From Sugar To Pure 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 through sound.
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" By Marilyn Manson (1995)
The Annie Lennox sleek synth-pop anthem grew darker under Marilyn Manson’s hand. His industrial metal version climbed MTV rotation, pairing eerie visuals with sludgy guitars. The cover reshaped Manson’s career path and became a generation-defining staple for late 90s metal fans.
Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Houston, TX) (1995) by DEMONS Bootlegs
"The Sound Of Silence" By Disturbed (2015)
Simon & Garfunkel’s quiet folk tune became an epic with Disturbed’s arrangement. David Draiman recorded his vocals in a single emotional take, which was later backed by strings and piano. The haunting interpretation peaked at number 42 on the Hot 100 to eclipse expectations for a metal ballad.
Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE] by Disturbed
"Wicked Game" By HIM (1998)
When Chris Isaak sang a seductive, slow-burning song, HIM took it and transformed it into gothic heartbreak. The Finnish group’s melodic guitars and Ville Valo’s brooding delivery gave the song a new identity. It even dominated European airwaves and became their most performed track.
HIM - Wicked Game (Official Video) by Samantha Greenwood
"Careless Whisper" By Seether (2009)
George Michael’s ballad took a grittier path with Seether’s version. Saxophone lines gave way to grinding riffs, while Shaun Morgan’s raspy delivery injected fresh urgency. And guess what? The cover charted on Billboard Mainstream Rock.
seether - careless whisper by chulwoong yoon
"Summer Breeze" By Type O Negative (1993)
Soft rock mellowed the airwaves in 1972, but Type O Negative’s baritone growl recast “Summer Breeze” in shadows. Peter Steele’s low-register voice merged with doom metal pacing to deliver an atmospheric reimagining that highlighted the group’s trademark contradiction—romantic themes wrapped inside morbid heaviness.
melle, slight crop by User:Wickethewok, Wikimedia Commons
"Oops!... I Did It Again" By Children Of Bodom (2009)
Britney’s cheeky pop hit got a blackened makeover when Children of Bodom ripped through it with thrash-speed guitars and guttural vocals. Alexi Laiho’s band turned bubblegum flirtation into headbanging chaos, where they blended tongue-in-cheek parody with genuine technical ferocity.
Children Of Bodom - Oops! I Did It Again (Live in Helsinki 2018) FullHD by RockShow Resize to FullHD
"Stripped" By Rammstein (1998)
Industrial force met minimalist synth pop as Rammstein reimagined Depeche Mode’s “Stripped”. Issued on a tribute compilation, the cover sheds dated effects in favor of seismic riffs. A video built from unsettling archival footage stirred controversy but still highlighted the band’s talent.
Rammstein - Stripped(live Völkerball) "HD" by tertsiini
"Your Mama Don’t Dance" By Poison (1988)
Initially recorded by Loggins & Messina, Poison transformed this playful track into a glittery and distorted version. Their glam metal version charted in the Top 10 of Billboard Hot 100. Raucous riffs and party-ready vocals made the once-folky singalong an arena-shaking anthem.
Poison - Your Mama Don't Dance by Poison
"It’s A Sin" By Ghost (2018)
Pet Shop Boys wrote a club anthem that felt personal and pulsing. But when Ghost got their hand on it, they twisted it into something far moodier. Tobias Forge draped the melody in eerie organs and shadowy tones, and the hooks stayed intact.
pitpony.photography, Wikimedia Commons
"Rasputin" By Turisas (2007)
Disco and Viking metal shouldn’t mix—but Turisas made it work. Boney M’s dance-floor tale of Russia’s mystic became an outrageous singalong powered by choral shouts, fiddles, and driving guitars. Concertgoers couldn’t resist chanting “Ra-Ra-Rasputin,” and the track quickly earned cult status across Europe.
S. Bollmann, Wikimedia Commons
"Smooth Criminal" By Alien Ant Farm (2001)
MTV viewers in 2001 witnessed a moonwalk crash into nu-metal. Alien Ant Farm’s remake of Michael Jackson’s thriller retained the iconic vocal cadence while layering jagged guitars and sharp rhythms. The quirky video, featuring hospital gags and nods to Jackson, pushed the cover worldwide.
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal (Official Music Video) by Alien Ant Farm Channel
"Word Up!" By Korn (2004)
“Yo, pretty ladies around the world…”—but with seven-string crunch. Korn’s unexpected choice to remake Cameo’s funk hit turned into a fan favorite. Jonathan Davis injected nasal intensity, while the band’s low-end rumble brought swagger. The result? A funk-metal hybrid that lived on their “Greatest Hits”.
KoRn- Word Up (Live @ Jimmy Kimmel 04-10-2004) by nikosick667
"Sail" By DevilDriver (2013)
DevilDriver reimagined AWOLNATION’s electronic hit. And instead of removing the eerie mood, they amplified it with layers of distortion and Dez Fafara’s fierce delivery. By keeping the original’s haunting vibe, the band created one of the most striking metal crossovers of the decade.
Devildriver - "Sail" live @ Stage AE in Pittsburgh, PA 10/4/13 by Spike Shell
"Blank Space" By I Prevail (2014)
A viral hit can launch a career, and this one did exactly that. I Prevail’s aggressive cover of Taylor Swift’s smash traded pop polish for screams, riffs, and breakdowns. The YouTube response was staggering, with tens of millions of views.
I Prevail - [Taylor Swift] Blank Space cover @ Lethbridge AB Canada March 10 2017 by btbam666
"Since U Been Gone" By A Day To Remember (2007)
Crowds didn’t expect Kelly Clarkson’s anthem mid-set, yet A Day to Remember made it a tradition. Their version fused pop-punk harmonies with metalcore punch, ending in explosive breakdowns. Audiences loved the twist, and the cover became a highlight.
A Day To Remember - Since U Been Gone (Official Video) by A Day To Remember
"Cats In The Cradle" By Ugly Kid Joe (1993)
Ugly Kid Joe, best known for humor, delivered Harry Chapin’s classic with sincerity and heavy riffs. The unexpected seriousness paid off: their cover got to position six on the Billboard Hot 100, and it marked a career high point for the band.
"Get Lucky" By Halestorm (2013)
Disco grooves shifted into overdrive the moment Halestorm took on Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”. Lzzy Hale’s powerhouse vocals carried the melody while crunching guitars replaced sleek synths. What emerged wasn’t just a cover, but a full-on reinvention that blurred genre lines.
"Bad Romance" By Halestorm (2011)
Lady Gaga’s megahit took on sharper teeth when Halestorm reworked it with Lzzy Hale’s roar cutting through grinding guitars. Their version appeared on “Reanimate: The Covers EP” and became a fan favorite for mixing pop hooks with unrelenting heaviness.
Halestorm - Bad Romance Live in Baltimore (3-19-2011) by Ryan Holman (Midgat0)
"No Ordinary Love" By Deftones (2005)
Chino Moreno’s haunting delivery turned Sade’s smooth R&B ballad into something entirely new. Deftones bathed the track in atmospheric distortion, adding heavy texture without stripping away intimacy. The recording appeared on “Covers,” a compilation showing how effortlessly the band bends genres.
Deftones - No Ordinary Love @ Avalon 20th November 2009 by luischarlos
"All The Things She Said" By Poppy (2020)
Y2K nostalgia got darker once Poppy tackled t.A.T.u.’s scandalous single. Her industrial metal spin thickened the chorus with pounding drums and jagged riffs. Released during her transition into heavier sounds, it cemented her as one of pop’s boldest crossovers.
All The Things She Said - Poppy by Poppy
"I Need A Hero" By Graveworm (2003)
Few expected a death metal band to dive into Bonnie Tyler’s catalog, and Graveworm did precisely that. They kept the bombastic spirit alive while layering blast beats and growled vocals. The result? A gothic carnival of sound that felt both absurd and exhilarating.
"Faith" By Limp Bizkit (1997)
“Gotta have faith”—Fred Durst barked the line over a furious groove, and audiences went wild. Their version of George Michael’s pop hit fueled mosh pits and radio play alike. The track became Limp Bizkit’s breakthrough, anchoring “Three Dollar Bill, Y’all$” in late-90s nu-metal culture.
Limp Bizkit - Faith by limpbizkit
"Rolling In The Deep" By Linkin Park (2011)
Adele’s global powerhouse track sounded strikingly natural in Chester Bennington’s voice. Linkin Park stripped it back for live performances by layering subtle electronics and guitar. Fans embraced the crossover, even praising how seamlessly the song fit their catalog of emotive yet heavy rock ballads.
Rolling In The Deep Cover [Live from iTunes Festival 2011] - Linkin Park by Linkin Park
"These Boots Are Made For Walkin’" By Megadeth (1985)
What began as a swinging pop anthem became a snarling thrash assault under the guise of Megadeth. Dave Mustaine spat out the verses while the band drove the rhythm with surgical speed. Controversy followed, but still, the song underscored their gift for twisting familiar culture into metal grit.
Kreepin Deth, Wikimedia Commons
"Dream Weaver" By Crowbar (2000)
Gary Wright’s spacey ballad found new ground in sludge metal. Crowbar’s slow, crushing version replaced airy synths with downtuned guitars, and this turned dreaminess into weight. Kirk Windstein’s gravelly vocals gave the song gravitas, offering a doom-laden alternative.
S. Bollmann, Wikimedia Commons
"Take On Me" By Children Of Bodom (2009)
Who thought A-ha’s shimmering synth anthem could become a shredfest? Children of Bodom did with frantic guitar runs and tongue-in-cheek aggression. The band leaned into chaos to replace bright keyboards with blistering solos, and in the process, transformed an 80s sing-along into a metal favorite.
S. Bollmann, Wikimedia Commons
"Let It Go" By Betraying The Martyrs (2014)
Disney magic turned brutal in this deathcore reimagining. Growled vocals clashed with Elsa’s iconic lyrics, while breakdowns shattered the innocence of Frozen’s ballad. The track exploded online, earning millions of streams and demonstrating how even family soundtracks can fuel extreme metal reinvention.
BETRAYING THE MARTYRS - Let It Go (Official Music Video) by SUMERIAN
"Dark Horse" By Our Last Night (2014)
Katy Perry’s chart-topping hit didn’t lose its drama—it gained teeth. Our Last Night layered soaring choruses with distorted guitars and dynamic drops, and it pulled in tens of millions of views. Their cover became one of the band’s most-streamed tracks.
Katy Perry - "Dark Horse" Cover by Our Last Night by Our Last Night
"Call Me Maybe" By Frog Leap Studios (2012)
No one expected Carly Rae Jepsen’s sugary hit to morph into a mosh-pit anthem, but Leo Moracchioli made it happen. He blasted through “Call Me Maybe” with guttural vocals and meaty riffs, and the viral cover locked Frog Leap into YouTube metal legend status.
Call Me Maybe (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli) by Frog Leap Studios
"Trouble" By We Came As Romans (2014)
Taylor Swift’s country-pop single took on a stormier identity in We Came as Romans’s version. The group fused melodic metal with Swift’s catchiness, and this gave the track a darker undercurrent. Over 25 million streams prove how easily a breakup anthem can morph into pit fuel.
S. Bollmann, Wikimedia Commons
"Cars" By Fear Factory (1999)
Gary Numan himself joined Fear Factory for this industrial-metal overhaul. The partnership preserved the eerie minimalism of the original while layering it with mechanized riffing. Released on “Obsolete”, it seamlessly bridged synth-pop and metal. Here, pioneers from different genres amplified each other.
Fear Factory - Cars (Remix) [OFFICIAL VIDEO] by Roadrunner Records
"In The Air Tonight" By In This Moment (2017)
Phil Collins’s iconic drum break found a new home in Maria Brink’s world of theatrics. This Moment drenched the track in dark production and atmospheric guitars, ending with a cathartic climax. Their version underscored the song’s tension while stamping it with gothic flair.
Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight (Live) [1080p] by Stoned Tripper
"Whiskey In The Jar" By Metallica (1998)
Irish folk balladry never sounded so ferocious. Featured on “Garage Inc”, the cover tore into the traditional tune with thrash precision and even bagged a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. Centuries-old melodies proved they could still dominate radio when filtered through metal.
Metallica - Whiskey In The Jar (Official Music Video) by Warner Records Vault
"Personal Jesus" By Marilyn Manson (2004)
Few covers match Manson’s swagger here. He injected Depeche Mode’s brooding hit with industrial crunch and sleaze, making it feel tailor-made for his persona. The track charted globally and became a setlist mainstay that showcased how effortlessly Manson could twist pop into something darker.
Marilyn Manson - Personal Jesus by Marilyn Manson
"Shock The Monkey" By Coal Chamber (1999)
This art-pop gem became nu-metal grit in Coal Chamber’s hands. Featuring Ozzy Osbourne on guest vocals, the track fused quirky rhythms with chugging riffs. Its feature on “Chamber Music” turned heads, blending theatrical weirdness with late-90s heavy angst.
Coal Chamber - Shock The Monkey [OFFICIAL VIDEO] by Roadrunner Records
"Enjoy The Silence" By Lacuna Coil (2006)
Depeche Mode’s moody synth masterpiece gained gothic grandeur when Lacuna Coil tackled it. Cristina Scabbia’s ethereal vocals balanced Andrea Ferro’s heavier tones, while metallic guitars amplified the melancholy. Released on “Karmacode”, it became a staple for fans craving an atmosphere fused with heaviness.
LACUNA COIL - Enjoy the Silence - US Version (OFFICIAL VIDEO) by Century Media Records
"Live And Let Die" By Guns N’ Roses (1991)
James Bond themes already sound dramatic, but GNR dialed it up to eleven. Explosive orchestration collided with Slash’s guitars to create an arena-rock juggernaut. Frequently performed live, the cover became one of the band’s most iconic reinterpretations and a concert highlight for decades.
Guns N' Roses - Live And Let Die (Live) by Guns N' Roses
"Billie Jean" By Chris Cornell (2007)
Though known for grunge, Cornell delivered a haunting metal-tinged cover of Michael Jackson’s pop classic during his solo tours. Sparse arrangement, heavy emotional delivery, and brooding intensity turned a dance-floor staple into a raw, heavy ballad embraced by rock and metal audiences.
Chris Cornell - Billie Jean Live @ MSN by Cornell's Garage
"The Final Countdown" By Norther (2002)
Europe’s bombastic pop anthem got a furious speed-metal update by Finnish band Norther. Their blistering guitars and double-kick drums reframed the campy 80s original into a serious headbanger to showcase how melodic death metal can reinvent even the most overplayed stadium hit.
Europe - The Final Countdown (Official Video) by Europe
"Somebody That I Used To Know" By Mayday Parade & Vic Fuentes (2012)
Gotye’s indie-pop smash took on heavy layers in this “Punk Goes Pop” rendition. Screamed harmonies, chunky guitars, and driving drums created a heavier spin that still carried the heartbreak. Unexpectedly, pop ballads can thrive in metal-core clothing.
Somebody That I Used To Know - Mayday Parade ft. Vic Fuentes Live by ASneakyOwl
"Stayin’ Alive" By Tragedy: All Metal Tribute To The Bee Gees (2006)
The disco anthem by the Bee Gees pulsed with new swagger once New York’s parody-metal act Tragedy reworked it. Their cover combined comedic glam flair with genuine metallic heft, making a Saturday Night Fever classic unexpectedly mosh-pit ready.
Tragedy - Staying Alive - Bee Gees Heavy Metal Tribute Live London Jan 2011.MPG by donelyingdown
“Gangsta’s Paradise” By Falling In Reverse (2014)
This hip-hop classic became a dramatic metalcore showpiece when Falling In Reverse released their cover. Ronnie Radke fused soaring choruses with guttural breakdowns by layering orchestral flourishes over crushing guitars. The reinvention bridged 90s rap nostalgia with modern heaviness.
Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2 - Falling In Reverse "Gangsta's Paradise" by Fearless Records
"You Really Got Me" By Van Halen (1978)
The Kinks laid the foundation, and Van Halen built the skyscraper. Eddie Van Halen’s groundbreaking solo transformed a simple riff into a generational anthem. Their debut single announced a new era in heavy rock because they fused British Invasion roots with American stadium-sized energy.
Van Halen - You Really Got Me (Official Music Video) by Van Halen
“Gangnam Style” By Frog Leap Studios (2016)
Psy’s global K-pop sensation got dragged through the distortion pedal by Leo Moracchioli. His YouTube-famous cover swapped neon beats for downtuned riffs and growls, turning viral dance absurdity into pit-friendly chaos. It highlighted just how easily pop spectacle could morph into heavy metal comedy.
Gangnam Style (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli) by Frog Leap Studios
