We’ve seen American Idol hopefuls hit a handful of heavy classics over the years, from Evanescence covers to Dio tributes. This week, however, judge, country-pop veteran and noted metal fan Carrie Underwood decided to join in on one contestant’s try-out, as he started screaming his way through cuts from Korn and Drowning Pool.
Last week’s season 23 premiere included an appearance from Naples, Florida resident Insite, who told the judges he was starting off with a take on Korn’s Follow the Leader classic “Freak on a Leash.” The 18-year-old quickly chucked his baseball cap across the room and started headbanging before quavering into the verse with a Jonathan Davis-like vibrato.
Underwood got progressively more-and-more pumped throughout the performance, and shouted along to its “go!” breakdown.
Once Insite wrapped, co-judge Luke Bryan noted he wasn’t so sure about Insite, “vocally,” which led Underwood to ask if the fledgling singer had anything softer in his repertoire. Amazingly, that’s when he said he also did a mean version of Drowning Pool’s “Bodies.”
This likewise gassed-up Underwood, who ended up popping out from behind the judges desk and hitting the floor to growl out the tune’s in-song countdown beside the now full-beast-mode Insite.
The host later added of the nu-metal songs: “that was high school for me.”
Underwood and third Idol judge Lionel Richie gave Insite enthusiastic endorsements to bump him into the next round; Bryan seemed a little less stoked, but let the kid advance. Then Insite gave Idol viewers a lil’ death-growl celebration.
You can peep Insite’s full audition, including the unexpected Underwood team-up, via the player up above.