Review of Metallica
By Mark Lonergan
In 1991 I was a fifteen-year-old budding metal freak who had an unhealthy
obsession with Metallica. …And Justice For All had hooked me, and
buying Metallica was necessary to extend my fix.
The four guys from Metallica more than delivered. They stripped down the complex
song structures of Justice and gave fans a healthy dose of short, sweet metal
mania. The opening track, “Enter Sandman,” will forever be known as the song
that spawned a generation of Metallica fans. Jason Newsted's plodding bassline
(which can actually be heard on this release!) melds perfectly with Lars
Ulrich's work on the toms. The push-pull sound of the guitars builds and builds
until suddenly James Hetfield starts screaming out a lullaby from hell.
“Sad But True” – the original, not Kid Rock’s pathetic rip off of the
music – is filled with huge riffs and wall-shaking drumming. With simple but
meaningful lyrics about the control we let people have over our lives, Hetfield
and Ulrich prove again that they are metal's best songwriting team.
“Holier Than Thou” continues the heaviness with a vicious stab at
self-righteousness. The song has a take-no-prisoners attitude. Speed metal
rhythm guitar and fast as hell drumming are layered with Kirk Hammett's
trademark wah sound, and by the time you're 30 seconds into it, you know this
tune is something special.
I can’t think of three better leadoff songs for an album, but Metallica pushed
themselves even further with "The Unforgiven." The current popularity
of S&M tends to diminish how revolutionary this song was, but back then the
idea of Metallica using orchestration was unheard of. Hetfield even displays an
actual singing voice here. His deft delivery of lyrics like, "This fight he
cannot win/A tired man they see no longer cares," is impressive.
"Nothing Else Matters" again expands the boundaries, as it was the
first time Metallica recorded a ballad. Hetfield takes guitar solo honors on
this track, and the result is a simple, passionate display of emotion.
The testosterone-filled aggression of "Through The Never," "Of
Wolf And Man," and "The Struggle Within" will satisfy diehard
metal fans. These three tracks play it fast and hard, and will leave your ears
bleeding yet begging for more.
The production on "Wherever I May Roam" captures perfectly the energy
Metallica conveys in concert. After a decade it is still an anthem to be
reckoned with. It brings back memories of standing on the bleachers at Foxboro
Stadium, my fists raised in the air, screaming along to all the songs played by
these metal messiahs. Bottles of Jack Daniels were flying through the air, the
smell of pot was everywhere, and video screens to either side of the stage
showed women in the crowd flashing their breasts. What more could a
sixteen-year-old want?
Well, a better follow-up album, for one thing. But that’s another story. Just
go out and buy this album. Buy multiple copies. Buy it for your friends, your
family, your pets. Everyone should own this CD.
Mood:
Bad Break-up
Hear it?:
Buy two copies
