Top 10 Best Cover Songs By Rock And Metal Bands

Original by Bad Company

This heavy metal band from Las Vegas started out playing “Bad Company” to fill in time during some of their early live shows. Fans loved it so much that the track was eventually incorporated into their 2009 album “War Is the Answer”. Since then, it’s become one of the band’s biggest songs, receiving over 130 million plays on YouTube. While the original is already a beloved rock song, this cover transforms “Bad Company” from an easy going jam into an anthemic banger. When the heavy guitar riffs come in, you can’t help but sing along with the familiar chorus. What’s more, the band used this cover as an opportunity to thank American troops serving in Iraq.

Original by Bob Seger
Heavy metal legends Metallica have always made it a point to expose audiences to their musical influences, even going so far as to release a double disc covers collection back in 1998, titled “Garage, Inc.” It was the band’s cover of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” which served as the album’s first single and video, a dark and disturbing clip starring adult film star Ginger Lynn as a single mother forced to make some difficult and desperate decisions in order to provide for her daughter. Meanwhile, Metallica approaches “Turn the Page” with a sense of reverence for Seger’s original, while at the same time lending their own musical muscle and grit to the proceedings.

Original by Judas Priest
“The Sound of Perseverance” would be the final album from extreme metal forefathers Death before their founder Chuck Schuldiner would succumb to brain cancer. The band went out on a high note with the album’s closing track, however, a ripping cover of “Painkiller” from metal gods Judas Priest. Schuldiner and Co. amplify the aggression tenfold on their version right from the get-go, thanks to Richard Christy’s octopus-like drumming and Schuldiner’s paint-peeling vocals. There’s plenty of tribute here to Priest’s fiery original, but make no mistake: Death made this metal classic their own in a big way.

Original by Sade
The Deftones are well known for their ability to tap into some serious sensuality with their atmospheric rock music, so it sort of makes sense that they would cover this classic slow jam by Nigerian singer/songwriter Sade. The band’s take on “No Ordinary Love” keeps the mid-paced arrangement of the track relatively intact, using punchier drums and vocal effects over singer Chino Moreno’s voice to retain the song’s seductive sound. There’s something to be said about being faithful to a classic song’s heart and soul, and the Deftones manage this while at the same time leaving their own mark on this enduring hit.

Original by Paul McCartney & Wings
The chances are probably pretty good that you’ve heard this cover plenty of times while driving in your car, as this Guns ‘n Roses take on a classic James Bond theme has been a rock radio staple for years. It’s never exactly been commonplace for rock bands to cover songs from motion picture soundtracks, but Axl Rose and Co. did a great job at replicating “Live and Let Die” on their 1991 album “Use Your Illusion II.” G ‘n R keep the grandiose string section and funky rock backbeat intact on their version, creating a cover which may not offer many surprises, yet delivers the goods when it comes to respecting a true classic.

Original by John Lennon
The next track on our list has been covered by numerous artists over the years, yet very few of them have done so with quite the same stylized darkness as A Perfect Circle. The all-star rock group, featuring Tool’s Maynard James Keenan, released their cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” on their third album, “eMOTIVe,” a collection of politically charged cover songs designed as commentary on the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election. Lennon’s moods of optimism, realism and hope are presented here by A Perfect Circle in a more provocative style. The classic piano chords are still there, only twisted and performed with a much darker and more sinister intent.

Popularized by The Bobby Fuller Four
This song may have originally been written by Texas-based songwriter Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly’s group The Crickets, but “I Fought the Law” was initially made popular by, well...a cover! The Bobby Fuller Four performed the first version of “I Fought the Law” with which most people are familiar. However, it was a 1979 cover by the formative English punk band The Clash which brought “I Fought the Law” to an even younger audience, thanks to the group’s musical urgency and infectious charisma. The rebellious lyrical spirit of “I Fought the Law” fits in perfectly with The Clash’s own political fire, making this a musical match made in heaven.

Original by Simon & Garfunkel
Chicago’s Disturbed have made their metallic mark on a number of successful cover songs over the years, including their expert take on the 80s Genesis hit “Land of Confusion.” But Genesis aside, it’s this fan favorite cover which takes the number 3 spot on our list, thanks largely in part to Disturbed’s talented frontman David Draiman. The singer delivers a tour de force on Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence,” turning what was a delicate folk ballad into an epic orchestral journey of cinematic proportions. String sections and booming percussion amplify guitarist Dan Donegan’s tasteful guitar work, while Draiman lays down what may be the vocal performance of his career.

Original by Dio
New England metalcore titans Killswitch Engage have always been known for possessing an irreverent sense of humor to go along with their memorable riffs and passionate vocals. The band truly outdid themselves, however, when it came to their cover of this 80s metal classic from Dio. Killswitch’s version of “Holy Diver” turns on maximum crunch in the guitar department, while former front man Howard Jones switches effortlessly between screams, clean singing and a most righteous falsetto. Meanwhile, drummer Justin Foley alternates his tempo between the song’s original mid-pace and a quicker pick-up section, adding to the cover’s musical dynamic. The band also shot a humorous video clip for the track, a goofy but loving tribute to “Holy Diver’s” mighty medieval past.


Before we announce our top cover track, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “Another Brick in the Wall” (2004) by Korn
Original by Pink Floyd

- “No Easy Way Out” (2008) by Bullet for My Valentine
Original by Robert Tepper

-“Anarchy in the UK” (1988) by Megadeth
Original by Sex Pistols

-“Careless Whisper” (2007) by Seether
Original by George Michael

Original by Michael Jackson
Was there ever any doubt? Sure, Alien Ant Farm’s cover of “Smooth Criminal” may be the California band’s one major chart-topping hit, but what a hit it was. The band strikes a perfect balance between treating the original with respect, while placing their own particular stamp upon the King of Pop. Lead singer Dryden Mitchell and bassist Tye Zamora trade off on Michael Jackson’s trademark vocal style, while guitarist Terry Corso and drummer Mike Cosgrove offer a more aggressive take on the musical arrangements. Add to the mix a funny and funky video, and you have a recipe for cover song success.