Hear Metallica’s “Sad but True” Covered by Jason Isbell, St. Vincent and Sam Fender (from ‘The Metallica Blacklist’)

The Metallica Blacklist, a comprehensive and dizzingly eclectic album cover project launched by the metal gods to commemorate their breakthrough 1991 self-titled Black Album, is shaping up quite nicely — and three more covers premiered on Tuesday.

On September 10th, celebrate “The Black Album” your way with “Metallica” (Remastered) and "The Metallica Blacklist". https://t.co/3bMYsWZALZ#BlackAlbum2021 #TheMetallicaBlacklist pic.twitter.com/662mUBwVc2

— Metallica (@Metallica) June 22, 2021

Fully capturing the scope of artists represented on this collection, three widely disparate renditions of “Sad but True” were shared, from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, St. Vincent and Sam Fender. Each version is significantly different from the other, yet all three are familiar enough to register as a cover of the tune, one of the album’s most well known tracks.

Here’s Isbell’s take:

And St. Vincent’s, which has her signature sound all over it:

Fender’s live take, meanwhile, features a powerhouse vocal performance:

2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the now-timeless record that defines both the band and an entire era of music (even if its smooth production and more pop-oriented compositions ruffled the feathers of old-school Metallica heads more interested in thrash metal), and to mark the occasion the band has put together both an elaborate reissue package and the Blacklist covers compilation.

There will be a standard remastered edition of The Black Album made available in a variety of formats including 3-CD, 2-LP, and box set formats on September 10

Click here to pre-order Metallica: Remastered on CD
Click here to pre-order Metallica: Remastered on 3-CD
Click here to pre-order Metallica: Remastered on 2-LP
Click here to pre-order Metallica: Remastered on Deluxe Box Set

An alternate recording of the track, “Sad But True (Take 36 – February 5th, 1991)”, was also shared with the covers:

The Blacklist set, meanwhile, features 53 separate acts (!) covering tracks from the record.

Click here to pre-order The Metallica Blacklist on 4-CD Box Set
Click here to pre-order The Metallica Blacklist on 7-LP Box Set

Here’s “Nothing Else Matters,” as performed by Miley Cyrus (featuring Elton John, WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, and Chad Smith):

And “Enter Sandman,” as reinterpreted by Juanes:

The Metallica Blacklist features an eye-popping collection of talent, and promises to be quite a special way to commemorate the lasting legacy of the Black Album. Here’s the track listing, which features quite a few different takes on the album’s hits, “Enter Sandman,” “Sad but True” and, most abundantly, “Nothing Else Matters”:

“Enter Sandman” — Alessia Cara & The Warning
“Enter Sandman” — Mac DeMarco
“Enter Sandman” — Ghost
“Enter Sandman” — Juanes
“Enter Sandman” — Rina Sawayama
“Enter Sandman” — Weezer
“Sad but True (Live)” — Sam Fender
“Sad but True” — Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
“Sad but True” — Mexican Institute of Sound
“Sad but True” — Royal Blood
“Sad but True” — St. Vincent
“Sad but True” — White Reaper
“Sad but True” — YB
“Holier Than Thou” — Biffy Clyro
“Holier Than Thou” — The Chats
“Holier Than Thou” — OFF!
“Holier Than Thou” — PUP
“Holier Than Thou” — Corey Taylor
“The Unforgiven” — Cage the Elephant
“The Unforgiven” — Vishal Dadlani, DIVINE & Shor Police (ft. Metallica)
“The Unforgiven” — Diet Cig
“The Unforgiven” — Flatbush Zombies (ft. DJ Scratch)
“The Unforgiven” — Ha-Ash
“The Unforgiven” — Jose Madero
“The Unforgiven” — Moses Sumney
“Wherever I May Roam” — J Balvin (ft. Metallica)
“Wherever I May Roam” — Chase & Status
“Wherever I May Roam” — The Neptunes (ft. Metallica)
“Wherever I May Roam” — Jon Pardi
“Don’t Tread On Me” — SebastiAn
“Don’t Tread On Me” — Portugal. the Man
“Don’t Tread On Me — Volbeat
“Through The Never” — The Hu
“Through The Never” — Tomi Owo
“Nothing Else Matters” — Phoebe Bridgers
“Nothing Else Matters” — Miley Cyrus (ft. WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith)
“Nothing Else Matters” — Dave Gahan
“Nothing Else Matters” — Mickey Guyton
“Nothing Else Matters” — Dermot Kennedy
“Nothing Else Matters” — Mon LaFerte
“Nothing Else Matters” — Igor Levit
“Nothing Else Matters” — My Morning Jacket
“Nothing Else Matters” — PG Roxette
“Nothing Else Matters” — Darius Rucker
“Nothing Else Matters” — Chris Stapleton
“Nothing Else Matters” — TRESOR
“Of Wolf and Man” — Goodnight, Texas
“The God That Failed” — IDLES
“The God That Failed” — Imelda May
“My Friend of Misery” — Cherry Glazerr
“My Friend of Misery” — Izia
“My Friend of Misery” — Kamasi Washington
“The Struggle Within” — Rodrigo y Gabriela