Seattle heavy metal powerhouse RIVETSKULL unleashes a gripping cover of Taylor Swift’s “Haunted.” Originally featured on Taylor Swift’s ‘Speak Now’ album, “Haunted” is steeped in brooding drama. RIVETSKULL leans fully into that atmosphere, reimagining the song with a heavy edge while staying true to its emotional core. The cover arrives accompanied by a striking new music video, available below.
Mark X. Plog, RIVETSKULL guitarist, explains:
“In the ongoing pursuit to grow our audience, Chad half-jokingly suggested covering a Taylor Swift song to see if we could potentially tap into some of her massive social media reach. The idea stuck with me. I’ve got two daughters — strong, smart, independent, and constantly pushing against a world that still tells women to sit down and stay quiet. That’s the same fire I see in Taylor. (And yeah, f**k the patriarchy).”
“Out of curiosity, I started listening to her catalog, and ‘Haunted’ stopped me cold. It’s not one of her biggest hits, but it had the kind of emotional tension and drama that made sense for RIVETSKULL. I put together a rough demo and sent it to the band. They didn’t hesitate — it was a yes.”
Mark continues, “While recording, something unexpected happened. With a male voice singing the lyrics, the tone shifted. It felt darker. Almost threatening. Instead of backing away from that, we decided to explore it. We leaned into that intensity in the video, but it was important that we didn’t glorify the more unsettling elements. The story had to end with the woman taking her power back.”
“Covering ‘Haunted’ gave us a chance to put a heavy spin on a song with real emotional weight and to honor the strength of women, including Taylor herself. We’re also taking this opportunity to spotlight NoMoreDirectory.org — a global resource for anyone seeking help with domestic or sexual violence.” – Visit MoMoreDirectory.org HERE
Stream / Listen to “Haunted” HERE
RIVETSKULL’s tour continues to fuse their own music with a celebration of Ronnie James Dio’s legendary catalog, see the full list of dates below.
RIVETSKULL Live:
Sep 12 – Belfast, UK @Mandella Hall
Sep 13 – Drogheda, IE @McHughs
Sep 19 – Dublin, IE @Opium
Oct 11 – San Antonio, TX @Fitzgerald’s
Nov 14 – Las Vegas, NV @The Space
Nov 15 – Tucson, AZ @The Rock
Nov 22 – Boise, ID @Heritage Social Club
About RIVETSKULL
Formed in Seattle in 2009, RIVETSKULL first united by the shared connection to the music of Ronnie James Dio, they are now forging their own path while honoring their roots. Their debut album ‘Trail of Souls: Samsara’ (2023) and follow-up ‘Absence of Time’ established them as a formidable voice in heavy metal.
With Chad McMurray (vocals), Mark Plog (guitar), Michael Robson (drums), and Johnny Massey (bass), RIVETSKULL delivers a sound steeped in classic metal tradition, intense energy, and raw passion. Their electrifying performances merge original music with a celebration of Dio’s timeless brilliance, offering fans a true heavy metal experience.
RIVETSKULL are:
Chad McMurray – vocals
Mark Plog – guitar
Michael Robson – drums
Johnny Massey – bass
RIVETSKULL online:
http://www.rivetskull.com
http://www.facebook.com/rivetskull
http://www.instagram.com/rivetskull
http://www.youtube.com/rivetskull
Click image to watch the video
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