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The people who complain that Metallica sold-out here either must hate clear and defined guitar tones, drums that don't blast the whole time and over take the mix, a singer that uses a full range of his voice (finally) and that you can understand, and bass that cuts through the music and adds punch. It's honest, it's American and it's a bridge between metal and rock that hadn't been made until this time. He's always been a great lead guitarist to listen to and this time he lets it all hang out: Tapping, Hammering, Tremolo picking, Wah-wah petal, Whammy bar, clean, dirty and harmonious. He does a wonderful job summing up what he's done before while leaping forward.James blew his voice out during the early stages of recording this album and decided that it was time to seek professional help. Many fans/people complain this album was about selling out, while at the same time many musicians strive to capture the raw yet polished and heavy sound Metallica produced on this record. The audience can actually hear the bass guitar and the notes that James and Kirk are playing.I do agree with a previous reviewer that this is some of Kirk's strongest and most logical work yet. James also explores some things hear that previously Metallica had only flirted with. I know the album is not as fast as some of their earlier work "Master Of Puppets" clocks in at 220 bpm, or as orchestrated and lengthy as "And Justice For All." "Through the Never" is the fastest track on the album at 188bpm and each song is orchestrated in a more efficient manor, but from a sound engineer's point of view this is a more instrumentally stripped down and heavier album then the previous.
Metallica figured out that if anything was lacking on their previous few albums (And Justice For All. On the "Year and Half in the Life of" documentary Jason, with the help Bob Rock, fought hard for some of his ideas to be on this record and a great deal of them do appear but unfortunately they are uncredited except for "My Friend Of Misery". The more Spanish yet melancholy progression in "The Unforgiven" comes to mind, The Arabian harmonic minor theme throughout "Wherever I May Roam", as well as the simpler song structures of "Enter Sandman" and "Sad But True". He accents "The Unforgiven" with some nice bass and cymbal crashes and "peppery" snare compliments. He has a very powerful voice that wasn't previously exploited due to the fact that he had no knowledge of proper technique or tone. Also, James steps outside himself here with the inclusion of "Nothing Else Matters". especially) it was sonic clarity, proper mixing, engineering, and production. Many cry that the inclusion of Bob Rock was Metallica selling out and reaching for a larger market.
I recommend this album should be in any one's collection. Jason's performance and melodic choices on this album really compliment everything that is going on and it leaves me wondering how much better "And Justice For All." would have been with the production and engineering of this record allowing for his performance to be heard. Jason can be heard through out and has a very powerful yet clear sound. He still impresses the percussionist out there with his more technical and complicated rhythms sections especially on the middle of "Through The Never". James explains in many interviews that he was playing this one day by accident when Lars heard it and asked what it was, James expressed that it wasn't Metallica material but was something he would rather keep to/for himself.
This time James and the boys focused on the quality of the sound rather than the quantity of the sound. I don't even know if they [Metallica] could (or would) do it again. Or, seriously miss the point that, musically, there are a lot of things going on in each of these songs at any given moment it's just not at the break-neck speeds they used to happen. I disagree, they realized that there sound needed some more muscle and Bob Rock was the guy that knew how to properly record and capture a strong sound. Lars lays back a bit on this album and tries to compliment the bass lines and powerful moments of the songs with out distracting from the lyrics or the melodies and harmonies James and Kirk are playing.
Lars objected and said that it should be a Metallica song, and history was made. He appears to be more concentrated on the dynamics and feeling of each songs melodic and lyrical theme and adds to that were as before he would concentrate more on chord progression and speed. A song that he didn't want to appear on any Metallica record, but was nagged by Lars to do so.
a couple great songs but then the others kinda suck so basically a really mediocre album. there's not much to say about this album, it has osme good spots but most of the songs are the same and boring.
They packaged it in just a regular envelope which was probably not the best idea. When I received the cd the entire case was cracked luckily not the cd itself.
Certainly not their worst album, but they have definitely put out better ones. Out of all the Metallica albums I have ever owned, this one is one of my least favorites. There are songs on here that are good - lyrically and musically - but for the most part, I was kind of disappointed.
From then on, "Metallica" continues on its downward spiral until it reaches the conclusion with "The Struggle Within" and i'm left feeling disappointment and confusion. The Album still receives a 3 star rating, because while it wasn't a wholly solid album overall, it still contains six 5 star tracks, of each are some of the most celebrated songs by fans (and myself) in Metallica's entire catalogue. I've never been able to successfully listen to the second half of Metallica's self titled effort without losing interest immediately. While the heavy production and pristine sound really enhances Metallica's sound and the album in many areas, in others it just adds too much weight without substance and the result is a bloated, over the top mess. Check out that 12 string bass in Roam. Once "Wherever I May Roam" fades out, the album essentially deflates and meanders along aimlessly with fairly mediocre and forgettable tunes like "Don't Tread On Me" and "The God That Failed". The record is briefly reinvigorated by introduction of the beautiful ballad "Nothing Else Matters", but only briefly.
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