Published: February 13, 2026 · 11:56 AM EST
The track appears on Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy, a covers project that sees Iron Savior reimagining classic ’80s pop songs through their signature melodic power metal sound.
German power metal veterans Iron Savior continue exploring the fertile ground between nostalgia and reinvention with their metallic reinterpretation of A-ha’s immortal classic “Take On Me.” Originally released in 1985, the song remains one of the most recognizable pop anthems ever recorded, and its transformation into a full-throttle power metal track proves once again that great melodies can survive any stylistic shift.
Rather than treating the cover as a novelty, Iron Savior approach the track with genuine respect for its musical core. Beneath the polished synth-pop surface of the original lies a melodic structure perfectly suited for the band’s guitar driven power metal style. By replacing keyboards with layered guitars and reinforcing the rhythm with a heavier backbone, the German band reveals a different kind of intensity within the song without stripping away its emotional identity.
Frontman Piet Sielck has acknowledged that “Take On Me” initially felt like an obvious choice for a covers project, given its global recognition. Yet as the band reshaped the track in their own style, the reinterpretation began to feel increasingly natural. What started as a “must” gradually became a version the band genuinely embraced, preserving the original’s melodic spirit while giving it the power and precision associated with Iron Savior’s long-standing sound.
The track forms part of the upcoming covers collection Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy, a project built around transforming iconic ’80s pop songs into melodic metal statements. Alongside “Take On Me,” the album revisits familiar classics such as Irene Cara’s “Fame” and Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” continuing Iron Savior’s tradition of reimagining well-known pop compositions through the lens of European power metal. The idea is not to replace the originals but to reveal how strongly constructed songs can thrive in a heavier environment without losing their identity.
For Iron Savior, this approach is not new. Earlier reinterpretations of tracks like Seal’s “Crazy” and Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” demonstrated that strong songwriting can transcend genre boundaries when handled with care and conviction. Their version of “Take On Me” reinforces that same principle: well-written songs never truly belong to a single genre. Decades after its original release, “Take On Me” continues to evolve, proving that the distance between pop and power metal is often smaller than it seems especially when melody remains at the center of the journey.
The track appears on Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy, a covers album scheduled for release in March 2026, where Iron Savior revisit classic ’80s pop songs through their signature melodic power metal sound.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
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