JP2 – Enter Sandman (2026)
One part of my job that really stokes my passion for music reviewing is the joy of finding new musicians almost every day. Whether they’re emerging acts releasing their debut single or seasoned artists with an international following, every note is fascinating. When it comes to veteran musician JP2, I find I’m rather late to the party. With over 25 years on live stages and in recording studios, the US-based singer-songwriter can “light the spark in your party”. With his own brand of music ranging from rock to pop, metal and indie, JP2 speaks to listeners across genres and holds every heart in the palm of his hand. Join us as we delve into his recent release, ‘Enter Sandman’.
The first track in two years, or at least according to Spotify, JP2 takes on Metallica’s iconic rock anthem, ‘Enter Sandman’. Now, to offer a full, honest opinion of JP2’s version, I had to listen to the original; man, it always has me playing air guitar and singing into an imaginary mic with a bit of a growl. When it comes to this version, ‘Enter Sandman’ is flipped on its head. Eager to bring new life and twists to covers, JP2’s inspiration was, as he shares, “My own curiosity to turn a classic metal song on its head and give it a completely different sound… I find it fun to change songs when I interpret them. I don’t like performing covers that sound like the original.”
JP2’s ‘Enter Sandman’ remains in the realm of hard rock, and you can hear the similarities with pounding drums, a scorching guitar and heavy bass; however, a contrary flavour comes in with his vocals. Less gruff growl, and more rhythmic, flowing pop-rock, JP2 inserts some… well, it seems more clarity into the melody. Almost a Weezer meets Good Charlotte easiness lurking in the Metallica arrangement. Interestingly, while the simpler pop-rock tone carries along the melody, the cover retains a stadium-ready quality with rockers jumping about, shouting the lyrics in unison.
So, what is my overall opinion of JP2’s ‘Enter Sandman’? Definitely not as heavy as Metallica, but entertaining and fun in its lighter approach. I’m not playing air guitar or growling into my hairbrush, but I’m still nodding along and enjoying the music.
Find out more about JP2 on his official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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