Excellent work! I like that you personalized it, rather than going with a direct cover. A few points:
- Throughout the entire opening, the there's an offbeat crash cymbal on the last 8th note of the measure. First, I would suggest turning it down in the mix; it's a little distracting. Second, why is it there, instead of at the beginning of the next measure? The impact of the crash and the chord changes are offset. The effect could work if that crash note were followed by a deeper crash on the first beat right after it. The first crash would sort of "step down" into the next beat. I'm just a little bit confused about the way it is now.
- The verse (0:32), is a bit distracting with the splash cymbal. The beat it's playing is a bit "surf rock," if that makes any sense (listen to the back beat in some old Dick Dale). Other than that, I really like the drums all through the verse. Nothing like Anders would play, but a very good rhythm to fill in where the vocals are missing. Especially at 0:47 to the chorus.
- I genuinely love the pre-chorus (2:00). You took it in a completely different direction from the original. The DT version gets light at that point, with the high-pitched guitars and all the delicate work on the hi-hat. Here, you went for more of a heavy feel. I like that you made it your own. I'm not sure about how it blends into the next chorus, since they're the same dynamic (the original sort of goes from soft to loud). This take is something that I hadn't thought of, and I really like the idea.
- The synth added in all choruses after the pre-choruses are added is pretty sweet. Reminds me a bit of the synth from Iridium (though Iridium has a thicker, richer texture).
- The piano outro is also great. Is it changed just slightly? The way it's played in the original, I don't think the piano ever plays the same note twice back to back, which pops up in your cover. I only mention it because playing the same note twice on any synthetic instrument is what gives it a way as fake. It just comes across a bit flat, whereas Martin B. plays it more flowingly.
This is some really great work. I look forward to more!
P.S. Out of curiosity, were your drums programmed by a guitarist?