In the realm of popular (that is to say, non-classical) music, the metal and country genres might, at first glance, seem about as far apart as you can get. It's hard to discern any obvious link ...

Everyone loves bands that play cover songs. Ever since there have been bands, there have been other bands, who come after and cover them live and on record. Not only did some of the greatest rock ...

Back in the 1980s, the pop and metal worlds rarely crossed over. For many true heavy music fans, collaborating with people in that sphere was like consorting with heathens. Part of the cache of metal ...

Every catchy pop track hides possibilities. And once a metal band picks it up, the song shifts character—sometimes darker, sometimes heavier—always in an unexpected way. That’s the joy of reinvention ...

Cover songs, at some point, became part of nu-metal culture. To be more specific, these were mostly covers of pop songs. Sure, some did it before Limp Bizkit unleashed their take on George Michael's ...

10. Nickelback w/ Kid Rock and Dimebag Darrell, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” (Elton John cover, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle OST, 2003) The two biggest salt-of-the-earth figures of ...

Rush may not have been a metal band, but there can be no denying that they influenced countless acts in the world of extreme music. From their progressive, technically-minded music to their ...

Metal and pop music often feel so far removed from each other. But when heavy bands give their take on mainstream hits, the results are often really fun. Most metalheads are highly opposed to the ...

On the surface heavy metal music and fantasy seem like strange bedfellows. Until relatively recently, dragons and orcs weren’t exactly cool or mainstream. Groups like Led Zeppelin definitely were ...

It is the ultimate form of compliment from one artist to another when they record their own cover version of the original artist's work. Artists covering other artists have long been an integral part ...

Who’s more “metal?” Halloween‘s Michael Myers or The Lord of the Rings’ Frodo Baggins? If you don’t give the Hobbit extra credit because of Led Zeppelin it’s not exactly an easy question. How can you ...

These days, I find that I can’t get enough country, bluegrass, and roots music. Whether it’s Outlaw Country from the ’70s, Hillbilly Music born in the hills of Appalachia, or the vast crop of ...