Scandinavian countries are known worldwide for their love of Heavy Metal music and Finnish rockers Apocalyptica have managed to combine the worlds of classical music and Metal for over 20 years.

Their alliance of these two genres, combined with the genius of the Metallica repertoire, is unmatched, and their success is unequivocally well deserved.

On Wednesday May 8 Las Vegas was graced by their presence at the beautiful Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the pairing between venue and musicians could not have been more perfect.

The band is currently touring in support of the 20 year anniversary of their remastered first album “Four Cellos Play Metallica,” and they have never sounded better.

Opening with “Enter Sandman,” the expectant crowd was greeted with a decidedly minimalist stage featuring four stools backed by four large white canvases and enhanced by strategic lighting changes.

The set list continued with Metallica staples “Master of Puppets,” “Harvester of Sorrow,” “The Unforgiven,” “Sad But True,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and a spine tingling rendition of “Welcome Home (Sanitarium),” before taking a well deserved intermission.

Upon returning to the plush velvet seats, fans found a slightly different stage set up, complete with an intently unique drum set in the center.

On first viewing a post apocalyptic feeling come to mind, until second thought, realizing it’s actually, completely, Apocalyptica.

The tone of the second half of the show was instantly heavier, not only due to the added percussion, but marked by more physical movement by our cellists, complete with synchronized head banging and audience led vocals.

The set list here produced classics “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” “Fight Fire With Fire,” “Until It Sleeps,” “Orion,” “Escape,” “Battery,” which in the past the guys felt they could never pull off on cello, but are now “older and fearless,” according to founder Eicca Toppinen, and finishing with crowd favorite “Seek and Destroy.”

Toppinen, along with fellow cellists Pavo Lotjonen, Perttu Kivalilaakso, newest member Lauri Kankkunen, and drummer Mikko Siren, exude nothing less than pure joy on stage, creating a clear labor of love that could be felt throughout the theater.

While stepping away shortly, the audience predictably begs for more, before the musicians resume their places on stage for an encore highlighting “Nothing Else Matters” and “One.”

Apocalyptica, after finally appeasing their fans, takes a bow and the crowd is left feeling simultaneously cultured and rocked.

This is a performance not to be missed by rock fans, Metallica fans, classical music fans, or none of the above. This is music, a performance, an experience, that will inspire one and all.