Evol Walks Light Up “Spirit in the Sky” With a Heavy, High-Voltage Rock Cover That Rivals the Original
Some songs never die, they just get louder, bolder, and more electrifying. That’s exactly what happens when hard-rock five-piece Evol Walks unleash their explosive cover of “Spirit in the Sky,” Norman Greenbaum’s iconic 1969 hit that topped charts across the world and later found new life thanks to Doctor & the Medics’ ’80s remake. It’s a track that has lived through generations, and Evol Walks give it yet another era to conquer: a modern, muscular, heavy-rock reinvention that fans say stands “right up there with the original.”
From the opening seconds of the video, it’s obvious this isn’t a gentle tribute. Thick, gritty guitars roar to life with a tone that feels built for stadiums. The original’s familiar riff is there, but Evol Walks turn it into a punch to the chest, louder, meaner, and full of attitude. And then vocalist Leah Martin-Brown steps in, and everything switches from “good cover” to “full-blown rock event.”
Leah is the secret weapon behind Evol Walks’ sound. Her vocals are sharp, powerful, and dripping with confidence. She hits every line of “Spirit in the Sky” with the same swagger and grit that made the original famous, but she adds her own fire on top of it. There’s no attempt to mimic Norman Greenbaum’s tone. Instead, she transforms the song into something harder, darker, and undeniably exciting. Her voice is the spark that lights the whole cover on fire.
What makes the performance even more impressive is how tightly the whole band plays behind her. Evol Walks aren’t weekend warriors or a casual bar band. They’re a polished machine made up of top-tier rock musicians: drummer Jimmy Lee, lead guitarist CJ Tywoniak, rhythm guitarist Dre DiMura, and bassist Ian Ross. Together, they create a sound that feels huge, modern, and carved from the same stone as rock giants like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath.
This makes sense when you look at their history. Evol Walks may be a young band, but they’ve already lived the kind of career most groups spend a decade chasing. Formed by Leah Martin-Brown in Australia, the band relocated to Los Angeles to take a real shot at breaking into the rock world, and it worked. In only two years, they released an EP, earned international airplay, and toured across three continents. They’ve played legendary L.A. venues like The Viper Room, The Rainbow, and The House of Blues. They’ve shared stages with Dream Theater, Within Temptation, Shaggy, Black Label Society, Everclear, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. And in one standout moment, they performed on the Main Stage at Przystanek Woodstock in front of 250,000 people.
All of that energy, experience, and raw passion explodes in their “Spirit in the Sky” cover.
The band’s arrangement hits hard from start to finish. The guitars come loaded with distortion that gives the riff a modern punch. The drums pound out a driving rhythm that keeps the track flying forward. The bass adds a deep, thunderous layer underneath. Everything works together to turn the classic into a high-power rock anthem. It’s the kind of cover that makes you forget you’re listening to a remake, it feels like an entirely new beast.
Fans online clearly love it. YouTube commenters compare Evol Walks’ version to both the 1970 original and the Doctor & the Medics hit, with many saying this is the strongest modern version they’ve heard. Some call Leah’s vocals “insane,” “world-class,” or “the perfect mix of grit and soul.” Others say the cover feels like it should be blasting out of a festival main stage or a blockbuster movie trailer. It’s fun, fierce, and full of the kind of energy rock music thrives on.
But what truly makes this cover stand out is the heart behind it. Evol Walks don’t treat “Spirit in the Sky” like a museum piece. They treat it like living rock history, something they can push, reshape, and make their own without losing the spirit that made it special. Norman Greenbaum’s original version blended fuzzy guitar, gospel-style vocals, and a rebellious streak that reflected the late ’60s. Doctor & the Medics turned it into a neon-bright glam-rock hit in the ’80s. Evol Walks continue that tradition by dragging it straight into the modern hard-rock world with grit, volume, and swagger.
It’s a reminder that great songs adapt. They shift. They evolve. And when a band with real fire gets their hands on a classic, the result can be magic.
Leah Martin-Brown once said the band’s goal has always been simple: “Get ourselves in front of more people.” Covers like this prove why that goal is more than achievable. Evol Walks have everything a breakout rock band needs, attitude, talent, chemistry, and a willingness to push their sound harder every time they step onstage or into the studio.
If you haven’t seen their “Spirit in the Sky” cover yet, it’s absolutely worth your time. It’s loud, energetic, and bursting with rock ‘n’ roll grit. Whether you grew up with the original, the ’80s version, or you’re hearing it for the first time today, Evol Walks will make you feel like the song was written for this exact moment.
Turn up the volume.
Hit play.
And let Evol Walks take you straight into the sky.
