Well I’ve decided to take a little break from doing reviews of bands from the 90’s so now I’m going to do a 4 part series on my favorite genre which is thrash metal. In doing so, I thought that first up will be the biggest band in the world and that of course is Metallica. I mean I really don’t have to explain much about these guys and if you don’t know who they are then just stop reading my reviews and go educate yourself. Let’s take a look……
Kill Em All- well what can I say it’s the first Metallica record and of course it’s the first thrash record. The recording on it is like any of the other early thrash records from the Big 6. It’s raw, fast, and heavy and a great record. Not gonna really say because well its a killer record. I can only imagine what it would sound like if they went back and re-recorded it. I give this 8/10
Standouts: No Remorse, Phantom Lord, Metal Militia
Ride the Lightning- definitely a continuation of Kill. This one though the songs are now starting to get more refined. While I feel the last one was an all out fuck you to everyone, this one the songs seem more focused. Again another classic album. Here’s a fun fact, the song Creeping Death was originally an Exodus riff that Kirk had written. Anyway again another classic album I give it 10/10
Standouts: Fight Fire With Fire, Trapped Under Ice, Escape
Master of Puppets- ok now we come to the quintessential Metallica record. There are many who say that it’s this one or And Justice For All as their favorite albums. For me it’s Justice but this is definitely a close second. It also has my favorite song which is Battery. This album is perfect from start to finish and it’s great getting to go back and re explore it. I mean how can I not give it anything less than 10/10
Standouts: Battery, Disposable Heroes, Leper Messiah
…..And Justice For All- here we are this and the debate as to who’s favorite Metallica record either this or Puppets? For me it’s so close but I’m going with this one. The songs feel more dialed in and yes while I am aware of the lack of bass I don’t care. I mean Puppets is where I first heard Metallica but this is the record that got me into them. The opening song Blackened is my other favorite Metallica song. Like with Puppets, you really can’t go wrong with any of these songs. I mean it goes without saying that this is another 10/10
Standouts: Blackened, The Shortest Straw, The Frayed Ends of Sanity
The Black Album- let me start off by saying that I really like this album I just don’t like it as much as their earlier works. I also want to say that Bob Rock sucks!! Anyway, now that that’s out of the way, the album is the one that everyone knows. I mean ask even a person who isn’t a fan of Metallica and they will say they might like Enter Sandman. Shit that song was everywhere and for good reason it’s a catchy riff. This is one of those bands where you can here them evolve. It’s not my favorite album but there’s no denying that this is a huge record and a game changer. I give it 9/10
Standouts: Holier Than Thou, Wherever I Roam, The Struggle Within
Load- ok so this somewhat new territory for me because I sort of stopped listening to them. Back in the day I figured if it wasn’t like Puppets then it wasn’t worth listening to. Listening to it again and in full, I have a greater appreciation for it. No the songs are not thrashy like they were on Justice or Ride but they are more rock oriented and they are really good. Yes this album does have some filler but the songs worth listening to are fantastic. Here you can see why they are the biggest band in the world and that’s because they keep evolving. I give this 8/10
Standouts: King Nothing, Ain’t My Bitch, Wasting My Hate
Reload- ok so I guess this would be part 2 of the Load/Reload album. While I think this isn’t a bad album, it just feels like a lot of it could be a bunch of B-sides to Load. I don’t know it’s just not quite as good as Load. I mean it sounds like it picks up right where Load leaves off and the opening song Fuel is a great song but this album feels a little uneven to me. I give it 6/10
Standouts: Better Than You, Bad Seed, Fixxxer
Garage Inc.- I feel like every band has to have that obligatory covers album. Anthrax had Anthems, Slayer has Undisputed Attitude, and Metallica has Garage Inc. I used to have this but my copy was made double album. It’s a bunch of great covers and some are better than others. Definitely worth a listen. I give it 9.5/10
Standouts: Free Speech For The Dumb, Die Die My Darling, The More I See
St. Anger- so here we are. Going back and listening to this album again I would say I have a different appreciation of it. There’s potential there for a really great album but sadly it doesn’t work. And that drum sound oh dear lord what the fuck were they thinking? It’s so irritating and how they felt that they thought that was a good sound is beyond me. It’s so distracting. The riffs on some songs are cool and I get they were going through stuff with James in rehab and what not but this album is not a good album. And why the hell are there no solos? I will say that when they play these songs live, they add solos to them and they are much better. And I still hate Bob Rock that guy can suck it. I give this 0/10
Standouts: there are parts of songs but nothing worth mentioning
Death Magnetic- this album is so much better than St. Anger. It’s also Rob Trujillo’s first album and I must say that this is an album I wanted to dislike because I hated St. Anger but I couldn’t. It’s actually really good and my only real complaint is that some of the songs seem to drag on a little. And yes I really like the guitar tone on this one and even the drums are better here. Is it a return to thrash? No but it’s a pretty solid album especially for being their first album in five years. I give it 8/10
Standouts: That Was Just Your Life, My Apocalypse, All Nightmare Long
Lulu- I couldn’t even get through the first song on this. It’s terrible in every sense of the word. I give it -0/10. I AM THE TABLE!!
Standouts: nothing ever off this record it sucks
Hardwired….To Self Destruct- I must admit I hadn’t heard this one I’m it’s entirety just A song here and there. After listening to it from start to finish, I must say that this is a solid follow up to Death Magnetic. If this is the direction that they are choosing to go in well then that gives me hope for future Metallica releases. I will say though that after listening to the last two albums, I feel like the last album was slightly better but this one is good too. Overall, a great album and I give it 8.5/10
Standouts: Now That We’re Dead, Hardwired, Confusion
Well that’s my look into Metallica and I guess it’s true what they say in that tastes change with time. I have a better appreciation of albums like Load and Reload now more so than I did back then. I am glad to see that they are re embracing their thrash roots and going back to that sound but with a modern twist. I will say that for as big as they are, I feel like James is underrated as a song writer and a guitar player. And I feel like I’m one of the few people who,don’t think Lars is that bad of a drummer. Anyway, these guys are in my bucket list of bands to see live and once I see them then I will have seen all the bands of the Big 6.
Album rankings:
- And Justice For All
- Master of Puppets
- Ride the Lightning
- Kill Em All
- Garage Inc.
- Black Album
- Load
- Death Magnetic
- Hardwired….To Self Destruct
- Reload
- St. Anger
- Lulu
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