Metallica is by far one of the biggest acts to hit the stage since Led Zeppelin themselves. From their days starting out in L.A. to St. Anger, they have sold out arenas, had albums go platinum, and captivated fans and even people who didn't enjoy the genre with their fusion of hard rock, thrash, and speed metal.
Metallica started in L.A. with singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. When the two met, it was through a friend, and at first they didn't hit it off extremely well, but their taste for good music and their craving to rock out and kick ass was a shared interest for both young head bangers. When the two of them started to mess around with their own home recordings, Hetfield laid down the bass, the guitar parts, and the lyrics while Ulrich was on drums. They recruited lead guitarist (now of Megadeth) Dave Mustaine and moved down to San Francisco, away from the music scene full of glam and pop metal, despised by everyone in the band. Dave Mustaine once said that GLAM stood for gay L.A. metal. While in San Francisco, they were in a club and heard someone break into a solo. At first thinking it was a guitar, they went to the stage to take a closer look and found their to-be bassist Cliff Burton. Metallica's obsession for metal and booze made them notorious in the club scene of Frisco and eventually they were offered a recording contract in New York. Dave Mustaine, according to the remaining Metallica members, had a 'dark side' to him when he was drunk, and he was sent on a bus ride back to Frisco in the middle of the trip. While in NYC they found Kirk Hammett of the band Exodus and headed to make their record. Originally going to be called Metal Up Your Ass, Kill 'Em All, their first album, made a sound of thrash and speed metal that no one has seen, and matched only by bands such as Pantera, Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer. The album had instant hits such as 'Whiplash', 'Seek and Destroy', and 'Hit the Lights', and copies of the album for a long time featured the covers 'Am I Evil?', and 'Blitzkrieg', now featured on Garage Inc. Their second album, Ride the Lightning, my favorite 'tallica album, had instant head banger anthems such as 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', 'Fight Fire With Fire', instrumental 'Call of Ktulu', and the first 'tallica power ballad, 'Fade to Black'. Master of Puppets is probably their most famous album with instant classics such as 'Master of Puppets', and 'Battery'. However, many consider Metallica underground still at this point in their career. During the tour, bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a bus accident and forced the band to put a halt in their world tour, and recruit Jason Newstead. Their fourth album was ...And Justice For All, featuring 'One' and 'Blackened'. Black album was released in 1991 under Elektra and exploded all over the world with the force that had been seen just years earlier with 'Puppets'. It featured such classics as 'Enter Sandman', and 'The Unforgiven'. It would go on to be one of their bestselling albums. It was new and inventive.
Note: For those who realize James sounds slightly different, he blew out his voice recording 'So What', off of Garage Inc. He then had to try and sound like he used to (before it was just his natural way of singing!)
Enter Sandman- Easily one of the top 3 most famous Metallica songs, Enter Sandman starts of with a lick that is easily identifiable to any fan or non-fan. It is catchy and despite the change-offs in the song, it is still all based around this classic intro. This song is one of my favorites off of the album, and really shows the perfect harmony and unison that Kirk and James can have while doing a song. In the middle, it has a solo, and takes a short "break", and goes into the 'now I lay me down to sleep' prayer, said by a boy line by line and echoed by James. It then goes back into the song. A great way to kick off the album and get your fist pumping and your head banging.
~5/5~
Sad But True- Not exactly what you would expect from Metallica, but not what you would expect it to be after you heard the lyrics. The lyrics are angry, and with lines like, "Hey! I'm your life, I'm the one who takes you there", it is obvious what the song is about. However, it is not one of those annoying "I hate you 'cuz you left" songs. It is heavy and unmistakably living proof that you can't put a stereotype on Metallica...at all. The song is simple but clever and catchy and occasionally you might catch it on the radio. Overall good song.
~4/5~
Holier Than Thou- One of the heavier songs on the album, it is thrashy and quick and makes you want to go jump in a mosh pit. The song is not one of the well-known ones from the record, but it is nonetheless a great one. The lyrics are angry and the drums set a fast paced feeling to the song (typical Lars). The chorus and the verses use pretty much the same riff and beat and about half-way through the song Kirk breaks into one of my favorite solos on the album. A definite party song to get you pumped up.
~4.5~
The Unforgiven- Definitely another one of their very famous songs, the Unforgiven is the first power ballad on the album. It starts out with an acoustic intro and works into a slightly heavier verse, then works its way into an acoustic chorus. The lyrics are deep and obviously well thought out and the solo, although simple, is cool sounding and flows well with the song. Proving that even slower songs can be just as good as heavy ones.
~4.5/5~
Wherever I May Roam- This song is not as fast paced but it still is heavy and fun to listen to. It starts of slow with a simple riff on a strange pre-set. The song goes into the verse with the same riff only normal sounding. The lyrics are a little out there in my opinion but still have a good idea to them, about a wanderer (rover, wanderer, nomad vagabond, call me what you will) who basically lives day to day. The drums are definitely mainly featured in the verses of this track. The solo is pretty cool and the rest of the song is a little laid back but still one I always listen to.
~4.5/5~
Don't Tread on Me- The song starts out with an intro that is easy to identify and the opening riff almost sounds like a solo. The intro leads into the verses which sound almost nothing like the intro. If you listen to the lyrics well, you can depict the meaning, being about exactly what the title states, Don't Tread on Me. The solo is a little choppy but still cool sounding. The chorus is probably the strongest point in this track. Still, definitely an angry song.
~5/5~
Through the Never- Some of Metallica's best songwriting on the album, however I do find the song slightly repetitive. The opening riff is catchy however slightly annoying after awhile. The solo is speedy and cool and is definitely the high point of this song.
~3.5/5~
Nothing Else Matters- One of the greatest 'tallica ballads, it starts off with a simple acoustic lick done by James that is easy to pick up on and recognize. Kirk comes in four measures later with almost a sort of more technical version of the opening intro. This is one of the only songs where James is not in his normal voice for so long. However, it still gets heavier in some parts and during the solo, everything acoustic is electric. The solo fits extremely well with the song and although it is simple, it still sounds just as good as any solo. A great song overall...prepare your lighters.
~5/5~
Of Wolf and Man- This song is one of the heavier ones off of the album, and probably one of the better ones. However, sometimes the lyrics can get slightly confusing. It is really a simple song and a little hard to explain but on this track you will here James at some of his grungiest moments.
The God That Failed- My least favorite song on the album, the opening bass part is very repetitive and annoying. The whole song is very laid back and almost depressing sounding. It definitely is not one of the better Metallica songs period and it is very easy to see that it holds the band back from showing how well they can really do as a group. The lyrics and beats are all around very unimpressive and stupid as well. A song that gets boring and old after once or twice listening to it, we are lucky there are very few songs like ?God That Failed? in the world of Metallica.
~3.5/5~
My Friend Of Misery- This is a very average song but it isn?t bad. It is simple and one of those songs that you would expect to end the album with. It is pretty laid back and the guitar is simple. However, Lars really shines showing how well he can take an abstract beat and make it fit with a song.
~3/5~
The Struggle Within- Not one of my favorite songs off of this album either, but it is quicker and heavier than My Friend of Misery. The lyrics pretty much explained by the song title, and like the rest of the last few tracks, it's pretty simple. An average song as well, and probably not the best way to close the album.
~3/5~
Metallica went on to record Load, Reload, Garage Inc., and St. Anger. However, besides maybe the songs 'Fuel' off of Reload and the single for the M:I2 'I Disappear;', they have never recaptured the magic of the music of their first 10 years. However they have still remained one of my favorite bands. They have continued to reinvent themselves in new ways that they have kept old fans and brought in new ones. Metallica continues to be one of the greatest metal bands of all time, the Black Album was one of their most popular albums, and justifiably so.
OVERALL: THE BLACK ALBUM GETS ~8.5/10~
