If you’re a child of the 80s like me, you’ll remember when MTV was an acronym for “Music Television” instead of “Meh TV.” One of the first videos in heavy rotation was Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer.” It is an iconic video, for an iconic track:
Now, let’s imagine what the track would sound like if it were released 10 years later, and written by a grunge band (something like Alice in Chains). Hungarian alt/nu metal band Ad Astra released Open Wide in 2012, and on it they cover “Sledgehammer” in just such a way. The horns are replaced by heavy, ribcage rattling guitars, and the vocals are redone in Alice in Chains grungy harmony. Its the kind of cover I love, one that changes the song, and the mind’s image of the song.
If you’re interested in hearing more from Ad Astra, you can download Open Wide, and their previous release, Crust of Ego, (with a cover of U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me”) free from their website.
[ tomorrowfactory ] 