Metallica - Veteran of Psychic Wars (acousic live) Preformed at the 21st annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California Originally Recorded by Blue Oyster Cult
The original sounds like a theatrical/religious hymn with how hypnotic it sounds. This version sounds like it's sung by an indigenous tribe somewhere on some desolate planet deep in the farthest reaches of space.
I'd like if they made this during the golden age of Metallica, it would probably sound more metal like, because this was probably a bad time for Metallica, I liked 90's Metallica but not much new Metallica
The thing that BOC did was make it sound like a veteran, one who was tired, broken down, and just plan sick of it all was speaking. The slower, less energetic, and more thought out style of the BOC version lent more voice and depth to the song, making it a lament, almost a dirge. It's not a bad cover, I've heard worse, but just not the tone BOC had.
TOTALLY AGREE. Blue oyster cult should be in the top with a lot of other bands. I totally love everything they have written. At least Metallica know that. BOC own, forever.
What you guys don't understand is that this is an acoustic TRIBUTE to a great song. And for what it's worth, I love it! It's much more simplyfied due to the instrumental limitations.
I have long been disappointed with Metallica... knowing some of Jame's other vocals, I think with some slight refinement, this could be a magnificent rendition.
They could nail this with full production. Especially going heavier than the original with electric guitars instead of acoustic. This is one of my favorite BOC songs.
don't forget those; Joan Crawford Sole Survivor Fire of the Unknown Origin (song one) Heavy Metal: The Black and the Silver list is too much longer than that...
The problem of making covers: people want the exactly sound of the original, ignoring that is another fucking band who is interpreting the fucking song.
Oh, I've said that? Wow, I never realized! Maybe my keyboard is writing things for me, or my screen showing me something different. Shut up and listen to the fucking music. Don't like it? No problem, you can change it on a little thing called "search bar". You can't even answer me properly, god dammit! Why i'm answering you anyway? I'm going for a fucking sleep. Try to answer something a little bit more clever next time, sharpie! Good night.Nicholas Brown
An unhinged Metallica fan who cant handle criticism of the band. I am shocked, shocked I say. Let me lay this out for you. You said people dont like their version because it is different, I say it is because it isnt good. You counter with ironically calling me a demigod of interpretation, I say why I think it is bad. You go off the rails.
Veteran Of The Psychic Wars You see me now a veteran of a thousand psychic wars I've been living on the edge so long Where the winds of limbo roar And I'm young enough to look at And far too old to see All the scars are on the inside I'm not sure if there's anything left of me Don't let these shakes go on It's time we had a break from it It's time we had some leave We've been living in the flames We've been eating up our brains Oh, please don't let theses shakes go on You ask me why I'm weary; Why I cant speak to you? You blame me for my silence Say its time I changed and grew But the wars still going on dear And there's no end that I know And I cant say if were forever... I cant say if were forever gonna to be free Don't let these shakes go on Its time we had a break from it Its time we had some leave We've been living in the flames We've been eating out our brains Oh, please don't let theses shakes go on You see me now a veteran of a thousand psychic wars My energy's spent at last And my armor is destroyed I have used up all my weapons And I'm helpless and bereaved Wounds are all I'm made of Did I hear you say that this is victory? Don't let these shakes go on Its time we had a break from it Send me to the rear Where the tides of madness swell And been sliding into hell Oh, please don't let shakes go on Don't let these shakes go on Don't let these shakes go on
It's a nice cover but the sound of the original better captures the futuristic, militaristic and tragic overtones conveyed in the lyrics and song title. It encapsulates the tragedy of dealing with PTSD, drug addiction or mental disorders in general. Its just a fantastic song from a fantastic BOC album.
A true tribute to the song. People give Metallica a lot of shit for no reason and when they stick their neck out to cover a classic BOC and pull it off it really speaks to how good the band is.
Well to be fair, there's only so much you can do when you're covering a song with solely 2 guitars a bass and drums in an amphitheater, of course it won't sound as good as a studio version with all the different sound and the extra keyboard. I don't think this could've been much better under the circumstances.
@@friedlemons5201 you don't have any argument don't you? They are professional musicians giving a shit show so don't come with the old excuse of "you wouldn't do it better"
After the amazing cover they did of Astronomy... I honestly expected more. This isn't bad, but this song deserves a much better attempt at a cover. This sounds like something some emo college kid would come up with today.
Michael Moorcock With Blue Öyster Cult ''Moorcock wrote the lyrics to three album tracks by the American band Blue Öyster Cult: "Black Blade", referring to the sword Stormbringer in the Elric books, "Veteran of the Psychic Wars", showing us Elric's emotions at a critical point of his story (this song may also refer to the "Warriors at the Edge of Time", which figure heavily in Moorcock's novels about John Daker; at one point his novel The Dragon in the Sword they call themselves the "veterans of a thousand psychic wars"), and "The Great Sun Jester", about his friend, the poet Bill Butler, who died of a drug overdose. Moorcock has performed live with BÖC (in 1987 at the Atlanta, GA Dragon Con Convention).''
It's clear to me that Metallica knows that they probably never would have become the band they did without BÖC being there to pave the way before them. You can feel the respect they have for BÖC in their covers and this is a perfect example just like Astronomy from Garage, Inc was. I hope they will continue to cover the songs of Blue Öyster Cult in the future.
Sorry nothing beats the classic and better version of Blue Oyster Cults song ,it just so great and sinister and heavy all at once ,they're such a awesome band!
It was a wonderful idea to play this! No matter what some people say, they are very strong at paying tribute. It's always interresting how they manage to recapture a song without disrepecting it. The deep reverance they feel about the songs they cover is more than obvious to any normal ear, and maybe that's the essential point... I just regret a little mistake in lyrics, when Hetfield sings " and I can't stand forever" instead of "and I can't say if we're ever"...
Damn, try to relax people. Yes it could have sounded a lot better, but it was just an acoustic cover for the Bridge School benefit show. And it was pretty awesome to see.
I love this cover. Consider what this song is about. The mental toll war takes on a person's psyche. The stripped down version seems dirty and desperate and that is what makes it so good. I love the BOC version but through dealing with my own mental struggles from my various deployments, Metallica's version just really hits home for me.
I respect this tribute to one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands, by one of my favorite bands. But it just doesn't capture the pain and anger of the original BoC.
I see Metallica also helping to keep the WHOLE BÖC catalogue alive with their cover of "Astronomy". Good. Don't let the Cult get reduced to "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". Thanks guys!
Oh Metallica, once again making a song sound heavier simply by shifting it a half step...up? And playing their guitars extra overdriv... wait, acoustic? I love the original, and this one has its own (great) feel to it. It's not a forced attempt to make something heavy, it's just them making some good music with help from one of their favorite bands.
I love this version. Really don't understand all the hate in the comments. What is wrong with this version? No keyboards? Off course not! It was a charity event where they played with acoustic guitar! And I also think James voice here was good.
I believe this is my favorite version of the song. The original has the defeated feeling of a dirge-- this version sounds like the narrator still has some fight left in them.
It's a tribute. Metallica must be fans of BOC. That's cool. The original studio recording of Veterans was like a lot of BOC studio originals - easy to pass up or relegate to insignificant, but then when you hear them live, they take you far away, far past the Dog Star. BOC is more than an acquired taste. You have to experience them live. It's a visceral experience tha,t can't be matched by listening to their studio albums. Hetfield and company have to know this and pay homage, but can't match the live experience that is BOC. It's okay. Covering their songs keeps the memory of that experience going.
