4 Covers of Metallica Songs That Rival the Originals

Nobody does heavy metal quite like Metallica. Plenty of the iconic rock band’s contemporaries have tried. That being said, quite a few musicians have dished out their renditions of some of Metallica’s very best songs, and some of those covers are absolutely incredible. Let’s take a look at just a few very impressive examples!

Videos by American Songwriter

1. “Enter Sandman” by Mac DeMarco

This entry might be a bit surprising to some. Mac DeMarco doesn’t exactly scream heavy metal. Rather, DeMarco is better known for his offbeat singer/songwriter works and indie rock stylings. That being said, he apparently knows his way around a cover, no matter the source material. 

DeMarco’s rendition of “Enter Sandman” doesn’t have the humorous edge that a lot of his music tends to have. Rather, it’s a faithful cover with truly incredible vocals that could even rival James Hetfield’s own sonic screeches.

2. “Fade To Black” by The Lemonheads

“Fade To Black” is a standout track from Metallica’s 1984 record Ride The Lightning, and there are quite a few covers of the song out there. It’s a classic, after all. Alt-rock grunge outfit The Lemonheads took on the song as well, and it couldn’t be further from a faithful rendition. But in a way, that makes the cover all the more intriguing.

3. “Whiplash” by Motörhead

It makes sense that Motörhead would make this list, considering they aren’t too far away from Metallica on the musical spectrum. The two groups were also, more or less, friends; Metallica even performed at Lemmy Kilmister’s birthday party in 1995. 

Naturally, Lemmy decided to do the same with a tribute cover of “Whiplash”. It’s a lot more hard rock than heavy metal, but man is this cover a real head-banger.

4. “My Friend Of Mercy” by Kamasi Washington

Few songs from Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album are as recognizable as “My Friend Of Mercy”. This entry on our list of Metallica covers comes from none other than Kamasi Washington. Washington’s version of “My Friend Of Mercy” features so many excellent elements, from a killer drum solo to lounge music vocals to a stunning (yet odd) piano track.

Photo by Pete Cronin/Redferns

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.