Metallica

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

Black Album is the Album for all fans of Metal Music.Just buy the cd and play it again & again loud....

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

Truly, there probably is not a band out there which demonstrated how much of a role image, popularity (or lack thereof), and mainstream/underground appeal apparently play in determining what is quality music. Metallica, a band which throughout the 80s were at the forefront of the thrash metal scene, decided, with their fifth album, known as "The Black Album" to take a different direction from that which they had been pioneering. A smash upon release, it shot up the charts to number one, introduced a whole new audience to their music, alienated many of their hardcore fans, and became the center of a war of the popular vs. the underground.

It's a shame that the war of popularity and the unwillingness of fans to let a band change would become such an issue with this album, because people quit looking at the album for what it's really about: music. The Black Album may not be another slice of what came before it from the band, but taken for what it is, it really is a good recording.

Of course the question is: what is The Black Album? Certainly not a thrash album, The Black Album is actually return to roots of sorts. Having pioneered and played the thrash style well for nearly a decade, Metallica steps back with this one, dipping a bit into the blues-rock/hard-rock/heavy metal tradition of the late 70s whose evolution would eventually be their own music, and combining those elements with many of harsher elements of their signature thrash style. The result: an album which, while not particularly appealing to fans who wanted thrash and only thrash from Metallica, stands as one of the best hard-rock recordings to come down the road in a long time.

And really, it's that successful melding of elements that give this album its flavor. Songs like "Enter Sandman" and "Sad But True" capture the indellible hooks of hard-rock but add the brutal intensity of thrash to the guitar attack, while others like "The Unforgiven" and "My Friend of Misery" meld intricate, almost delicate guitar picking with thrashy verses/chorouses to paint some truly beautiful, disturbing, and sad musical pictures. And "Nothing Else Matters," while a bit lyrically simple, is played sincerely and beautifully, succeding without the Metallica tradition of a thrash intro/outro for their ballads, a bold move for a thrash band indeed (plus, as a love song, it's a fine antidote to Bryan Adams' overplayed mega-hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" of the same year).

There are still some exercises is speed and thrash, and while they don't stack up to the efforts of the previous four albums, they are solid songs, and provide a nice balance to the slower tracks, as well as at least recalling the direction from which Metallica had just come.

Overall The Black Album is an excellent album, if not as a metal album, than at least as hard rock. It's a shame that this album became so caught up in the politics of fan/band relations, because it really does succeed brilliantly on its own merits. Those who only like Thrash Metallica will be dissapointed, but those who don't mind something different may well enjoy this album. Different from those classic first four albums, yes. Still great. Still reccomended.

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

This album is an absolute classic - "the Black Album"...

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Service and delivery exceptional s usual.

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

There is much conjecture about the birth of 'metal': Led Zeppelin, Cream, Jethro Tull, Iron Butterfly, and Steppenwolf all get a look in. But the powerhouse blues trio accredited on this 1970 debut as Tony Iommi, Terence Butler, William Ward with frontman John Osbourne forged a sound hot on the heels of the aforementioned that would shape the true revolution that would become heavy metal - the forerunner of all brands of 'metals' that would develop throughout the 70s and 80s and be defined by dozens of splinter 'metals' by the 90s. Producer Rodger Bain retained the young band long enough in the studio (one day!) to get a grab of the boys in full, gritty, smoking, snorting ghost train might and full-moon howling form. At times reminiscent of Cream's heavy blues with tonal and structural similarities to the 'Tull of '69, this is a tighter, more cohesive and pounding set, aided by some meticulous sonic harnessing in the studio, but ventured into the dark realm almost fearlessly, and beckoned others to follow.

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Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

Great music to get you fired up and going. Had this album 20 years ago and wore it out. My kids and I Love the CD, great back then and now. Good stuff!!!

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

One of the best hardrock albums ever released.

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

The best Metallica album in my opinion. This is maybe because I am not the typical metalhead. Anyone can appreciate and sing along with the songs on this album.

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

This album is great for listening, one of the best from Metallica, the fellings are on each track and if you're a Metallica fan don't exitate. Worth buy it

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

Good album, a bit too commercial for my liking but it is still great

Comments about VER Metallica - Metallica:

Actually bought for the track: Nothing Else Matters but the rest of the album blew me away.