On January 15, Machine Head’s Robb Flynn and Jared MacEachern played a virtual “Electric Happy Hour” set. The performance included various Machine Head tracks as well as covers of Iron Maiden’s “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” Metallica’s “Master Of Puppets,” System Of A Down’s “Aerials,” and a snippet of Bryan Adams’ “Summer Of ’69.” You can watch the full show below:
Journalist and author Björn “Nalle” Österman has paid tribute to the late Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom) and the late Chuck Schuldiner (Death) by releasing live audio of Laiho singing Death’s “Within The Mind” and “Defensive Personalities” during a March 1, 2002 memorial concert for Schuldiner at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland. Laiho performed the tracks with a supergroup called Evil Chucks. That band consisted of guitarist Mitja Harvilahti (Moonsorrow), guitarist Janne Perttilä (Moonsorrow, Barren Earth), bassist Oppu Laine (Amorphis, Chaosbreed, Barren Earth), drummer Nalle Österman (Gandalg, Chaosbreed), and several guest vocalists.
[via Blabbermouth]
Brandi Carlile previously paid tribute to the late Chris Cornell by releasing a special 12-inch, titled “A Rooster Says,“ as part of last year’s Record Store Day. Now, the effort, which includes covers of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and “Searching With My Good Eye Closed,“ is now available in digital outlets. Carlile and her frequent collaborators, Phil and Tim Hanseroth, recorded those tracks with Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd, and Matt Cameron.
During his performance for the “Bud Light Seltzer Sessions Presents: New Years Eve 2021” livestream event, Post Malone performed covers of Alice in Chains’ “Rooster” and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” with drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), producer/guitarist Andrew Watt, and bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction). The group were also joined onstage by guitarist Slash (Guns N’ Roses) during “War Pigs.” You can see footage of all that at the 2:11:11 mark in the below video:
Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica) has shared footage of himself performing covers of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World” and the blues classic “Cocaine Blues” with his Chophouse Band. The videos were filmed during a March 2019 show at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, Florida.
On December 18, Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn played a virtual “Acoustic Happy Hour Xmas Extravaganza” set. The performance included various Machine Head tracks as well as covers of Green Day’s “American Idiot,” Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law,” Metallica’s “The Memory Remains,” The Eagles’ “Hotel California,” Pearl Jam’s “Black,” System Of A Down’s “Aerials,” Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box,” George Michael’s “Carless Whisper,” and Alice In Chains’ “Bleed The Freak” and “Man In The Box.” You can watch the full show below:
Beyond The Black have digitally released a new EP titled “W:O:A Acoustic Clash – The Lockdown Session.” The effort features acoustic covers of Sabaton’s “To Hell And Back,” Disturbed’s “Down With The Sickness,” Volbeat’s “A Warrior’s Call,” and Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper.” You can find videos for those below. The band commented:
“A few weeks ago Thomas Jensen of Wacken Open Air challenged us to cover metal songs of his and finally your choice, in an acoustical manner. We accepted the challenge, worked the songs out in a short period of time and are happy that we can make the work and love we put into this available for you on all digital platforms from now on!…”
Jon Bon Jovi has released a new holiday EP titled “A Jon Bon Jovi Christmas.” The effort, which can be streamed below, features covers of Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again,” Elvis Presley’s “If I Get Home On Christmas Day,” and The Pogues’ “Fairytale Of New York.” Music videos for the tracks are also available to members of “The JBJ Experience.”
“Two Minutes To Late Night” have shared a quarantine covers medley featuring songs from Brian Eno’s 1974 album “Here Come The Warm Jets.” The latest clip finds host Jordan “Gwarsenio Hall” Olds performing with Anthony Green (Circa Survive, etc.), Shiv Mehra (Deafheaven, etc.), Cory Murchy (Minus The Bear), Stephen Brodsky (Cave In, Mutoid Man), Ben Koller (Converge, Mutoid Man), Santos Montano (Old Man Gloom), Mike Law (New Idea Society), and an Unnamed Saxophone Mutant (Mutant Scum). “Two Minutes To Late Night” said the following:
“Camels on fire! We gathered a glam rock Hateful Eight to give you a medley of Brian Eno jams from the incredible album “Here Come The Warm Jets.” This is our longest cover ever and we’ve packed a lot in here so get ready to go through your tortured artist phase together with us. This is our 33rd bedroom cover made with the support of Patreon. With so many musicians stuck at home with no outlets, we’re going to keep producing these style videos and use the Patreon to give some money to everyone who has a part in them. Please support our friends by donating to our newly redone Patreon at http://www.honorableswords.com“
Allegaeon have digitally released a new two-track single. The effort features covers of Johann Sebastian Bach‘s “Concerto In D Minor” and John McCrae’s war poem “In Flanders Fields.”
Greg Burgess commented:
“What can we say about J.S. Bach that hasn’t already been said? Musical genius? Greatest composer to ever walk the earth? It’s all been written before, so I’ll go to what he means to Allegaeon. I first heard this piece back in 2000, and it has been a dream of mine to arrange this piece for a metal band; it only took 20 years to make it a reality.
For anyone who has never worked on Bach before, the learning process is painstaking. Just when you think it’s a repeat of a section you’ve already learned, you’re suddenly in a new key, or there is a variation that totally throws a wrench in your muscle memory. In short, recording this piece was the most challenging thing I’ve ever attempted in this band. And I’m insanely proud of it. Crank it loud and get lost in it.”
Riley McShane added:
“Originally, these songs were part of the first draft track-listing of ‘Apoptosis‘. In fact, this alternate track-listing – including these two songs – ended up being the running order for the ‘Apoptosis‘ LP. However, over a year after the initial release, we decided to put the songs out in a digital format for everyone to enjoy, just in time for the holiday season. Who needs Trans-Siberian Orchestra when you have Allegaeon covering Bach?”
