Eicca: No, because we are very strict about that.

When you compose new music, are you mindful of whether it's an Apocalyptica song, or do you just do whatever you want to do, and see what people think?

Eicca: I think there are certain limits to what we can put into Apocalyptica, and I write a lot of music that doesn't fit for the band's style. Lately I'm writing lot with piano, and with piano it's easy to get too far away from rock and roll, although sometimes I will write an atmospheric song like Ruska on the new album that has piano in it.

I write music apart from Apocalyptica, because we want to play music that we all enjoy, and because we want each new album to evolve out of the band's history. Paavo was also writing some music recently that was very good, but it was too arty, too avant garde so we couldn't put it on the album.

Do you compose songs in the same way as you would a classical piece, or does the band jam together to create songs in the way a traditional rock band would?

Eicca: It's more like the classical way of writing. For example, on the Cult album, all the songs were very much riff oriented. So what came first was the riff, the basic lines, and after that came the melodies. Nowadays I'm focusing on trying to write more simple, because it's more difficult.

When a song is built on small pieces, it must be really good or it doesn't work. Right now I write on piano, because I get the chords and the melody, and then after that do the arrangement for the band.

Composing is always lonely work, and the arrangements are always very much ready before I present it to the others, and then maybe we'll change this or that for the final arrangement.

Has Apocalyptica ever considered doing a piece of music by Sibelius?

Eicca: It's not possible, because of the people who own the rights for Sibelius. They are very strict. They are still owned, because it's less than 75 years since the death of Sibelius. We are not allowed to touch that stuff. I know some of the people who own the rights, and they are too much old people. (laughs) They would never let us do any version of that.

Does anyone in the band play violin as well?

Eicca: No, no one.

Can you compare the two, cello and violin? Was there ever any question in your mind which intrument you would play?

Eicca: No, it was always cello. If you want to be a great soloist, it's more clever to play violin. In a way it's harder, because so much of what's written for violin is really difficult, and the playing position is the most uneconomical you can play in.

I learned a lot of technique from watching great violin players, but I'm very happy playing cello. Think what it would be like having a rock band for four violins! (laughs) We're happy being at the low end.

How many other bands have asked you to collaborate with them?

Eicca: Lots. First a lot of Finnish bands. Then with Gavin Rossdale and Bush, and we've done remixes with Sepultura and Rammstein. I've been playing on H.I.M. albums, and I played cello with a very cool new band called Bullet For My Valentine.

Will you share some of your favorite pieces of classical music and some favorite rock songs?

Eicca: As for rock, it's always cool to listen to Metallica. I love Bjork, especially the later work. Also Massive Attack. And Rammstein is a favorite. It's difficult to name individual songs.

From all of classical music, my favorite is the Eleventh Symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich. Almost all of my favorite songs are written by him, his symphonies and concertos, so it's difficult to name anything else.

Maybe Bach, and again it's impossible to name an individual piece, because still Bach is the greatest, he made so much great music. Bach, Shostakovich and let me see... maybe Sibelius.

Sibelius maybe only because I'm Finnish, but there is something very much in common with his atmosphere as a Finn. He took so much inspiration from nature, the nature of Finland. You can hear Finnish nature in his music, so it's very close to me as well.