KLBJ in Austin has been having this Metallica road trip contest so that means wayyyy too much Metallica being played lately. But the cool thing about it is they also have been playing a band called Iron Horse who has a tribute album to Metallica called Fade to Bluegrass. Check it out here with some sound samples.
I've been intending to stop by Tower Records and get it, but I could've ordered online and received it by now... Anyways, not being a fan of Metallica for the most part, and being one that will listen to bluegrass but couldn't tell you many artists, I find this tribute pretty good. But for some reason, it makes Metallica songs sound alot "darker" than they are when performed by Metallica themselves. Whaddyall think?

I haven't heard the tribute album you speak of, nor am I familiar with Iron Horse, but I have a feeling that suggesting a band called Sixteen Horsepower might be appropriate here. They're kind of alternative bluegrass. A side project called Lilium seems also quite good, but it's not available in the US.

YES! A buddy of mine just turned me on to 16 Horsepower about 3 weeks ago. Great stuff.

That's good stuff.

They sound very much like Hayseed Dixie except for Metallica instead of AC/DC or Kiss.
But way cool none the less.

Another classic Metallica cover is done by Pat Boone on In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy. It's really quite inspired to arrange Enter Sandman with a full big band. Meanwhile, for bluegrass metal, the Austin Lounge Lizards do a great cover of Pink Floyd's Brain Damage. You can legally download the MP3 for free from Amazon.

(I heard this song performed live by the Lizards before I knew they covered it. I had no idea what it was for the first ten seconds. I think I nearly snorted my beer out my nose once I figured it out.)

That's cool! I have a fishing song by the Austin Lounge Lizards called "Boudreaux Was A Nutcase" that I really enjoy. Oh amazon has it here!
I need to see them when they play again locally...

They sound very much like Hayseed Dixie

Just heard these guys for the first time right now, streaming Boot Liquor Radio from SomaFM. Took me a second to realize I was listening to Dirty Deeds from AC/DC. Hayseed have found a new fan.