Members of Alice in Chains, Anthrax and Mastodon Cover Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage”

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante has released the latest entry in his series of quarantine covers, which, since be began putting them together in the spring, have featured dozens of prominent metal musicians performing metal classics from their homes and beyond. This time he’s joined by Alice in Chains vocalist William DuVall, Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher, and Metal Allegiance bassist Mark Menghi for an inspiring rendition of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage.”

In a post to Instagram, Benante offered the following on what Soundgarden have meant to him throughout his life and how this cover came together:

“YO! I’m gonna break my Rusty Cage

“Rusty Cage…first song off of Badmotorfinger and a Damn Good one at that! This song makes me wanna drive fast. I was a @soundgarden fan as soon as I heard ‘hunted down’. I then heard the FOPP ep on which they had covered an @ohioplayers song (Honey was a great Album) and I was Hooked. I saw them numerous times from 1988-89 to playing festivals with them a few years ago.

“I always thought they had ‘it’: they were tight but loose,up and down,in and out of tune, heavy and soft, always unique. I always loved the way @Chriscornellofficial sang, His voice was so Recognizable. I saw them at the Armory in New York and he came out and did an acapella version of Beth by @kissonline , I got goosebumps. We are celebrating the music they created with this version of Rusty Cage.

“When @billy_butterslax , @markmenghi, @williamduvallofficial and I decided to Jam this one out it was because it moved us when we first heard it and dammit, it still does! Hope you all enjoy it and Take the time to think what Good Music does to your soul. Thank you to @dlevanchuk and @tom.w.tapley . Love to #kimthayil #mattcameron #benshepherd.”

Give the song a spin below. Special shoutout to DuVall for absolutely nailing it.