A beautiful take on a classic song with an original twist
Side Note:
Hello guys! My name is Chris and this is my first ever post on this (little) blog. I am an avid lover of rock and metal music, especially the more alternative genres. I will use this blog is to share my views and opinions regarding various topics in the rock and metal community. My goal is to let people discover new music, to review songs/albums based on my personal opinion, to share news regarding the rock/metal world or to simply express my sincere thoughts about certain issues and topics.
“Zombie” is thrilling song about the violent consequences of warfare originally written by the Irish alternative rock-band “The Cranberries”. Following the death of Cranberries lead vocalist Dolores O’Riordan, the American metal band “Bad Wolves” delivered a haunting cover of the iconic song.
The song itself is not much different than the original classic, in terms of video concept and song-structure. They both follow the same melody and the videos are very similiar, with Bad Wolves taking a more minimalistic approach, although with much better production quality. The cover was originally supposed to be sung along with Dolores herself, but she unfortunately died on the date of the scheduled recording, making the cover much more powerfull altogether.
In terms of lyrics, there is a slight difference, changing the meaning of the Cranberries’ 90s song and adapting it to the present day: “with their tanks and their bombs and their guns and their drones” or “it’s the same old theme in 2018”. The musical style is also a little bit different: Bad Wolves use a more heavy-metal inspired sound with more down-tuned guitars and heavier vocals, while the Cranberries use a more mellow style with heavy guitars and powerful vocals but also combining that melancholic feel of the grunge era.
Dolores O’Riordan was an iconic figure in the rock and pop world. Her lyrics inspired many to think outside the box to take action when you are in danger. She was an intelligent and powerful woman and believed in great causes. The 15th of january 2018 was definitely a huge loss for the rock stage and music in general. RIP Dolores O’Riordan.
All in all, I personally think that the new Bad Wolves cover of “Zombie” was absolutely fantastic. The lyrics, the video, the vocals, the intstrumentals were on point, giving the classic song a more modern feel, while still respecting the original composition. The song takes me on a nostalgic trip to a darker time in my past, when life was easier yet harder. I would recommend in to anyone interested in seeing something different.
