BENEDICTUM vocalist Veronica Freeman and guitarist Pete Wells recently discussed their cover of 'Overture' / 'The Temples Of Syrinx', taken from the RUSH classic '2112', which is featured as a bonus track on their new album, Dominion. An excerpt from the story is available below:

“I can’t believe they had the audacity to try it, much less nail it!”

The above statement is par for the course for any artist that dares to cover a Rush song. In this particular instance it’s a YouTube reaction to US-based metal band Benedictum’s rendition of ‘Overture’ / ‘The Temples of Syrinx’, taken off the front end of the Rush epic ‘2112’. And while there are purists out there that refuse to accept so-called upstarts messing with the Rush legacy, the Benedictum cover has generally gone down a storm. Supersized in terms of production, fireworked by blazing drum / guitar interplay, and blasted into the stratosphere by singer Veronica Freeman’s full-on Dio-esque vocals, this updated version of the Canuck homegrown classic has added credibility to Benedictum’s growing no-bull reputation and opened more than few minds in the aftermath.

What makes Benedictum’s homage to Rush that much sweeter is the fact it was Freeman who brought the idea to the table rather than a prog-happy instrumentalist. Not what you expect of someone who cut her teeth on traditional ’80s metal and has been known to blow up Dio and Accept covers in fine form.

“I’m a huge Rush fan,” says Freeman I love ‘em. “I just don’t talk about it much because everybody wants to talk to me about the Dio stuff. Rush has always resonated with me, but I knew so many people that didn’t like them back in the day because they didn’t sound evil enough (laughs), so I became a closet Rush fan. I had always wanted to sing ‘Temples’. I remember back in the times before CDs, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I had my wannabe souped-up Firebird blasting Rush on the cassette deck. The stereo was worth more than the car (laughs). I had the windows rolled up so nobody else could hear while I tried to hit those notes (laughs).”

Hearing that a metal band has dared to cover Rush, particularly one with a female singer, gives rise to thoughts of songs such as ‘Closer To The Heart’ or ‘Time Stand Still’ being put on the block. Tracks that are hook-laden and radio friendly rather than musically challenging.

“Tell me about it,” sighs Freeman. “I’m so used to that, now it bounces off me. I’ve heard it forever. From the moment I announced that I was in a band other than a little cover band. The talk around the water cooler was always the same when people asked me what I did outside of work. I’d tell them I was in a band and they’d immediately assume it was rhythm & blues. They’d all get excited: ‘You sing in a band? What kind of music?’ I’d tell them ‘Metal’ and it was like, ‘Oh. So what instrument do you play?’ Even now I think people expect Benedictum is going to be more like Tarja or something.”

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