When I was younger, – very much younger, – I listened a lot to heavy metal-bands like Kiss, Judas Priest, Ozzy, Iron Maiden and several others. Today, I can’t stand metal at all, but I admit that listening to old Kiss and Iron Maiden-songs still gives me a kick, sort of… What gives me more of a kick these days, is LOUNGE METAL, and the only true performer of the genre that I know of is the Swedish trio Hellsongs. They totally re-interpret the old metal classics into soft, folky acoustic songs. The new versions have very little in common with the originals, but just enough for them to be recognized and embraced by metal-lovers. You don’t need to know the original versions to enjoy Hellsongs, – their versions are brilliant all by themselves.

I got an email from Kalle Karlsson a.k.a. “The Axemaster” in Hellsongs with some great news. The band has just released the first single from their upcoming and long awaited album “Hymns in the key of 666″, and the single is a really groovy, Primal Scream-y version of Megadeth‘s “Symphony of Destruction”, acoustic of course. The image above is the cover of their new single, and like the music, it shows the perfect combination of the sweet, flower-power hippie folk-roots and the tough metal-roots of the band.

Have a listen to the new single! Death to false Lounge Metal!
Hellsongs – Symphony of Destruction (Megadeth-cover)

I can’t resist including another one from Hellsongs’ Lounge-EP (which should be available all over Europe by now, – check iTunes):

Hellsongs – Breaking the law (Judas Priest cover)

BTW, – the vocalist of the Norwegian band Delaware, Richard Holmsen, does some really good cover-versions of old metal/grunge songs on his acoustic solo-gigs. I’ve heard him do a fantastic version of Twisted Sister‘s “We’re not gonna take it”, a cover of Kiss‘ “I was made for loving you” and “Heart shaped box”, I think, by Nirvana. Recommended!