Sound: Not one. Not two. But three…three times Six Feet Under have gone to the covers album well. And why the f--k not? It apparently suits them and their fanbase, and the Florida death metal institution isn’t being uber-predictable and covering “Raining Blood” and “Refuse/Resist” or other notables and to-be-expected cuts on Graveyard Classics 3. Rather, SFU are going for deeper tracks from metal legends and they selected “At Dawn They Sleep” by Slayer and effectively put the SFU, pig squeal/Cookie Monster stamp on it. They’re not Children of Bodom, either, covering silly songs by Andrew WK or Britney Spears, either. The closest thing to a “fun” rendition is The Ramones’ “Psychotherapy” or even Twisted Sister’s “Destroyer.” But for the most part, Six Feet Under take the art of the rendition as serious as the results of an HIV test on version 3.0. Metallica’s “Frayed Ends of Sanity” gets the SFU treatment and the band does “justice” to the song, which, ahem, appears on …And Justice For All. They also do right by Mercyful Fate’s “A Dangerous Meeting, too!” Not you might be wondering how Chris Barnes, he of the ultra-deep, guttural growl can send up King Diamond, known for his high-pitched wail? Well scrowl down a bit to see what we think! // 7
Lyrics and Singing: It’s unavoidable for SFU to not SFU’ify the songs they elected to cover on this collection, thanks to the DNA-distinct vocal style of Barnes, who squeals like a pig and gives Cookie Monster a run for his “cookie dough” with his phlegm, throaty roars that could easily wake the dead from their length dirtnaps! The SFU covers have even caught the attention of Howard Stern, who has played them on air and chuckled at the death metal versions of some of the more classics bands, like AC/DC, that SFU has covered. Despite the sometimes goofy (and sometimes laughable, honestly) sound of his barks, none of these covers ever sounds like an insult or does wrong by the original. In essence, because of Barnes’ vocal style, all the songs sound like SFU songs. The band doesn’t stay too true to the originals, but the only twist they put on the songs are their own trademarks and hallmarks. So elitists and purists are probably going to hate these covers, while more open-minded (and eared) fans will get some enjoyment on the sonic shake ups that cover versions can often provide. // 8
Impression: It’s a covers album. Six Feet Under’s diehard fans will chomp at the bit for this. Covers afficianados will do the same. Purebred fans who like things in their right place will find this excessive and unnecessary. It’s all in your preference. Shockingly, it’s not a tired convention three albums in; Six Feet Under don’t bore with their takes on the classics. Also check out their version of Prong’s staccato “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck,” which adheres rather loyally to the original, as well as Anvil’s “Metal on Metal” and Twisted Sister’s “Destroyer.” // 9
- Amy Sciarretto (c) 2012
Was this review helpful to you? 
