Virtuoso Acoustic Guitarists Cover METALLICA's 'Orion': Audio Available

A cover of METALLICA's "Orion" by acoustic guitar duo RODRIGO & GABRIELA has been posted online at this location. The song will be included on RODRIGO & GABRIELA's new self-titled album, due on March 13 via Rubyworks Records.

"Rodrigo y Gabriela" was produced by John Leckie (MUSE, RADIOHEAD, MY MORNING JACKET) and the artistes themselves. It was recorded in the U.K. in the late summer of 2005, and features nine new tracks — seven RODRIGO & GABRIELA originals and two covers: METALLICA's "Orion" and LED ZEPPELIN's "Stairway to Heaven". All the instrumentation on the album comes from RODRIGO Y GABRIELA's guitars, with the exception of guest gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos, who contributes a blistering solo to "Ixtapa".

Natives of Mexico City, Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero began their careers as members of TIERRA ACIDA, a heavy metal band which played on the city's underground gig circuit for seven years.

"Like a lot of Mexican youth, we were heavily influenced by American metal bands — METALLICA, MEGADETH, PANTERA, and also SEPULTURA," Gabriela explained. "It was a full band, very loud, and for vocals, Rodrigo would just scream. We played this way for seven years."

Since Rodrigo and Gabriela moved to Ireland from Mexico, they have released several albums, contributed to film soundtracks and sold out shows across Ireland and the U.K.

The group's last CD, "Live Manchester and Dublin", was recorded in Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral and the Manchester Academy and was issued in 2004. The album combines live performances from both cities and features their distinctive cover of METALLICA's "One" interwoven with the DAVE BRUBEK jazz classic "Take 5". Download an MP3 of "One"/"Take 5" at this location.

(Thanks: Encyclopedia Metallica)