You are not logged in. Please register or login.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
- NY Giants82
- Rep: 26
Re: METALLICA Discussion
If the guy can do good with Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks & Neil Diamond.... I have pretty high hopes for Metallica. Here's the review I was referring to in the other thread:
Right from the off, it's a relief to hear that the utterly awful production of St. Anger is no more. Ulrich has replaced the old dustbin lid from that album with an actual snare drum, and the sound is fresh, clean and resonant (even though the songs are still only rough mixes at this stage). The first song, like the rest of the '˜epics', is between six and eight minutes long and begins with a bass intro from low-ender extraordinaire Robert Trujillo. Moving rapidly from riff to riff, the song bursts with energy and ideas: singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield barks 'Luck runs out!' repeatedly and throws in some twisty, semi-progressive riffs which could have been lifted directly from, their last truly good album, 1988's '¦And Justice For All. Guitarist Kirk Hammett, who was banned from soloing on St. Anguish for no adequately explored reason, is on fire, whipping out the melodic, rapid-fire shreds for which he is famous over an extended solo section - almost as if he's making up for lost time. This is Metallica's best song in ages, perhaps since the 1980s.
The next song has a working title of '˜Flamingo' and is going to be the first single. Now, Metallica's lead singles have been breathtakingly crap since 1995, so it was a relief to hear that '˜Flamingo' (as it almost definitely will not be called) is a modernised take on their amazing 1988 song One, all balladry at its front end before a speeded-up metalstorm at the back. Hetfield delivers a clean-picked intro which reminded me of the Beach Boys (I know'¦ but I only got to hear it once, all right?) before the body of the song, which is basically like '˜The Unforgiven' from 1991's '˜Black Album'. If you're familiar with the chord progression behind the solo in '˜Am I Evil?', the ancient Diamond Head song which Metallica made their own, you'll be able to picture the under-solo riffage in this song - all simple, effective major-interval jumps.
However, let us not forget that this is modern Metallica - and the next two songs are much less fun. The first, which may be called '˜We Die Hard' judging by the frequency with which Hetfield barks the phrase, starts boringly but accelerates halfway through and enters slightly proggy territory, all stop-start riff stabs and a clever time signature. The next song is very . . . And Justice . . ., a lengthy, unhurried workout which revolves around the line 'Bow down / Sell your soul to me / I will set you free', itself a 1988 line if I ever heard one. Apart from dexterous soloing from Hammett, it's not great.
So far, we've had two good songs and two dull ones - not a bad track record for new 'Tallica, believe me. However, track five is tedious, a combination of the aimless riffery of St. Anger and the pointless rock chorusing of Load, the album which almost finished Metallica in 1996. 'Crying, weeping, shedding strife!' sings Hetfield in that slick '˜Enter Sandman' manner, over an unthreatening clean midsection which would (and no doubt will) suit VH1 down to the ground.
At this point the Q-Prime geezer asks us if we want to hear more, and fortunately we say yes - because the final song (and indeed, it is '˜The Song', the little guy among the nine epics) is great, a genuine slice of thrash metal that starts fast and stays that way. Like a slower, less precise '˜Battery' (the opening track of 1986's flawless Master Of Puppets album), the song nips in and out, not outstaying its welcome and proving that on some level, Metallica still have the necessary vitriol to impress their older fans. OK, it reminded me a bit of '˜Dyer's Eve', the last song on Justice, which had a kind of 'I suppose we'd better do a fast one for the fans' feel about it - but in 2008, Hetfield and Ulrich delivering any form of thrash metal is not to be sneered at.
We file out of the listening room, not saying much. This album could be good, or it could be mediocre - too much depends on the other four songs to make a call at this point. I try not to agonise about it, but this matters, damn it. It really does.
I said it wasn't easy being a Metallica fan in 2008, didn't I?
Re: METALLICA Discussion
He heard nine songs, and he says there are four more. That adds up to 13(obviously), and thats how many tracks CD was supposed to have. If it was anyone else you could easily chalk it up to coincidence, but Hetfield hasn't liked Axl in decades.
I wouldn't be surprised if thats a minor jab at GNR.
From that review, you can tell this album is gonna be hit or miss with most fans. Metallica and the few discussing what they heard bring up Justice too many times. It makes it sound forced, like they're trying to make us believe old school Metallica is resurfacing.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: METALLICA Discussion
Interesting review...I think the problem with metalica is that they just have too many styles...theres the hard core thrash sound of the old records, then the more radio friendly Black album, then the more structured songs of Re-load...and then that extended aimless jam session that was St Anger.
It seems its going to be hard to make stuff that pleases everyone. I mean the black album is an all time classic. But I liked some of the newer stuff everyone hates...songs like "fuel", and "The memory remains" and "Devil's Dance" were pretty cool IMHO. I agree St Anger was basicly unlistenable. Of course I like old school metallica a hell of a lot as well. But its going to be hard if the radio wants them to make "sandman" and the fans want 'puppets". I expect this album will have a few cool songs though - which is what i feel about most metallica albums...to me they arn't one of those bands where i always like every song.
As for the CD reference - I think thats a stretch...there millions of albums with 13 tracks!
- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: METALLICA Discussion
I dunno about 13 tracks, every other recent review I've read has stated 10 tracks will be on the album. Even the band has said the album is 9 epics and one song, whatever that's supposed to mean.
Re: METALLICA Discussion
They've heard six tracks out of ten, I don't get where it says that ten tracks out of thirteen were heard.
As for a possible "jab" at GN'R... Come on.
And as far as I'm concerned, both Ulrich and Hetfield attended a show together back in 2006. But that's only what I've read, so it could be either way.
- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: METALLICA Discussion
I think James got confused about 4 more tracks to be heard, along with the mention that the album supposedly consists of '9 epics plus one song'. And as you said, they were previewed 6 tracks of the 10 from the album.
I dunno about Hetfield attending any GN'R shows, but Lars has always professed his love for GN'R and even played drums on a song at one of their gigs in 2006. Still waiting for a boot to surface of that!
- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: METALLICA Discussion
I've finally gotten onto the Mission Metallica site (free to fan club members such as myself) with my new high-speed internet connection, and watched a shitload of videos that they've put up on there of them working on the new album.
I gotta say, I've been apprehensive about what I've heard of their new stuff, but my jaw dropped to the floor with some of the snippets of the new songs I heard. They're coming up with some absolutely killer new music. They sound re-invigorated and really inspired again.
Re: METALLICA Discussion
Love the title and the music actually sounds half decent for a change! Nice to see they remembered Kirk Hammett is in the band - that solo sounds killer. Just hope it doesnt come out featuring a dvd of Rob Trujillo's absurd crab walk. This may actually turn out to be pretty good.
Good work on the promo as well, its great to actually be kept informed of stuff.
When does it actually come out though?! Cant wait for this. But then again I was straight to the shops to get St Anger on release day - To buy it, and to take it back.
what are you saying here? just about st anger? or the load and reload albums aswel?
