Why write a song when you can re-play someone else’s?
Song covering has always been popular, and we're sure even cavemen were saying shit like, “This one is a cover of a Neanderthal song, called ‘clapping sticks’”. Some covers are terrible and should be put in the furnace of no return, however some bands nail it. So, here’s a list of 5 heavy covers of popular songs that we recommend!
Sentenced - The Trooper
Any list of covers wouldn’t be complete without a cover of Iron Maiden. This song is quite often mistaken to be by Finnish band Children of Bodom, however it is in fact performed by another Finnish band - Sentenced. The misinformation came during the days of Napster and Limewire, where the file being shared was label incorrectly. Ah, Limewire, where you’d risk giving your computer HIV just to get a song for free. Those were the days. We can still remember copying Korn and System of a Down onto cassette tape. Music pirate since 1998.
Our Last Night - Can't Feel My Face
In the last couple of years many bands have covered The Weeknd’s song Can’t Feel My Face, including The Amity Affliction and The Battle Royale. However if you were to gauge a cover’s worth by the bands ability to make it their own, you’d have to give the award to Our Last Night. The guitar riffs work perfectly, setting this version apart from the rest. Check out the break-down at 02:16.
Rise Of The North Star - Simon Says
Rise Of The North Star is a French band living in Japan, playing hardcore, singing in English and covering a hip-hop song. Sounds quirky, right? Simon Says was originally performed by Pharoahe Monch, and with a little tweak to the tempo and a drop-C tuning, this band has created a version of this song that will make you want to hammer-punch your grandmother and tell her to get the fuck up.
Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams
The song that propelled Marilyn Manson into the mainstream is a slower, grungy, acid-tripped version of the Eurythmics 1982 classic. It’s been used in films, TV shows, trailers, and has been a staple for metalheads for the last twenty-two years.
Helia - Alejandro
This band is an interesting one, hailing from San Marino, a small micro-state on the Italian peninsula, and even more interesting is their cover of Alejandro by Lady Gaga. They’ve brilliantly mixed metalcore, post-hardcore and electro to give us a fun and enjoyable version of an otherwise boring pop song. Their over of Get Lucky by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams is also pretty good listening.
