Synthpop bands are known for being prolific cover artists. In fact, covers are such a common occurrence that I’ve been making an annual roundup of them for the last five years. But we’re used to hearing synthpop acts cover the usual suspects: Depeche Mode. New Order. Erasure. Of-the-moment tracks like “Running Up That Hill.”
Depeche Mode continues to be the most heavily covered act in the genre. At the start of the year, a double album called In Your Memory arrived, featuring bands like Eisfabrik and Machinista covering DM classics from “Never Let Me Down Again” to “Enjoy the Silence.”
But if you really want to get my attention, cover something unexpected.
Lately, a number of synthpop artists have taken to covering classic rock songs from entirely surprising artists. It’s not every day you hear a synthesizer attempt to recreate Metallica’s massive guitar riffs.
This isn’t completely novel. Just a couple years ago, I was particularly enamored with a synthpop cover of KISS’s “I Was Made for Loving You” by emerging act Pale Meridians. But it’s happened so frequently over the last month that it made me take notice. This could go on to become one of the biggest trends of 2025.
Priest – “Black Hole Sun”
Swedish synthpop maestros Priest have blessed us with a number of cover songs, including a version of DM’s “Personal Jesus.” But the members of Priest were famously once part of the Satanic metal band Ghost, so it shouldn’t surprise us to hear them covering a rock song. They’ve taken on Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” with twinkling synth arrangements and a surprisingly faithful falsetto.
Northern Lite – “Nothing Else Matter”
The German electronic band Northern Lite just released a full album of cover songs, but the highlight is a somber, synthetic version of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” The original is a power ballad with orchestral arrangements and carefully plucked guitar chords, so it translates fairly easily—this version swaps them out for trembling synths. An evocative vocal matches the sentiment of James Hetfield’s unexpectedly emotional delivery.
Rotersand – “Black Night”
It’s been five years since Rotersand’s last full-length, How Do You Feel Today, but the beloved German act has been dropping singles here and there. Their latest is a bold cover of “Black Night” by English hard rock pioneers Deep Purple. The Roter boys inject it with gritty, hard-charging synths and rock ’n’ roll energy, but they’re smart to add enticing electronic elements—and, of course, Rascal’s unmistakable vocals.
Xenturion Prime – “Dust in the Wind”
The Swedish/Norwegian trio Xenturion Prime is known for their lush, atmospheric style of synthpop. That’s exactly how they’ve approached “Dust in the Wind,” the 1977 classic from American prog-rock band Kansas—replacing the acoustic guitar and violin with reverb-soaked synths. The nicest surprise, though, is a powerful and lovely vocal that holds its own against Steve Walsh’s original.
