Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells, Part One (Bulgarian Folklore Progressive Metal Cover)

🎵 Song description: What happens when Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, Opeth, Bulgarian folklore, and a touch of Jean-Michel Jarre meet Mike Oldfield? The answer is here. In my version you will hear emotional progressive rock, technical progressive metal, instrumental death metal, ambient electronics and Bulgarian folk elements. “Tubular Bells” is arguably the most complex and challenging album ever to reach No. 1 on the charts. Mike Oldfield performed and recorded over 20 instruments, layering them one by one with massive musical vision — not with an orchestra, but entirely on his own. No lyrics, no pop structures, nothing easily digestible — just a bold, monumental instrumental work. Oldfield was only 19 years old, with almost no career behind him, when he presented a 49-minute composition with no vocals, no “hit,” and no traditional song structure. Several labels rejected it as “commercially impossible.” Virgin were the only ones who gave him a chance — just one week at The Manor to record what became Part One of the album, and only limited additional time to complete Part Two, mostly during late-night hours when other musicians weren’t using the studio. The project quickly outgrew the schedule; sessions were constantly pushed into the night, and Oldfield was forced to work with limited equipment, hundreds of overdubs, and countless punch-ins. The label wanted a shorter, radio-friendly version. Oldfield refused. However, the distributor still released a short single-edit without his approval — something that frustrated him for years. At first, almost nobody bought the album. Even inside Virgin, they feared they had made a disastrous mistake. Then director William Friedkin used a small section of the intro as part of the soundtrack for “The Exorcist.” Sales exploded. The album entered the charts and became a global phenomenon. Yes — “Tubular Bells” was a massive risk. Oldfield was young, unsigned, making unconventional music, working with limited studio time, under constant pressure. And Virgin gambled the future of their entire company on one mysterious instrumental album. That gamble created one of the most influential works of the 20th century. To me, “Tubular Bells” is a triumph of substance over packaging — a victory of pure musical vision over commercial expectations. I first heard the album in 2008, and it opened doors to music I never imagined. It inspired me deeply. When I started creating music with AI, one idea kept returning: one day I must create my own interpretation of this masterpiece. The only question was when I’d be ready — and now, that moment has come. Enjoy the journey! Let the music speak. ❗ Important Note I am Lyubomir Kovachev — an artist who boldly experiments with artificial intelligence and explores a wide range of musical styles. I believe AI opens limitless creative possibilities, and my goal is to bring new genres, themes, and aesthetics to Bulgaria — sounds that have never truly existed here before. I work honestly, I search for meaning, and I don’t compromise with my ideas. For me, music is a path toward new forms of expression — free, innovative, and sincere. 🎧 Did you enjoy this AI experiment? Hit Like, subscribe for more, and share in the comments what you felt and how it sounded to you. 🎸🔥 🎼 Song Structure 00:00 – Introduction 03:42 – Fast Guitars 04:56 – Basses 06:32 – Latin 09:06 – A Minor Tune 12:20 – Blues / Thrash 16:28 – Jazz / Ghost Bells / Russian 23:27 – Finale #progressiverock #progressivemetal #folklore #bulgarianfolklore #instrumental