Covers can be fun. Covers can be interesting. Yet sometimes, covers can be unique, thought-provoking pieces that take the original subject material and make it their own. Such is the case for Israeli progressive/alt-metal outfit SUBMASQ, whose iteration of Rammstein’s “Mutter”, which takes the German industrial metal titans’ music and turns it into something else entirely.
Previously known as Subterranean Masquerade, SUBMASQ is releasing a covers EP titled Oedipus this Friday. In it, the band cover Danzig’s “Mother”, Genesis’ “Mama”, and the aforementioned Rammstein cover of “Mutter”. I’m sure you can gather what the band’s overarching theme is for this release…
“We love making covers. We wanted to make something special for our followers just before the official new album arrives. We know it takes time, but we want to do it right—so in the meantime, this EP, all rocking and rolling, is for you.”
As you can hear in the cover below, “Mutter” is transformed from a melancholy, yet epic song of loss and maternal betrayal to a more bizarre take on the song. Translated into Yiddish, the song somehow feels more downtrodden, more pained in its delivery. And while it definitely starts off slow and demure at first, there definitely comes a point where the more metal arrangement bursts in. It gets louder, more accusatory at times.
SUBMASQ vocalist Vidi Dolev said he worked with some outside help to translate “Mutter”.
“Together with a poet specializing in Yiddish, my grandmother’s tongue, we re-created the song as ‘Mame,’ exploring the space between the Yiddishkeit image of the ‘Jewish mother’ and a possible transgressive subtext. The result is a respectful, concept-driven reinterpretation rather than just a cover.
“We also produced a low-budget music video for the piece, which is included below. While modest in production, we hope it reflects a spirit and intensity inspired by Rammstein’s work.”
Oedipus will be released on all digital platforms this Friday, February 13, but you can preorder your copy today.