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The Black Album. Whether people think it’s the beginning of the end for Metallica, or another fine metal album, it does prove a pivotal point in the bands musical career. Before hand Metallica were perhaps the little band you could fit in the back of you pocket, one that you think would never think would achieve mainstream success and would remain, your little known secret away from fan boys or media spotlight. That was the way it stayed for three albums, not mainstream by any means, but amazing metal albums none the less. Until, Metallica made that leap that pushed them into the lime light, the mainstream of music. The Black album saw the band team up with Bob Rock, a well known producer of the time who stepped in to aid the band. “You’re not achieving your full potential as a band” was the first thing he said to the band. He wanted this album to shine above all others they had made, and set out to do so, and by this he wanted mainstream, dum dum dum! That’s basically the background to the album. On with the review.
What’s to offer on the album? What makes it such a hotly argued about album? Let’s start with the music. Metallica is or was well known for heavy riffs, driving aggressive and brutal. The Black album is not so, the shredding is slower, less manic and complex and in some ways easier to stomach, compared to previous Metallica work. Sad But True is the best example, it’s certainly not the only, but it shows the heaviness, but with less fast aggression. Yet don’t take this as slow and dull, the song drives and pushes on with good effect. Moving on to solos. They are there lets not bash Kirk for the lack of them, and Kirk shows how well he can make that guitar sing. But, you can’t help but feel he is holding back, like the riffing they aren’t all guns blazing like before but less racy and in places a lot shorter. There really slower and shorter because the slower riffs draw them back. Vocally I cant see a problem with, it’s the typical James snarl that we have become accustomed to and it works to great effect. Lyrical wise again I can’t see a problem, there the typical angry style as usual, and the addition of an eerie child’s prayer in Enter Sandman works to great effect. What be of the drumming? It keeps the beat well, Lars has odd moments to shine and generally does a sound job, nothing special, but good none the less. After Cliff Burton’s tragic death bas work on all the albums he has appeared on have been toned down and here it shows it has. I am sure its good but if it was turned up more could be said about.
It’s good musically, so why is it frowned upon by fans across the spectrum. Metallica went from strength to strength with each album they made, showing a sign of maturity and musical ability and the Black Album is yet another sign of this. Since it was plunged into the mainstream it’s brought legions of fans to their call and ever increasing their popularity. From what I’ve seen across the site on many bands that weren’t mainstream that have gone into the mainstream and what people might say as “selling out” this album is the definitive selling out for people just because its popular. But with popularity comes fans, more people to appreciate the band and gives the band more incentive to carry on. Although with more mainstream fans sadly brings forward from the bands perspective to tone down the heavy thrash stuff and leaving the values they had in their earlier work. But purely because a band has become successful and entered the mainstream should not deter people from the music, this album was popular but not as less metal as later work, and this album still has more to offer.
So what is my brief summery?
-- Not the usual heavy Metallica music that will give you internal haemorrhaging when thrashing around to it.
-- It has a few good songs to listen to, but little stand out tracks.
-- Simpler more easy to listen to music for those getting into Metallica
-- An Excellent album.
If you not into Metallica and want to then this is an ideal buy. Even if you think there sell outs, they are still an excellent band, and this is an excellent album.
other reviews of this album |
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Album Rating: 5.0
very nice...but...are you planning on adding a song by song review later or?? because im not really sure why you rated it at a 4, is it for the sucess or the music? other than that...its a nice start
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
There are a lot of great songs here. Enter Sandman, Sad But True, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam and Nothing Else Matters to name a few.
I find the rest of the songs to be quite average, though.
| | | IMO this is very overrated. I like all the songs that Sepstrup mentioned, but the rest drag on for too long and are rather boring. Still good though. I'd give it a 3.5 I think.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
It may sound average in places but as a whole the album flows and sounds solid all the way through IMO.
Thanks for the feed back all.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
nice review, but i think you should make it longer. possibly add a slight history before the review of the album, and possibly a very short in a nutshell review about the years after Black album. possibly add a song by song. try one or all of those to make your review longer and more detailed, however good review for someone looking just for an over all opinion about it all together
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
It was a blurb, but the site now registered it as review.
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
Yeah man, I know this was a blurb before, but you might want to add onto it. Otherwise it could be negged relentlessly
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Good Blurb, but IMO this was still the beginning of the end. I love the album, but I think with the creativity that had at this point, they good have done much better if they had stayed thrash. THis is not Thrash.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
You know sometimes you read those posts that just nail it right on the head?
Well the above is one of them. :thumb:
I couldn't add anything more.
| | | [QUOTE=]We know, and I don't care. This album not being thrash doesn't change the fact that they did a good job on it: they have well written songs, good musicianship (although more simple), and the production is perfect. The Black Album may be the beginning of the end to some, and if so, what a way to start going downhill.[/QUOTE]
Shut the fuck up. It's his opinion that they went downhill, it's fine if you don't care for it but don't go yelling at people for not respecting your opinion when you post shit like that. You didn't do that in this thread (yet), but in almost every thread I've seen you in there has been a post along the lines of shut the hell up it's my opinion.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
I think Drunken Viking needs to stay off the poison. I didn't see any malice or anger in mudvaynian's post whatsoever.
Take a chill pill, phil.
| | | Sorry, I guess I misread that post. When I say you say we know, and I don't care I thought you were talking about him saying it was the beginning of the end and his whole post, and that to me came off as being an asshole. So I appologize for that.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Well, we're all friends here. I suppose all you can do is laugh.
..............
I'll do it later.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
This is one of the few posts that i havent been attacked on when i post. Yay
Mudvanian, look at my rating. I obviously know its good. I just think it could have been better.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off
All edited to a full review, please let me know if you like it, or any corrections.
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
Yeah, this is actually my favourite Metallica album.
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