Eino Matti "Eicca" Toppinen (born 5 August 1975) is a Finnish cellist, songwriter, producer, arranger, and (as a hobby) drummer. In 1993 he formed the quartet Apocalyptica.

Early Life and Education

Toppinen was born in Vantaa, Finland, and grew up in a musically inclined family. He began learning the cello at the age of nine, studying at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, one of Finland’s most prestigious music institutions. His early education focused on classical music, but Toppinen’s interest in blending different genres eventually led him to explore the heavy metal scene.

Career

Apocalyptica

In 1993, Toppinen, along with three fellow cellists from the Sibelius Academy, formed Apocalyptica. Initially, the band gained recognition for their instrumental cello covers of Metallica songs. Over time, they expanded their repertoire to include original compositions and collaborations with prominent vocalists and musicians from the metal and rock genres. Toppinen has been instrumental in shaping the band’s distinctive sound, which merges the technical precision of classical music with the intensity of heavy metal.

Apocalyptica’s breakthrough album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (1996), established them as pioneers in the genre. The band has since released several successful albums, including Inquisition Symphony (1998), Cult (2000), and Worlds Collide (2007), solidifying their global reputation.

Other Projects

Beyond Apocalyptica, Toppinen has composed music for films, television, and other artistic projects. He has also worked as a producer and collaborated with various artists across different genres. He founded Cherry & The Vipers, with Kirsi Ylijoki and he's a member of the symphonic extreme metal project Bright & Black, with Kristjan Järvi and the Baltic Sea Philarmonic.

Personal Life

Toppinen was married to Finnish actress Kirsi Ylijoki, with whom he has two sons. The couple separated in 2020, and their divorce was finalized around the same time. Finnish tabloids later reported on controversies surrounding Toppinen’s personal life, including an alleged undisclosed affair with a Norwegian fan, Marianne Lindbeck, 17 years his junior, which was speculated to have contributed to the end of his marriage.

In addition to his musical career, Toppinen launched a jewelry line called Vaegar. However, reports ^[1] emerged in Finnish media (Seiska and Iltalehti) questioning the value and authenticity of the materials used, casting doubt on the integrity of the brand.

Discography (with Apocalyptica)

• Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (1996)
• Inquisition Symphony (1998)
• Cult (2000)
• Reflections (2003)
• Worlds Collide (2007)
• 7th Symphony (2010)
• Cell-0 (2020)
• Plays Metallica Vol. 2 (2024)

Discography (with Cherry & The Vipers)

• Cherry & The Vipers (2013)

Discography (with Bright & Black)

• The Album (2024)