Review Summary: Garage Inc - Possibly one of Metallica's greatest albums - the greatest easily in the past 10 years.
Garage Inc in my opinion is currently the best album released by the band. It was the one album of the time which swung back into the old Metallica era, which was something I liked.. wait.. loved about it. It is mostly a cover album - mainly from bands which have influenced Metallica over the years - (Mercyful Fate is a good example). I hope you enjoy this review, and if you dont have this CD, I recommend you buy it, or kill somebody for a copy. (I am not liable if you actually take my advice to kill somebody for a copy). Heck, just buy the record XD.
Disc 1:
1. Free Speech for the Dumb: 2:36 - 7/10
This song is a good song. It's a short song with a set of lyrics which is looped through the song - "Free Speech, Free Speech, For the Dumb / Free Speech, Free Speech, For the Dumb / Free Speech, Free Speech, For the Dumb / Free F***ing Speech" The recording quality sounds a little choppy, but i think that was intentional. The solo's are long, and they seem to mix in with the distortion quite too well. It ends with a simple power slide.
2. It's Electric - 3:34 - 8/10
This is a great song. James has great vocals here, but his only let down is when he sings and holds the wooooah it's electric - It sounds like his voice is about to break and he is straining to let out his breath. The guitar riffs are simple, the drums are simple, the bass is simple, but it is the simplicity which goes so well with this song. The ending is a simple, sharp ending - the perfect way to end a song in my opinion.
3. Sabbra Cadabra - 6:20 - 7.5/10
This is a nice song. It's riffs are nice and quite clean, and it is what gives this song a great sound. James' vocals are probably one of the best on this album. I'm not sure why, but a lot of the songs on this album, there are 2 or 3 words in a song where James holds the note. It's a great song. There's a slight rhythmic change about one third into the song, which is like a very long bridge, then changes back right towards the end. Great Song - Listen or Die :D
4. Turn the Page - 6:07 - 8.5/10
I don't know why exactly, but this song was great. It isn't a thrashy song, and it is slow paced, but its lovely. It's a depressed kind of song. Heavy power chords, deep bass lines, and a great use of the drums to break up verses with the chorus. This is one that you should listen to. There are heaps of very short solo's (about 5 seconds max), which I wouldn't exactly call a solo, but it does sound like it could be, which is what adds to the depth of this song. Seriously, listen to this one.
5. Die, Die my Darling - 2:29 - 9.5/10
I love this song. It's a short song, only clocking up at 159 seconds. It doesn't have a solo, but in my opinion, it doesn't need one. The power chords don't flow into each other, but are sharp quick bursts of a single power chord, followed by strums of other power chords. The vocals are sung well through the song. This is just an awesome song, and i dont think that anything else really needs to be added to it.
6. Loverman - 7:53 - 6.5/10
This was a nice song. I listened to it the first time, and I skipped to the next track almost after 10 seconds into it. I came back to it later on, listened to it, and it was not too bad. It's a ballad, however, it does get heavy in some parts. The lyrics doesn't really change notes, and stays on one small range - then raises into an octave higher in the chorus. I dont think I have heard James' voice get so low on this - If you want to hear a bass voice though, this is the song to listen to.
7. Mercyful Fate - 11:12 - 10/10
Here we come to the longest song of the album - and by far the greatest. This is one of the songs which have re-defined proper metal in newer era's of modern music. It's a medley of a few of Mercyful Fates songs, including Into the Coven, Satan's Fall, Doomed by the Living Dead, and the one song which really overpowers this whole song - Curse of the Pharaohs. For an 11 minute song, it will take a while to get through it, but after you have first listened to it, you'd wish it went for another 11 more minutes. It's just great and down-right upsetting when it finishes, because you just start to get into it. True metal power chords, LOTS of solo's - about 8 or 9 of em - a good one right at the start, which is the same as the Curse of the Pharaohs intro. Love it, and if there is any song you must listen to first, it has to be this one.
8. Astronomy - 6:38 - 8.5/10
The song opens with some soft snare tapping, and then this nice soothing melody, undoubtedly played by Kirk. James' vocals are great on this song - It's a pity the guitar riffs on this song aren't extremely catching. After every verse, it gets heavier, until it comes to a point where it gets pretty heavy, and the vocals are just awesome - Guitar is great - Bass is Great - Drums are Great - Everything is great. Another good one to listen to.
9. Whiskey in the Jar - 5:05 - 9/10
This was another great song on this album. It has a very unique tune - and it sounds completely different to everything else on the album. It's tune is heavy, yet soothing. If you have heard it, you'll know what I mean. It sounds heavy, yet it is very melodic and it sounds soft. It's a great song - listen to this.
10. Tuesday's Gone - 9:06 - 9.5/10
This is the true ballad of this album. It's great. Not heavy, very clean, and it doesn't need any improvements. Its lyrics are sung with the same sort of passion that is heard on Nothing Else Matters, yet, it's melody sounds like something you'd hear from a folk band. The song is so soothing, I'd listen to this song on repeat for about a year and it really wouldn't annoy me. James jokes around between this song, as you can hear him when he snickers a bit through the song, but it doesn't but you off it. This is a great one - Enjoy!
11. The More I See - 4:50 - 8/10
I liked this song, purely for the fact that you can hear the bass very well in it, and it holds one constant riff which sounds great. The riff is simple, and the guitar comes in with the same riffs yet in power chords. James has great vocals in this, well, at least in my opinion, it's great. There isn't much else to comment on this song about - It's very simple, but it sounds good.
Disc 2:
Now, we're half way through. There are more great songs on this album, just try to stay focused and keep reading.
1. Helpless - 6:39 - 8.5/10
The first 6 seconds make this song sound like a dud track, then it comes out of nowhere. The riffs are quite simple. James sings the lyrics short and fast, and barely carries the notes on vocals, especially where you would think it'd sound appropriate. The song is quite fast, probably one of the fastest riffs you'll find in the whole album. If you want a simple yet fast paced song, this is the one to listen to.
2. The Small Hours - 6:43 - 7/10
This song is a strange one. The riff at the start is kinda creepy, then when you think it's going to break into something strong, it just continues, despite the big drum build up. The riff continues till about 52 seconds into the song, where the main guitar riff starts to kick in, then it takes over completely about 1 minute in. The guitar riffs are good, and the bass kicks in to overpower everything at some slight parts - about 3 seconds or so in length. It's a good one to listen to, but will get boring quickly if you continue to listen to it.
3. The Wait - 4:55 - 5/10
I didn't really like this song. In many other people's opinions, they'll think the same thing I'm going to say. It starts of loud, and heavy, but really ticks you off with the vocals. Lots of effects such as echoes and vocal distortions are added, making the voice sound like something from an old Nintendo game. The riffs are good, but the vocals really kill this song. If there were no effects on the vocals, this would be a great song.
4. Last Caress / Green Hell - 3:30 - 9.5/10
This is a great song. The lyrics are kinda disturbing, saying that "I killed your baby today / it doesn't matter much to me as long as it's dead." It's a great song. There's a big tempo change half way through the song, were it gets A LOT faster. The lyrics are sung faster, where they are barely distinguishable to the English language, but it gives the song a great effect. The only reason i gave this a 9.5, not a perfect 10, is the small riff that ruins the ending. It would have been better if it was cut out and the song had just stopped instantly. Very tiny solo in it, mainly repeating one set of hammers, but its good.
5. Am I Evil? - 7:50 - 9.5/10
This song rocks harder than my socks. It starts off with like a marching tune, something that you'd expect to hear in a commando's movie. It goes quiet, then it goes into a fast paced solo, which is mainly hammering 3 consecutive notes on one string, then moving up or down an octave. It then breaks into a simple riff, yet, it's hella catchy. There's a tempo change half way in, which makes the song heaps more fast paced. The main solo towards the end starts of with the same solo in the intro, but breaks into more of a shred. This is another great on this album!
6. Blitzkrieg - 3:37 - 8.5/10
This song is good. It comes in with a simple guitar riff that sounds great, then the bass simply takes over, giving it a deep yet awesome sound, then the lyrics take over it. In the verses, the guitar is barely existent, but it takes over in the choruses and verse build-ups. It's a simple song to play, easy to the ears, and great to listen to.
7. Breadfan - 5:41 - 9/10
This song is great. It's guitar riff is very repetitive, but not in the annoying way. The vocals come in, but they sound a bit rushed. The riffs seem to continue through the vocals, but slightly change here and there. It returns back to the original riff, then back to a verse. The songs tempo changes about half way through, with a soft, clean riff - the same type of clean-i-ness that you hear half way through Master of Puppets. The bass isn't existent here. The drums pick up with the guitar, and that repetitive riff restarts. Another good one to listen to.
8. The Prince - 4:26 - 7.5/10
This is quite a fast paced song, and it gets very fast very early. There is alot of harmonizing in this song, and a very fast intro solo which reflects back to the Justice album sort of solo's, but it sounds great. It slows down a bit, but into an even catchier riff. Drums are quite simple, and the vocals cut themselves short, however, overall, it was a great song.
9. Stone Cold Crazy - 2:18 - 9/10
Very small song, yet, it is very catchy. I liked this one based on the fact that the vocals are quick and straight to the point, and they are barely interrupted by complicated guitar riffs, and the guitar is non-existent through the lyrics. Solo's break up the 3 small verses, the first one is very short, and the second builds up half way through one of the riffs and it goes on from there, and it shreds quite a while. To be honest, for me to type this, I'm typing it as the song goes, but that's OK :) Enjoy this one - You'll love me for it.
10. So What - 3:09 - 8.5/10
The lyrics are extremely bad, and dont listen to it if you have young children around, because, they'll learn some bad stuff you probably don't even know. It's riffs are simple, but, its rating is so high because of some of the stupid stuff said in it. Remember, I've warned you - naughty lyrics!!!
11. Killing Time - 3:04 - 8.5/10
This is a fast one, and its great. It is one of the few tracks which goes into Metallica's main thrashy era's. There isn't much to say about it, besides the fact it is great to listen to. Lyrics are short and sharp, and James' voice sounds raspy, but the kind of raspy which sounds good.
12. Overkill - 4:05 - 6.5/10
This song isn't the greatest of songs. The lyrics are really quiet compared to the guitars and drums. There's a slight bit of shredding, and the riff seems to be one or two repeated power chords. Not the best, but it isn't the worst thing either.
13. Damage Case - 3:40 - 7/10
A simple intro with a few power chords and drum pounding. The vocals seem to be a bit jumpy, and the guitar is set too loud, as it is overpowering the vocals. It isn't too bad of a song, and it certainly isn't an ear sore, but it could be a bit better. Where James shouts out "time for a damage case" and the drums are tapped in the background, it hurts your ears, however, it could have been worse.
14. Stone Dead Forever - 4:52 - 8/10
This song is pretty good. I liked it, its intro is set at the right volume, where you dont have to strain to hear everything, but it doesn't deafen you on the lowest volume setting. The lyrics seem a little edgy, and its a bit hard to understand what James is actually singing in some parts, but overall, it is a great song.
15. Too Late Too Late - 3:14 - 7.5/10
This is a pretty good song, as the bass blends in well to the guitar riffs. The vocals are slightly better than the previous two tracks. It is a good song though, and I do enjoy listening to it. There is one main riff which carries through the song, and it is quite catchy, but, musically, it isn't as good as other tracks on this record.
16. Crash Course in Brain Surgery - 3:10 - 6.5/10
I didn't like this song as soon as a it started. It started climbing a scale, but it sounded really weird. It becomes heavier with some power chords, but the vocals are pretty sketchy and hard to understand, kinda like some guy is singing after not drinking any liquid for a week. It could have been heaps better, but wasn't the best way to end the album.
