Akasha Releases Vampyric Black Metal Cover of “Last Caress”

Metal covers of classic punk songs don’t have the best track record. It’s tough to capture the proper spirit of the original sound when you’re own aesthetic is so different. Don’t get me wrong, it was rad of Megadeth and Anthrax to try out some Sex Pistols covers, but the thrash metal guitar tone (with the mids scooped out) just doesn’t work on “God Save of the Queen” or “Anarchy in the U.K.” and makes the whole attempt sound kind of awkward. I’d say the same thing for Metallica’s cover of “Last Caress.” Again, I love how much Metallica reps the Misfits, but the Justice-era guitar tone and James’ meaty vocals just jars the ear of someone versed in the original.

But what if a black metal band gave it a shot?

Akasha is a one-man black metal project from California, headed by a man going by “Leech.” We’ve covered Akasha here at Decibel before, and the act’s debut album, Canticles of the Sepulchral Deity, has been slowly gaining buzz in the underground. For the re-release of the Consuming the Soul EP, out now via Death Kvlt Productions, Leech went ahead and added his own cover of “Last Caress.”

And it’s totally bonkers.

But I love it all the same! Akasha is all about in-your-face distorted vocals, punishing tempos and guitars with explosively high levels of gain. Initially, Leech takes an Under the Sign of Hell approach to the song, and then morphs the bridge into a hardcore-style chug-chug-chug. This blaring, hilariously aggressive lo-fi sound works pretty well to create an undead rendition of the Misfits’ early classic.

But enough talk, check out Akasha’s cover of “Last Caress” below: