My favourite Sisters covers

THE place for your Sisters-related comments, questions and snippets of Sisters information. For those who do not know, The Sisters of Mercy are a rock'n'roll band. And a pop band. And an industrial groove machine. Or so they say. They make records. Lots of records, apparently. But not in your galaxy. They play concerts. Lots of concerts, actually. But you still cannot see them. So what's it all about, Alfie? This is one of the few tightly-moderated forums on Heartland, so please keep on-topic. All off-topic posts will either be moved or deleted. Chairman Bux is the editor and the editor's decision is final. Danke.
User avatar
alanm
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 266
Joined: 03 Mar 2020, 13:11
Location: this is not my map at all

I've listened to a lot of Sisters covers the last few weeks. Here are my favourites.

Let me preface this by saying that I like covers where the artist has creatively taken the song in a different and unexpected direction, often to a different musical genre from the original, and made it work in a way that surprises and delights me. I know this isn't a universal opinion.

Here we go.

1959
I'm going with madsmith's indie rock cover. Like the guitar on this one.
The Dreadful Shadows version is surprisingly un-dreadful (Spotify & YouTube), and Marek Krukowski has an interesting 8 minute take too (SoundCloud).

A Rock And A Hard Place
There aren't many covers of this song, and most are straight derivatives of the original. I'm going for this one by The Court Of Sybaris (their marketing team shows a pleasing insistence on the definite article). Would like to see more genres represented here.

Adrenochrome
Lymon Willis' top notch mostly-acoustic cover really lets the mad-genius lyrics shine through. One of the best on the whole list.
Runners up award goes to the irreverent punk version by the Baby Sh****rs (NSFW).

Afterhours
A tricky one to cover. I'm going with Ego Likeness' haunting electronic cover. Hall Of Souls has an interesting metal version over on Spotify too.

Alice
So many covers... Do some searching on the platforms and you'll find one you like.
"One man with a guitar in his bedroom" tended to be really bad news when I loaded a YouTube video, but there were notable exceptions.
This is a great take on Alice from Martin Steffi. I'd put a buck in the hat for this busker.

Amphetamine Logic
None of the covers here really stand out to me but if pressed I'd pick SKurL's pleasantly heavy version, despite it's inexplicable segue to SKOS in the coda.

Anaconda
For me it's a toss up between Random Parade's indie rock cover and The Black Riders Cult's much heavier version. Both pretty good. I feel like the original is a strong song let down by the bands inexperience at the time and poor production on the releases.

Arms
The post-VT new material is pretty much all straight covers which is understandable: we all want quality album versions so people go and make their own.
I only found two covers of Arms, and our own @FMAMMY has a fine version.

Better Reptile
Didn't find any covers, I presume we need the exact lyrics before someone tries it. Maybe a cover the embraces the indistinct mumbling is an approach that could work.

Black Planet
Some quality covers to choose from. I'm going with Warren Suicide's delightfully wacky cover.

Black Sail
Only @FMAMMY has covered this. It's a pretty good cover.

Blood Money
Only two to choose from so I'm going for Psychosound's weird electronic cover, even though it's missing vocals.
If you prefer a straight cover with vocals nmacog has got your back.

Body And Soul
The original album version is pretty dreary and unfortunately most cover artists model their work directly on that.
A hidden gem is Reichsfeind's synth version, clearly a stand out for me.

Body Electric
With some quality techno covers to choose from, and talvidroidi's glitchy electronic version stands out to me.
Runner up is Chris Shape's EDM take.

Burn
Lotta straight covers to choose from here but you know I prefer interesting over derivative, so here is TEMPLVM's electronic cover.

Bury Me Deep
Not much to choose from. I'll go with Faith And The Muse even though it comes off that 2007 tribute album with the awful cover art.

But Genevieve
Only our own @FMAMMY and @Husek have essayed to cover this one. They did a fine job.

Colours
Not many covers. It has a whiff of dodgy darkling about it but Raudive's cover version is ok.

Come Together
Only Brad Salyn has covered this (also a Heartlander). Someone please record some vocals for him.

Crash And Burn
One "Markus von Eldritch" has a good straight cover of this on YouTube. I'm sure this is one of you lot, cmon and fess up now.

Detonation Boulevard
Marek Krukowski's version is a revelation, arguably better than the original in many ways.

Doctor Jeep
Of the few covers out there I like the Arcanic's alternative take. Poor production though.

Dominion
A tough one to choose. Forced to pick I will go for Information Society's "synthpop" version.
Runners up include
- RADDAH's EDM cover
- Graeme Young's acoustic cover
- Black Horizon's haunting 9 minute metal-influenced take on it
I like 'em all.

Driven Like The Snow
Let me restate that "one guy + guitar on YouTube" covers were mostly bad.
But Will Meyer really nails this track on his 12-string. Respect. Time to fess up if you're HL.
Also a shout out to this driving metal instrumental from Meatgrinder.

Driver
I didn't find any covers of this. I'd very much like to hear a cover by Dragonforce.

Finland Red, Egypt White
Dr8ball has a... distinctive cover of this complete with unnerving sampled sound effects. I don't know if it's industrial or hip hop or what, but I like it.
Amorphous has a decent cover too, on SoundCloud and Youtube.

First And Last And Always
You're going to hate me for it, but I'm picking the Darkside Cowboys manic craziness here. And they have cool hats.
If that's not your cup of tea, try some thrash metal (Ancient Drive) or techno (Ufx Project) or @FMAMMY's mostly-unplugged cover.

Fix
Where can one take this weird song?
Fey's black metal vibe seems appropriate, right down to pointlessly running through the entire song twice.
I have to mention the bizarre lo-fi attempt from Project Shadowkind too.

Flood I
Maman Küsters' French language cover is the only one I can find.
It's not bad but honestly the rock version from the current lineup of the live band is a much better rework.

Flood II
namcog's version is one of two out there. The other from "Sebastien Faits Divers & HIV+" isn't bad either (YouTube).
But again, as with Flood I, the "let's rock out" version from the current TSOM live lineup is far superior to both of them. I'd like a studio version of them both please.

Floorshow
I'm going with the (industrial I guess?) cover from Headtrip Inc.

Giving Ground
I like this version by Letranger (did they mistype a J in the band name?).

Good Things
I have this tied between Götterdämmerung's great cover (and brilliant video) and aimsetc's skillful acoustic take, the sort of jackpot I love finding buried on SoundCloud.

Heartland
For whatever reason I like the acoustic covers best here.
I'll vote for Lymon Willis' as best although there is much to be said for the covers from Unto Ashes, Roger Ambroos and Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat (all on YouTube)

I Have Slept With All The Girls In Berlin
Not many covers here. Here is Push Button Press.
@FMAMMY has a good one too.

I Was Wrong
This can only be Fwuffy Da Destwoyah who give this song a good punky thrash. I Was Wrong is an angry song, and the inarticulate rage from this vocalist is cathartic after years of listening to Von's whiny sarcasm. If anything I think it needs more screaming. I was WRONG! I could believe you ... BUT I DON'T!!!

I Will Call You
We await the lyrics before anyone covers this one.

Jihad
Peter "CZarny" Taylor has the only version of this that I could find. Surely I missed some? I'd like to hear Milk Inc cover Jihad, or maybe Nine Inch Nails.

Kiss The Carpet
I have a tie here between the trippy INHK version and the heavier take from Visitor Information.
But like with Flood II, I think the live act has the best re-imagined Kiss - in this case the Christo/Catalyst version circa 2014.

Lights
Lights is a strange song and the cover versions are all over the place. There are some imaginative attempts out there, but I'm going with this wierdly ambient version from vero.

Lucretia, My Reflection
Ah, so many Lucretia covers. Just search on your favourite platform and you'll find some or other good one.
My favourite is still the metal assault from Warrel Dane with the lead playing the famous bass line. It's recognisable yet refreshingly different, a tight performance, great production, everything I want from a good cover version.

Marian
So many Marian covers too.
Edith Crash stood out with an take that manages to be emotional without being at all "goth".

More
None of the covers of More really stood out to me. I'm going with CARNAL's heavy version.
Honestly I think Meat Loaf's OTT version is the right direction to take this song in, but it needed a young Meat Loaf to pull off (with a young Steinman on the piano). RIP lads.

Mother Russia
Of course there's this one guy who decided to cover only Mother Russia.
It's not bad, but I want to know what he has against Dominion?

Never Land
It's pretty straight, but Candy Apple Black captures the essence of this track with his 12 minute take. I like the video too.

Nine While Nine
I liked the quirky electronic version from David Bayne and Phasade.
Josephine Alley was charming too.

No Time To Cry
Cradle of Filth's metal cover is the only choice here. It's a quality metal imagining of a track that isn't obviously going to work in the genre. As I mentioned in the other thread it's arguably the most influential Sisters cover in that it itself inspired further metal cover versions.

On The Wire
Hands down it's this amazing thrash metal cover by Ворочарак.
Von's semi-coherent rant and the pointless shouting that follows it suddenly make sense when delivered like this! I feel like they need a shredded guitar solo at the end though.

Phantom
Nobody has covered Gary Marx's "non guitarists guitar solo" yet, but when they do I must insist that it comes with a video of them prancing around wildly in a plaid shirt.

Poison Door
None really stood out for me. I'm gonna pick Dawn Of Elysium here because I'm a sucker for FFM.

Possession
Why are there so few covers of such a good song?
This attempt from The Insonmia Night is very good. Unlike the nasty YT commenters I find his accent a charming addition to the arrangement.

Rain From Heaven
Not much to choose from. This one from HeavenlyCreatures is the least worst.

Ribbons
Again with Marek Krukowski, who is this guy? The jazzy female vocals on this dreamy version of Ribbons are a masterstroke.

Romeo Down
Here is the only cover, from Brad Salyn. Please someone find him a vocalist.

Show Me
@FMAMMY has the only cover, and it's a really good heavier take on the tune.

Some Kind Of Stranger
None of the covers really grab me, which is odd because this is one of my Sisters favourites but is also somehow flawed, both in the album original and the 'early' version.
Surely there is an epic take on this song out there waiting to be found?
Maybe Nirvana could have recorded my perfect cover of SKOS, in lieu of that I'd like to hear this song covered by a collaboration between Adele and The Hu.

I want to link to something, so here is a weird remix of the already weird Unwoman version by The Brothers Of Tyranny.

Something Fast
There are a number of good but pretty straight covers out there waiting for you to find.
I liked this heavier version from Snow Storm. I want to add that "Gimme something fast!" is an obvious line for a techno banger. Someone call up Scooter.

Still
@Todashi also needs a vocalist please.

Summer
The version by Dollysplit is my fave of the few covers of Summer out there.

Temple Of Love
So many TOL covers to choose from.
Because I like oddball covers I'm gonna pick the awesome reggae cover by Bus Station Loonies. They really make this extremely odd combination work well. Da wind-a weel bloh and throh ya walls aside-ah!
Mr Irish Bastard's well known "folk punk" cover is also very good.

The Damage Done
SonikElectrik's brooding cover is the best out there. I stand by my opinion that the song is crying out for a good banging EDM cover though.

This Corrosion
The covers here are all over the place. Lambchop and BossHoss have are good country-influenced ones. The KT6 Vocal Group does a great A Capella cover. Lisa Cuthbert's piano version is nice. For me the jazz/soul take from Diane Birch stands out.
This song has been one big p*ss-take from the start and I am not surprised that it attracts so many weird covers.

I note that a lot of artists leave out the "I got nothing to say..." section in their covers for some reason. Please don't do this! That's like porn without the money shot, or Nascar without the pile up!

Torch
I liked Red King's indie-rock version, although it could use a better vocalist and better production.

Train
I'll go with Council Of Days although it's a pretty straight cover, there isn't much choice here.

Under The Gun
Marcony has an interesting alternative version.

Valentine
I'm going with this disturbing alternative (or industrial?) cover from JADEaD. (NSFW)

Vision Thing
Gotta be SkinjoB's EDM cover, which was apparently the result of a drunken evening in the studio. Nice one.

Walk Away
None really stand out to me here. Paradise Lost has a good mainstream metal cover.

War On Drugs
Only Brad Salyn again.

Watch
I didn't find any covers of this, although I believe SonikElectrik is working on one.
I'd suggest that later versions from the live set were better than the released single and that cover artists should look at those later live bootlegs.

We Are The Same, Susanne
This has the most covers of the unreleased material. The Brothers Of Tyranny have a good electronic take.

When You Don't See Me
I liked the FFM-style cover by Lesbian Bed Death.

Wide Receiver
No covers of this. I was thinking that a rap cover might work, can someone please let 1990s Canibus know.

Will I Dream?
Was Brad Salyn auditioning for a place in the live lineup? This one does have decent vocals too.

You Could Be The One
Without many to choose from, let me link to the cover by TENEBRAS SEX. I'd love to hear a cover of this done by Guns n Roses.

Epilogue
While I'm at it I'd also like to highlight the weird medleys that I came across. The Sisters have a tradition of performing medleys going back to the '81 demo tape. Some people have taken this as an invitation to get up too all kinds of madness...

Liturgy Of Decay: Amphetamine Logic / Some Kind Of Stranger
I don't know how this one relates to the SKurL cover of Logic that I mentioned above.

Devoured By Flowers: Sorrow (Pink Floyd) / Colours
Really it's just a snippet of Colours at the end ... why?

Ahráyeph: Never Land / Summer
An odd combination but I think this one really works.

Syria: Confortably Numb / SKOS
Used by the real band too obviously.

David Prescott: Frozen (Madonna) / Under The Gun
I'm not sure why you'd want to tack Von's UTG rant section onto the rump of Frozen, but I guess it kind of works.
Do you remember a time when angels... do you remember a time when fear?
In the days when I was stronger, in the days when you were here?
User avatar
Nyth Grandbeard
Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 147
Joined: 11 Nov 2020, 23:26
Location: Vortex World
Contact:

Thanks for this, definitely gonna give these all a listen at work today. :notworthy: :notworthy:
gjh
Road Kill
Posts: 5
Joined: 24 Apr 2022, 07:48

This single post is the reason I signed up for this forum. Full marks. Outstanding work. Thank you,
User avatar
Pista
Cureboi
Posts: 17628
Joined: 25 Jun 2006, 15:03
Location: Lost In A Forest
Contact:

gjh wrote: 24 Apr 2022, 08:00 This single post is the reason I signed up for this forum. Full marks. Outstanding work. Thank you,
Hello & welcome to :hl: :D
Cheers.
Steve
Just like the old days

TheCureCommunity
User avatar
LyanvisAberrant
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 757
Joined: 18 Mar 2013, 21:58
Location: Where the wild roses grow.
Contact:

alanm wrote: 28 Feb 2022, 08:45 I've listened to a lot of Sisters covers the last few weeks. Here are my favourites.

Summer
The version by Dollysplit is my fave of the few covers of Summer out there.
AWW thank you so much, you just made my morning. I haven't thought about that in a while, I made that when I was 14/15? Been a long time since my voice was that high...
A man with a fictitious grin pondered the terrain in which he flooded with anguish, for this is England. The lion cannot be tamed, this is the game.
paint it black
Black, black, black & even blacker
Posts: 4966
Joined: 11 Jul 2002, 01:00

Ahráyeph was I think HL mob.

Marian in bossa nova surely?
Goths have feelings too
User avatar
Being645
Wiki Wizard
Posts: 15272
Joined: 09 Apr 2009, 12:54
Location: reconstruction status: whatever the f**k

paint it black wrote: 24 Apr 2022, 15:35 Ahráyeph was I think HL mob.
Yeah, he did a really good version of Summer.
User avatar
alanm
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 266
Joined: 03 Mar 2020, 13:11
Location: this is not my map at all

gjh wrote: 24 Apr 2022, 08:00 This single post is the reason I signed up for this forum. Full marks. Outstanding work. Thank you,
Thanks, and welcome :)
paint it black wrote: 24 Apr 2022, 15:35 Ahráyeph was I think HL mob.
There is an old thread somewhere that I can't find any more. But yes he is.
Do you remember a time when angels... do you remember a time when fear?
In the days when I was stronger, in the days when you were here?
User avatar
iesus
Overbomber
Posts: 4455
Joined: 15 Mar 2006, 11:15
Location: x-EU

Was listening today one of my fav covers and checked here if it's listed and was not, so i post the vid to it ;D



Was mentioned at the past, i think butnot listed :notworthy: :bat:
'Are we the Baddies?'...
"Someday! Someday, everything you need, is just gonna fall out of the sky..." -A.E. Reading 1991
"Don't forget that most of the judges in witches trials had harvard degrees."
User avatar
sultan2075
Overbomber
Posts: 2379
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:17
Location: Washington, D. C.
Contact:

iesus wrote: 11 Jul 2022, 14:47 Was listening today one of my fav covers and checked here if it's listed and was not, so i post the vid to it ;D



Was mentioned at the past, i think butnot listed :notworthy: :bat:
Yeah, I've heard this one before - it's outstanding.
--
The most successful tyranny is not the one that uses force to assure uniformity but the one that removes the awareness of other possibilities, that makes it seem inconceivable that other ways are viable, that removes the sense that there is an outside.
User avatar
MrChris
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1413
Joined: 21 May 2003, 11:34
Location: A Forest

Yeah, this one reminded me how brilliant Eldritch can be at writing music. Such an original song when you listen to it like that
Chris

---------------------------------------------
Again and again and again...
User avatar
ruffers
Overbomber
Posts: 2677
Joined: 24 Jan 2005, 16:43
Location: Leeds of all places

In a similar vein (I posted this in another thead a while back)

Chucking another log on
User avatar
alanm
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 266
Joined: 03 Mar 2020, 13:11
Location: this is not my map at all

Both top covers! I was biased towards material that included the lyrics in my post, but these two are fantastic multi-voiced instrumental versions.
Do you remember a time when angels... do you remember a time when fear?
In the days when I was stronger, in the days when you were here?
User avatar
LyanvisAberrant
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 757
Joined: 18 Mar 2013, 21:58
Location: Where the wild roses grow.
Contact:

I ressurrected my channel to put out a cover of romeo down today. Will leave it here for those interested.
A man with a fictitious grin pondered the terrain in which he flooded with anguish, for this is England. The lion cannot be tamed, this is the game.
User avatar
kafka
Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 161
Joined: 21 Nov 2003, 21:18

I ressurrected my channel to put out a cover of romeo down today. Will leave it here for those interested.
Oh, well done! I was really enjoying this but waiting for the inevitable dodgy doom goth vocals to come in, and was really pleasantly surprised!
[repeat x40]
User avatar
Brad
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 668
Joined: 22 Jan 2003, 18:25
Location: Canada

Will I Dream?
Was Brad Salyn auditioning for a place in the live lineup? This one does have decent vocals too.
A man's gotta dream!
User avatar
Todashi
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 352
Joined: 21 Jun 2019, 09:53

That Romeo Down cover is magnificent. Really really good. Well done.
User avatar
ruffers
Overbomber
Posts: 2677
Joined: 24 Jan 2005, 16:43
Location: Leeds of all places

Todashi wrote: 25 Aug 2022, 11:05 That Romeo Down cover is magnificent. Really really good. Well done.
This
Chucking another log on
User avatar
Pista
Cureboi
Posts: 17628
Joined: 25 Jun 2006, 15:03
Location: Lost In A Forest
Contact:

alanm wrote: 25 Apr 2022, 06:44
There is an old thread somewhere that I can't find any more. But yes he is.
It's here ;)

& Ahráyeph's Summer is outstanding
Cheers.
Steve
Just like the old days

TheCureCommunity
coelocanth
Road Kill
Posts: 17
Joined: 21 Jul 2022, 10:33

Thanks for this outstanding effort and resource :) Humbly offered, a few additions to be considered for linking, all chosen for going in significantly different directions to the originals:

Alice - Police des Moeurs (in French, politely overlooking Von's comments about the French): https://policedesmoeurs1.bandcamp.com/t ... s-of-mercy

First and Last and Always - Foetus (definitely an acquired taste this one, but I like it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxVbzz3 ... 6&index=25

Ribbons - Unwoman (I might like this better than the original recording, sacrilege I know): https://unwoman.bandcamp.com/track/ribbons-2

Lucretia - Mark Morriss (video complete with a loving parody/imitation of Von's stage tics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Zt8hMl-No

Lucretia agian - Sebastian Haff feat. Laurent (northern surf rockabilly??? I love these off the wall covers for revealing how good the actual songs are): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bd7QvOUf0k

Temple of Love - Johnny Hollow (magnificently odd): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p64wbdRBzjk

Plus seconded the comments above on @LyanvisAberrant's cover of Romeo Down - that's awesome. :)
User avatar
LyanvisAberrant
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 757
Joined: 18 Mar 2013, 21:58
Location: Where the wild roses grow.
Contact:

kafka wrote: 24 Aug 2022, 14:54
I ressurrected my channel to put out a cover of romeo down today. Will leave it here for those interested.
Oh, well done! I was really enjoying this but waiting for the inevitable dodgy doom goth vocals to come in, and was really pleasantly surprised!
Ha, thank you so much! Couldn't sing deep if I tried. I really appreciate that everyone, really encouraging words!
A man with a fictitious grin pondered the terrain in which he flooded with anguish, for this is England. The lion cannot be tamed, this is the game.
User avatar
alanm
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 266
Joined: 03 Mar 2020, 13:11
Location: this is not my map at all

LyanvisAberrant wrote: 23 Aug 2022, 22:12I ressurrected my channel to put out a cover of romeo down today
Nice work! I think you've hidden the vocals a bit too deep in the mix, they're really good.
coelocanth wrote: 27 Aug 2022, 04:17 Humbly offered, a few additions
All great covers! In hindsight it was remiss of me not to include more links for the songs that have a number of good covers beyond my pick as favourite. Especially Lucretia. Only excuse is that I was quite sick of listening to Lucretia covers at that point ...
Do you remember a time when angels... do you remember a time when fear?
In the days when I was stronger, in the days when you were here?
fields
Road Kill
Posts: 5
Joined: 03 Oct 2005, 18:46

For me , the best Sisters covers are Heartland by Malaise and Valentine by House Of Usher
User avatar
ruffers
Overbomber
Posts: 2677
Joined: 24 Jan 2005, 16:43
Location: Leeds of all places



Twelve minutes instrumental gets quite intense.
Chucking another log on
User avatar
Pista
Cureboi
Posts: 17628
Joined: 25 Jun 2006, 15:03
Location: Lost In A Forest
Contact:

Kind of digging this beauty right now
Cheers.
Steve
Just like the old days

TheCureCommunity
Post Reply