasure of covering Apocalyptica’s 2025 tour here In Denver, CO. A band I have wanted to see for some time. The night started out with Nita Strauss putting on a display of her amazing guitar skills. I have had the pleasure of covering her 3 times before, with one of those times when she was with Alice Cooper. She started her set with “Momentum” from the 2023 album, The Call of the Void and with a combination of her shredding skills and stage presence, she electrified the atmosphere in the Paramount Theatre. Backed with a solid hard hitting band, the onslaught continued.

There was no end to the energy level which rose with each song, “Summer Storm” and “Scorched” had everyone on their feet raising the horns and head banging. During the song, “The Quest”, drummer Josh Villalta put on a display of his skills  doing a drum solo to a cheering crowd. With the next song, “Victorious”, special guest Kasey Karlsen of Deadlands took to the stage and the addition of her vocals fit perfectly into the songs and was greeted with a roar from the crowd. With the haunting keys from Katt Scarlett and Johnny D Young’s crashing riffs added to the intensity of the music. The band closed out their night with, “The Wolf You Feed” and her fans were on their feet letting out a deafening roar in appreciation of an amazing show. 

Nita Strauss with her amazing, powerful skills and stage presence, continues to wow her fans old and new and she is and will continue to be a powerful force in the world of great guitarists!  

Members:
Nita Strauss - Guitars
Josh Villalta – drums
Johnny D Young – rhythm guitar 
Katt Scarlett – keyboards
Kasey Karlsen – vocals (2023–present)

Setlist:
Momentum
Our Most Desperate Hour
Summer Storm
Mariana Trench
Scorched
The Quest / Drum Solo
Victorious 
Digital Bullets 
Dead Inside 
The Wolf You Feed​

APOCALYPTICA

When you sit down and talk about metal music, the “cello” is not the first instrument you might think of. But in 1993, four classically trained cellists from Finland adopted what is now called a “neoclassical metal style”, a subgenre of metal. This came about because they decided to be a Metallica cover band at the time. They are known as Apocalptica! Over the years they developed their own style and sound. Doing a mix of originals and covers of other artists as well. Fast forward to 2025 and they announced their Apocalyptica Plays Metallica VOL 2 Tour!
Yes, a night of Metallica covers!

I had the great pleasure of not only seeing them for the first time but being able to cover the show as well. The stage was set and as the lights came down a tape of, “The Ecstasy of Gold” started and after a few minutes, Apocalyptica took the stage. Now you might think they would be sitting down for the show, oh no, they bounced on stage with their cellos in hand and each one had a long metal stem at the bottom of each cello for support and they broke into, “Ride the Lightning” a roar from their fans filled the Paramount Theatre. This was the beginning of the energy level that did not slow down.   

What I found, ok, fascinating was the sound of the cello as compared to a guitar, it was great to listen to live. Add to that was drummer, Mikko Kaakkuriniemi  provided a pounding heartbeat that would set you back. Can you shred a cello, because it sure sounded like that to me. From there it was “Enter Sandman” and “Creeping Death”. The guys moved about the stage with their cellos with ease and to watch them play and interact with each and their fans was something to witness. 

I found myself at times putting my camera down, not for long, but I was just watching the magic they were creating on stage. When they started with my all time favorite Metallica song, “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, I could feel the goosebumps rise up on my arms. Throughout their set, it was amazing to listen to the riffs and the crazy energy coming from the stage but also they had the sound of an orchestra. That's the best way I can describe it. The crowd was amazing with their interactions with the band and the band came right back at them! All the while, the lights danced across the stage through a light fog now and then with the music.

Moving toward the last few songs, Apocalyptica blew everyone away with, “Nothing Else Matters”. You could see the crowd losing themselves in the song and listening to how Apocalyptica in their style paid a huge compliment to Metallica. Finishing their set with “One” left the crowd wanting more. I can’t wait to see them again, it was an incredible show to witness. 

Apocalyptica members:
Eicca Toppinen – bandleader, lead cello (original and occasional role), rhythm cello (current role), programming (1993–present)
Paavo Lötjönen – rhythm/bass cello (1993–present), lead cello on "Master of Puppets" (1996–2019)
Perttu Kivilaakso – lead cello (current role), programming (1995, 1999–present), rhythm cello (1995, 1999–2002)
Touring members:
Tipe Johnson (Leningrad Cowboys) – vocals (2009–2012, 2019)
Franky Perez – vocals (2014–2016, 2022–2023)
Lauri Kankkunen – lead/rhythm cello (2019)
Mikko Kaakkuriniemi – drums (2024–present)

Setlist:
The Ecstasy of Gold @Tape @Cover
Ride the Lightning @Cover
Enter Sandman @Cover
Creeping Death @Cover
For Whom the Bell Tolls @Cover
Battery @Cover
The Call of Ktulu @Cover
St. Anger @Cover
The Four Horsemen @Cover
Blackened @Cover
Master of Puppets @Cover
Nothing Else Matters @Cover
Seek & Destroy @Cover
One @Cover