Skold Shares Cover Of Depeche Mode Classic 'Blasphemous Rumours'

Michael Angulia | 02-09-2023

Industrial icon Skold has revealed a cover of the Depeche Mode classic "Blasphemous Rumours", which is the second track from a forthcoming tribute album.

"All I Ever Wanted - A Tribute To Depeche Mode", will be released on March 17th and aside from this track from Skold, will features covers from Lebanon Hanover, Priest, Xiu Xiu, The KVB.

Glass Onyon sent over these details: In the early days of Depeche Mode's career, many dismissed the group as the kind of fluffy new wave electropop that was as inconsequential and easily discarded as chewed up bubblegum. Opinions began to change, however, as the group matured and darkened their sound for their fourth album, 1984's Some Great Reward, which featured edgier production and lyrical themes of BDSM ("Master & Servant"), persecution ("People Are People") and, most powerfully, religious disillusionment on the controversial closing track "Blasphemous Rumours."

Swedish industrial icon Skold knows a thing or two about controversy. As a member of Marilyn Manson's band and even in his solo career, Skold has courted the wrath of the religious community for his use of spiritual imagery in both his album artwork and lyrics. Thus, it's no surprise that DM's "Blasphemous Rumours" would resonate with Skold, and no surprise also that his cover version would have an even sharper bite than the original.

As Skold himself puts it, "Depeche Mode has obviously had a very big influence on me and the music I make. I chose this specific song mainly because the heart crushing lyrics but also because of the very 'industrial' stylings of the track. I have covered Depeche Mode before together with Marilyn Manson [2004's "Personal Jesus"] so I have "experience" for lack of a better term. It may be crazy but I see a clear line from Depeche Mode to music from more current artist too, for example XXXTentacion and the Weeknd and yeah I'm naming those 2 together to underscore the incredible diversity of music that is Depeche Mode."