Battle of the Covers: Master of Puppets

"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
09/26/2014 at 12:25 • Filed to: Battle of the Covers, BOTC, Musiclopnik, Keep music weird, Master of Gamecats

That's right, I'm going there! We're doing Metallica, and, more than that, we're rocking a bevy of unconventional covers, something I usually work to avoid. Stringed instruments that aren't guitars, pianos, acapella groups, electronic music, full goddamn orchestras, we're all in on the weird today. Don't like it? Too bad! Obey your master!

For those of us who like a real battle in Battle of the Covers !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! certainly delivered. The B.A. Baracus Band (best band name ever?) and Tom Morello's Street Sweeper Social Club were neck and neck from the start. Over the two days I never saw them more than a single vote apart, and nine times out of ten they were completely deadlocked. In the end Baracus managed to edge out the Street Sweeper by a single vote, taking the win. The battle for worst was similarly close between Hoods and Five Finger Death Punch (the two bands that chose "gravelly screaming" as the ideal cover method for a hip hop song. Go figure). The two spent most of the battle in a dead heat, with Hoods finally taking the win by two.

"Master of Puppets" is considered by some to be Metallica's signature song, and for good reason. The single was the only track released from the album of the same name, an album that became the first ever thrash metal album to go platinum (it has since gone platinum an additional five times ). VH1 has ranked the song as the third greatest heavy metal song of all time, professional music critic and heavy metal specialist Martin Popoff has ranked it #2, and a poll done by Total Guitar magazine has ranked the song as having the #1 greatest guitar riff in all of music. Not bad for a song that is, in fact, about being controlled by one's drug addiction. Betcha didn't know that one (except for you, Gamecat. I'm sure you knew).

Yes, I really did manage to find eight oddball covers of this. Let's get down to some weird.

Apocalyptica - (1996. Yep, seriously)

Vitamin String Quartet - (2003)

Scott D Davis - (2007)

The Scorched Earth Orchestra - (2007)

Harptallica - (2008)

Pendulum - (2009)

Van Canto - (2010)

David Garrett - (2010)

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LEST YE FORGET! If you want to check back on the results of previous rounds, or see what covers are coming in future rounds, there is a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with past rounds and the upcoming battle schedule.

DISCUSSION (28)

Dusty Ventures > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 00:53

Prediction time: There are two previous round winners in this battle, both with fairly strong and loyal fan bases. These two will be hard to beat. That said, there are some decently good covers outside this duo.

McMike > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:27

I have that Apocalyptica record.

"The Unforgiven " is amazing.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:28

Will listen and vote later, but holy fuck, how did I not know of the Pendulum cover?

Also, nice job picking Bernie's ringtone.

Gamecat235 > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:29

I'm gonna have to sit on this one. I am not voting until I've heard them all. I may also bring in reinforcements from outside of Kinja on this one (my brother and my best friend who will both be over this weekend).

This is nowhere near as blasphemous as previous contests... I've never heard the Pendulum cover before. (though, once again, song was perfect out of the gates).

CB > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:29

Can I suggest "Any Way You Want It" for a future round? Mainly because the Rise Against version was a hilarious way to end Revolutions Per Minute.

tromoly > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:36

The only one that can really win is Apocalyptica. When they play Metallica songs live they have a drummer as well, makes the songs even more amazing.

EL_ULY > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:37

Winner: Metalachi

Dusty Ventures > CB
09/26/2014 at 12:38

I actually looked at doing Any Way You Wanted a few weeks ago, but aside from the Rise Against cover there was virtually nothing.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:39

Where can I submit requests for future battles? I would like to submit "Monkey Man" by Toots & the Maytals. I know it's been covered by a ton of people (Amy Winehouse, Reel Big Fish, The Specials to name a few) and is a ska classic.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:42

I actually flipped a coin to determine my vote between Van Canto and Apocalyptica.

nermal > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 12:42

Let's ask Kirk what he thinks about everybody's solos:

Kinja'd!!!

Dusty Ventures > Where have all the lightweights gone?
09/26/2014 at 12:44

Good pick, it's on the list.

Gamecat235 > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
09/26/2014 at 12:45

That continues to be where I am at. And was, I am pretty certain, what Dusty expected.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Gamecat235
09/26/2014 at 12:49

The drums take this cover up to 11.

CB > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 13:18

Really? Huh, that's strange.

Dusty Ventures > CB
09/26/2014 at 13:27

Yeah. Basically all I found was the Rise Against cover and the version done for the Rock Of Ages musical that was in theaters a couple years back.

leicester > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 19:33

don't make me choose!!

Dusty Ventures > leicester
09/26/2014 at 19:40

That is what we do here!

leicester > EL_ULY
09/26/2014 at 19:41

Also, ska:

leicester > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 19:42

You don't say...

Kinja'd!!!

leicester > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 19:47

Well, I'm certainly not voting for a 'worst' in this case.

Dusty Ventures > leicester
09/26/2014 at 20:29

Now that's a fantastic shirt

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Dusty Ventures
09/26/2014 at 22:28

I would suggest Mad World, but that might piss a whole lot of people off, so do it.

Oh and I voted Pendulum and Harptallica because harps are never cool

Dusty Ventures > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
09/26/2014 at 23:20

Pissing people off is my favorite part of Battle of the Covers

Dusty Ventures > McMike
09/26/2014 at 23:27

Love those guys! I have their discography through Seventh Symphony, including singles and the two compilation albums :) Still need to get their 2013 live album.

Dusty Ventures > tromoly
09/26/2014 at 23:29

I saw them live in Upstate NY. They were great but unfortunately the venue was terrible. It was a nightclub with awful acoustics, and whoever was working the sound board decided "LOUD!!!!1!11111!!!!" was more important than sounding good. Still loved their energy, now I need to see them in a proper venue.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
09/27/2014 at 22:03

BRO DID YOU PREORDER THE NEW KNIFE PARTY ALBUM YET?

Also, Pendulum's cover of violet hill is pretty good too.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > vdub_nut: scooter snob
09/27/2014 at 22:15

I have not.