Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' as You've Never Heard It Before

Metallica remain one of the most influential and jaw-droppingly talented bands in heavy metal, and that's quite a statement, seeing that they've been around for decades. So, it really should be no surprise that Metallica's music continues to be covered by a range of musicians in different genres.

Now, the band's classic "Enter Sandman" has gotten a makeover thanks to a beloved 1990s alternative artist.

During Memorial Day weekend, Weezer singer Rivers Cuomo took to the web and posted covers of a variety of songs, including Metallica's "Enter Sandman." As Americans were getting their grill on and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us, Rivers took to his official YouTube channel to post a range of cover songs, mainly dated from 2018 and 2019.

The collection, called "Randum Cuverz," includes Cuomo's solo demo recordings of "Enter Sandman," plus Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," Radiohead's "Creep," Dolly Parton's "Jolene," Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," Nirvana's "Drain You" and "Lithium" and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)."

This Metallica Cover Stands Out Because It's So Different

When you think of the band Weezer or Rivers, Metallica doesn't come to mind, but that's what makes this cover so cool. It's nothing like what you would expect from Rivers, and that makes it even more special and unique. As someone who has written about music for years, and has even published books about metal music, I enjoy seeing different musicians pay tribute to the genre.

The guys in Weezer, of course, have released cover versions of "Enter Sandman" and "Billie Jean" in 2021 for the Metallica Blacklist compilation set and in 2019 for the Teal Album.

In other Weezer news, the band just released a new single called "Shine Again," which is the debut single of their upcoming album. Rivers and Weezer will also embark on a U.S. tour in September.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 1:42 PM.