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User
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Last Active 02-07-15 9:34 pm
Joined 02-07-15
Review Comments 2,324
| Metallica's Best Remasters
As an audiophile, CD's and FLAC files are usually the way to go for me when I listen to music. With that said, I'm also a big sucker for digital remasters and deluxe editions. With Metallica being completely incompetent in bringing nice sounding CD's in recent years (so much that it gives my MV-60 Conrad-Johnson a run for its money), I have settled on the iTunes remastered versions to come up with a discography that makes sense sound-wise. I hope I can explain where I am going at here with each individual record. | | 1 |  | Metallica
Kill 'Em All
So maybe there's a reason why remasters of classics exist; some of us like to revisit them with more modern and louder sound. That doesn't mean that the original versions aren't good or that louder means better (I'm looking at you Death Magnetic), but I guess it's nice to play these records on shuffle with newer ones without having to lower or increase volume constantly. | | 2 |  | Metallica
Ride the Lightning
As you'd expect, Metallica's earliest trinity has had a great number of treatments. For all three we got the
2008 "Digital Remaster" versions first, then we got a 2015 "Mastered for iTunes collection" which included the complete discography, and lastly for both Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning we got the "Deluxe/Remaster versions in 2016, and for Master of Puppets the "Deluxe Box Set" and the "Expanded/Remaster Edition" in 2017. These attempts at fan service and cash grabs are certainly headache-inducing but I'll make it very simple; | | 3 |  | Metallica
Master of Puppets
If you prefer the originals then that's cool, but if you're looking for an alternative I recommend the 2008 "Digital Remaster" versions since they sound almost identical to the original masters. The differences are basically a noticeable higher volume than the originals and they lack the god awful treble the newer remasters have. They even leveled the Master of Puppets volume equally to Ride the Lightning, and all for the better (imo). Since these versions aren't available on the iTunes library anymore I'm adding the links to download for anyone interested.
Kill 'Em All (2008 Remaster): http://www.mediafire.com/file/69bwlf7w2m9l6f2/1983-Metallica-Kill_%2527Em_All_%25282008_Remaster%2529.7z/file
Ride The Lightning (2008 Remaster): http://www.mediafire.com/file/jf6lqkib44r3i53/1984-Metallica-Ride_The_Lightning_%25282008_Remaster%2529.7z/file
Master Of Puppets (2008 Remaster): http://www.mediafire.com/file/emnngmholt0rvqp/1986-Metallica-Master_Of_Puppets_%25282008_Remaster%2529.7z/file | | 4 |  | Metallica
...And Justice for All
As great as this record is you're in for a disappointment if you're looking for a version that has any audible bass. The original bass tape recordings, as you may know, were swallowed by Lars Ulrich butt crack and so that's not a possibility at this point. The 2008 remaster, in this particular case, is a complete travesty and you'd be better off with either the original version or the 2015 remaster. As far as I can tell the newer 2018 "Expanded Remastered Edition" has no audible difference from the 2015 remaster so it's pretty much useless to get that version if you're not interested in getting the early mixes and live versions.
...And Justice For All (2015 Remaster): http://www.mediafire.com/file/lb1ibsrk0fltjf9/1988-Metallica-...And_Justice_For_All_%25282015_Remaster%2529.7z/file | | 5 |  | Metallica
Metallica
Without a shadow of doubt THE BEST Metallica album produced by Bob Rock. The original is, by far, the best version to own. iTunes removed the original version to include their "Mastered for iTunes" and it's no good; they buried the drums way too much in the mix, increased the overall treble and lowered the overall
volume to match the earlier albums volume. The original version isn't available on Itunes anymore.
1991-Metallica: http://www.mediafire.com/file/oom10thobojuqz0/1991-Metallica-Metallica.7z/file | | 6 |  | Metallica
Load
Both Load/Reload had the same exact treatment as the Black Album on the "Mastered for iTunes", but unlike the self-titled it works slightly better here since the original versions have the drums a bit too much on the front. With that said, even if the music isn't really my favorite from them at all, the sound of the original versions are the ones I'd choose just because, again, the volume on the remasters are lowered to oblivion.
Load: http://www.mediafire.com/file/xg1yst1owcdl8c9/1996-Metallica-Load.7z/file
Reload: http://www.mediafire.com/file/1q8h0glj4h1nr44/1997-Metallica-Reload.7z/file | | 7 |  | Metallica
Garage Inc.
Unlike Load/Reload and the Black Album they didn't lowered the overall volume with this one. Instead, they just leveled the drums with the bass and put the guitars and vocals on the front. On one side this shows how these "Mastered for iTunes" aren't always consistent, but on the other this is a case where it actually sounds like a proper remaster. Being released in the late 90's I believe this is actually the first Metallica that was affected by the loudness war (even though anyone rarely, if ever, mentions it) and I can't stand listening to the original mix anymore. No surprise the more Lars loved the smell of his own farts the louder his fucking drums sounded on record. | | 8 |  | Metallica
S&M
Pretty much got the same treatment that Garage Inc had and all for the better. Definitely get the 2015 "Mastered for iTunes" versions. | | 9 |  | Metallica
St. Anger
While it's hard to imagine anyone giving a shit about this the 2015 "Mastered for iTunes" is garbage. There's barely any audible difference and it sounds almost just as muddled. They didn't even bother with the snare drum so fuck it. | | 10 |  | Metallica
Death Magnetic
Fans have always been hunting for the best remix of this record and it's no surprise why. iTunes attempted to upload a version with lower volume than the one on the CD but instead of fixing the problem they pretty much compressed the sound to death and failed miserably. That was the only version available up until the release of the "Mastered for iTunes" series in 2015. They tried giving it a proper remaster this time but ultimately sounds too low (imo) and muffled. It wasn't until 2018 when iTunes randomly uploaded a version of Death Magnetic re-remastered with decent success. It doesn't sound as low or muffled as the 2015 one and also doesn't sound as loud as the first compression they made.
Death Magnetic (Original iTunes compression): http://www.mediafire.com/file/wmyn4yken3c7gfz/2008-Metallica-Death_Magnetic.7z/file
Death Magnetic (2015 Remater): http://www.mediafire.com/file/4bdkw54lv7dl5zd/2008-Metallica-Death_Magnetic_%25282015_Remaster%2529.7z/file | | 11 |  | Metallica
Beyond Magnetic
Death Magnetic (2018 Remaster): http://www.mediafire.com/file/0e56kxqb2z2s4iy/2008-Metallica-Death_Magnetic_%25282018_Remaster%2529.7z/file
A few other releases from iTunes library if anyone's interested:http://www.mediafire.com/file/ur45hquh39jsp12/various-itunes_plus.7z/file | |
bananatossing
10.19.19 | I'll add the links later during the day. Sorry about that. | el_newg
10.19.19 | Black album is one of the best sounding rock albums, every instrument has such weight to it. love the production on that one. | bananatossing
10.19.19 | YESS. It's incredible how bad their newer albums sound compared to one that was released in the early 90's. All the instruments have presence there. It's amazing. | bananatossing
10.20.19 | Links are updated. I'll leave them available at least a couple of weeks. Download away! | JDubb
10.20.19 | Thank you for the heads up!!! Oh the (intense) joy it will be to hear a version of Death Magnetic that doesn't make your ears bleed half way through. Now if they would just remove the snare drum from St. Anger. Actually, they did provide a live at rehearsal DVD for St. Anger which has a bit better sound. I even recall that there was a Kirk Hammett solo on the DVD...don't know how that snuck through. | BankZZ
10.20.19 | I'd just leave the release names, we can all find them if you just leave the year of the remaster. | bananatossing
10.21.19 | "Thank you for the heads up!!! Oh the (intense) joy it will be to hear a version of Death Magnetic that doesn't make your ears bleed half way through."
It's the most passable version I've been able to find. I don't think it's available anymore on iTunes, but I shared all three versions so you can compare for yourself. And really, if you ever feel like listening to St. Anger the fan made cover on YouTube it's the way to go.
@Bloon Is it? I was planning on deleting the files, anyways.
@BankZZ You are probably right. I'm being too generous here lol | JDubb
10.25.23 | The 2018 remaster is a huge improvement. The album was still recorded loud, without much dynamics, but this remaster makes it listenable. Used to have to listen in halves - to avoid the earache. But this remaster - can listen all the way through no prob. |
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