Music

7 amazing clarinet covers of technical death metal songs

by Tyler Munro

February 7, 2014

Caleb Canatheviphth nearly broke the heavy metal blogosphere when his cover of Decapitated’s “Spheres of Madness” went online in 2012. Not just because his take on the song was original and captivating, but because he played the song’s impeccably technical guitar parts on a fucking clarinet. The rest, they say, is history.

Caleb has spent the past 18 months upping the ante, moving on from Decapitated to even more complicated source material, including a couple of Necrophagist covers. Here’s the thing: this is incredibly goofy. But here’s another thing: It’s good. Because once you get past the absurdity of technical death metal played on a clarinet, you move onto just how impressive and fun it actually is. Like, how can you not root for this guy?

Earlier this week Caleb posted what might be his best cover yet, a rendition of Meshuggah’s “New Millennium Cyanide Christ” played on his bass clarinet. Like his previous clips, the cover is matched with a terrifyingly enthusiastic video in which he headbangs and power-stances the whole time. Unlike the others, this one’s in public, rocking out in the back of his mid-sized sedan.

So, Caleb Canatheviphth, this is our tribute to you. Here are the seven best heavy metal clarinet covers. Just wait until you see (and hear) the Origin one. In each case, click the song title to hear the original.