Listen to a Medieval Folk Music Ensemble Play a Metallica Song

You wouldn’t expect the members of a Belarusian medieval folk band to be Metallica fans, but that’s the beauty of Stary Olsa’s cover of the metal band’s classic song “One.”

Originally released as a single from the 1988 album …And Justice for All, the group re-imagined the hard-edged tune using lyres, flutes, mandolins, and other historic instruments. They played their cover on a Belarusian television program called Legends Live (Легенды Live), resulting in a slightly geeky—yet melodically haunting—homage to one of the world’s most famous rock groups.

Stary Olsa has been around since 1999, and while the six-member band has achieved fame in their native land for performing medieval Belarusian music, they've also posted videos online of them covering Deep Purple’s “Child in Time” and Red Hot Chili Peppers' “Californication.” Check out Stara Olsa's website for living proof that some modern tunes can be timeless—even when the musicians playing them are channeling a centuries-old aesthetic.

Images: Wikipedia//CC BY-SA 3.0 

[h/t A.V. Club]