Here are the five best black metal covers of classic rock songs!
Due to an abundance of worthy options, however, we have no other choice but to first name some honorable mentions and related picks. Granted, argumentative souls should proceed with caution: Even Nirvana can be viewed as classic rock these days.
Readers should check out Dimmu Borgir’s compilation Inspiratio Profanus (2023), featuring songs composed by the likes of Deep Purple. In addition, we recommend Nargaroth’s “Orgasmatron” (Motörhead), Catamenia’s “Born to Be My Baby” (Bon Jovi), Psychonaut 4’s “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (The Stooges), 1349’s “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” with Tom G. Warrior (Pink Floyd) and Apati’s heartfelt “Alkohol” (Lars Damian).
Wicked covers have been unleashed by many of the earliest trailblazers who built the genre but would evolve: Kat, Venom, Celtic Frost, etc. The most memorable selection from this category is probably Sodom’s thrashy reinterpretation of “A Hazy Shade of Winter” (Simon & Garfunkel).
READ MORE: 6 Best Black Metal Covers of Ozzy Osbourne Songs
The second-wave-of-black-metal heroes Manes brilliantly reimagined “Cinder Alley” (16 Horsepower) after becoming a genre-defying act. Now, we implore them to cover Black Sabbath with their outstanding singer Asgeir “Azzy” Hatlen, whose voice resembles Ozzy Osbourne’s, and also beseech the music community to organize a tribute to Manes, who have been honored by Xasthur, Whoredom Rife, and other greats.
Other pioneers that have released interesting rock covers include in the Woods…, Carpathian Forest, Taake, Abbath, Cradle of Filth, Gehennah, Graveworm, Forgotten Tomb, Darkthrone, even Mayhem.
“My Way,” actually a product of France, is by no means a rock song, but Mütiilation’s Meyhna’ch performed this classic so thoroughly his way that it would be criminal not to mention that he arguably beats Frank Sinatra’s version black and blue. Granted, many readers will enjoy Bethlehem’s stab at the tune as well. We likewise send our respect to Negator for their glorious spin on the originally Hungarian “Gloomy Sunday.”
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Svarttjern, “Under My Thumb” (The Rolling Stones)
Svarttjern, who epitomize Nordic black metal at its most thrillingly perverse, deliver glorious ear candy, brought about by lovely guitars and raw necrotic wrath, amplified by raw vocals, on their unexpected cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Under My Thumb.”
The admirable production, which helps make this pick such an addictive listen, was handled by the band’s bassist, the revered Malphas, just one of Svarttjern’s members who also plays with Carpathian Forest.
This gem, enhanced by extra naughtiness, serves as the penultimate number on Draw Blood (2024), which proves that family affairs are the most twisted, given that founders HansFyrste and HaaN are indeed brothers.
Know that The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” has been conquered by the likes of Marduk and Vreid, while the esteemed Root wisely chose to record “Sympathy for the Devil.”
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All Qualifying Vondur Covers (Elvis Presley, Judas Priest and Mötley Crüe)
Vondur stood arrogantly and triumphantly as the project of mainman All and the late multi-instrumentalist IT. This pair of beloved miscreants also collaborated in other outfits, such as Abruptum.
All and IT brought their militance, depravity and humor to The Galactic Rock N’ Roll Empire (1998), produced by the renowned Peter Tägtgren of Pain and Hypocrisy and mastered by ex-Death and ex-Testament’s James Murphy. The Galactic Rock N’ Roll Empire includes a Bathory cover; a couple of English-language reinterpretations of Icelandic songs from Vondur’s debut album, Striðsyfirlýsing (1996); and the anthemic “Panzer Legions of Vondur.”
What is most important for today’s purposes, however, are the following scorchers likewise found therein as well as on No Compromise! (2011): Vondur’s filthy spin on Judas Priest’s “Rocka Rolla,” fiery performance of Mötley Crüe’s “Red Hot” and epic butchering of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender.”
Vondur literally packed the ammo on the last-named expletive-laced, ultra-fast, mass-murderous cover, which bursts with explosions and a shattering confession of lovelessness.
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Tulus, “Space Oddity” (David Bowie)
The Norwegian legends Tulus spawned a marvelous version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” which gorgeously combines both harsh and clean vocals: Tulus’ brilliant Thomas “Sarke” Bergli clarified for us that Eikind supplied the confoundingly spot-on clean parts and the outfit’s enduring frontman, the mighty Blodstrup, handled the killer harsh vocals.
This sonic wonder appears on the Cold Core Collection (2000) compilation, which also delights us with a cover of Obituary’s “Slowly We Rot.”
Tulus have covered Death live and stated that they might like to tackle early Manowar in the future.
Although Tulus, founded in 1991, are one of the best and most important black metal pioneers, they still do not always receive the love they deserve, so explore or revisit their entire catalog, in addition to the works of the related Khold and the now disbanded Sarke, which showcased Bergli’s love of old-school rock.
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Enslaved, “Immigrant Song” (Led Zeppelin)
The now progressive black metal stalwarts Enslaved have spellbound spectators with “Immigrant Song,” originally by their inspirations Led Zeppelin, at festivals and on Norwegian television, having first busted this classic out around 2011. “Immigrant Song,” which thematically fits into Enslaved’s catalog perfectly, is immortalized as the finale to Roadburn Live (2017), for example.
Enslaved have furthermore gifted us with renditions of songs by Rush, King Crimson, Faith No More and Röyksopp. Enslaved even performed “Knights of Thunder” for its creators, TNT, to celebrate their induction into The Rockheim Hall of Fame in Trondheim.
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Samael, “Helter Skelter” (The Beatles)
Samael have beautifully paid tribute to artists such as Alice Cooper and Depeche Mode.
Yet, today, we implore you to experience their reenvisioning of The Beatles’ hit “Helter Skelter,” which provides the ideal conclusion to the symphonic black metal/industrial offering Hegemony (2017).Samael’s mesmerizing “Helter Skelter” benefits from added pomp, an enormous atmosphere, unshakable catchiness and incredibly sinister magic. In every respect, this haunting cover amounts to an all-around win.