What if ’60s psych rockers The Doors wrote on Metallica’s heavy metal anthem “Enter Sandman”? That’s the question YouTuber Denis Pauna set out to answer with a video earlier this year, and boy are rock fans glad that he did. All the familiar lyrics and riffs are there, but instead of Metallica’s hard-edged metal, this version of “Enter Sandman” has a slithering retro groove, driven by an organ vamp in the unmistakable style of The Doors’ keyboardist Ray Manzarek.
Metallica frontman James Hetfield has a pretty mean snarl, but it’s also a treat to hear his iconic lyrics sung in the booming baritone of Jim Morrison. You’ve got to hand it to Pauna, who does a very convincing take on Morrison’s style, as well as nailing multiple instruments to a high level in the unique cover. The guitar solo in particular is really inspired and adds an eerie and intense mood to the song.
Pauna does a range of crossover covers for his channel, covering a range of bands, although all 10 of his most popular videos feature Metallica in some way. His “Enter Sandman”, written by The Doors, has already become a hit on his channel, attracting 361,000 views, becoming his fifth most viewed video on YouTube. Pauna commented on the origin of the quirky cover, saying “Here’s the old classic ‘Enter Sandman’ but in an even older style.”
Pauna noted that his “Enter Sandman” cover took inspiration from The Doors songs “Soul Kitchen” and “When The Music’s Over”, which are deep cuts that appeared on the band’s first and second albums respectively. He added that he “felt like they’ve translated really well into ‘Enter Sandman’, with some extra changes of course.” Pauna’s most popular video on YouTube has a similar theme, as it’s a cover of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” in a rollicking 1950s rock ‘n’ roll style.
Rock fans had plenty of good things to say about Pauna’s The Doors and Metallica crossover, adding comments such as “Dude, I am a mega Doors fan, and I am impressed! I rarely see this type of justice done to a band” and “This is unbelievably good. The slow pace, Jim Morrison take dead on, fuzz guitar, organ playing the main ‘Enter Sandman’ riff. Sounds like a classic Doors song and a good one.”
If you enjoy cross-genre covers and are a fan of innovative music, be sure to check out Denis Pauna on his YouTube channel. From his unique take on what if The Doors wrote Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”, to various other crossover covers, his content promises creativity and talent. Denis also shares updates and interacts with fans regularly on his Facebook page.