Metallica - Load

'Load'... one of the most controversial albums of all time!

'Load' marked a total change of direction for Metallica.  They started adding in Alternative Rock to the mix, cut their hair, altered their image... heck they even played the decidedly un-Metal Lollapalooza tour!  Indeed at this time they were dubbed 'Alter-nica'

At the time Hard Harry412 didn't really think these changes were that great, but looking back now I can see why Metallica did what they did.  Alternative Rock was taking over the air-waves, they had made Thrash Metal music in the same vein for several albums in a row.  The guys probably just felt they needed to change to stay viable and vital.  (It should be noted that even Van Halen went in this direction by releasing the 'darker then usual' 'Balance' around the same time)

And really is 'Load 'that bad?  Heck I would rather listen to 'Load' then Nickleback or whatever other contemporary rock is out there now.  Ugh, Nickleback... how far we have fallen.  Heck I would even listen to 'Load' before I would listen to Foo Fighers... and I really like Foo Fighters.  But Metallica brings that Heaviness, with a dosage of Alternative Rock, with 'Load' that Foo Fighters lacks.

'Load' features some excellent songs that are amongst the best that Metallica had done.  'Ain't My Bitch', '2 X 4', and 'King Nothing' are totally heavy!  However the B-side of this album is where one can feel that Metallica sort of lost their focus.  It truly is a B-side, whereas before on almost every previous Metallica release the entire album would be all killer/ no filler.  There are some interesting B-side songs though such as 'Mama Said' which finds them experimenting with country music and this song would eventually even be issued as a single!

Overall 'Load' has stood the test of time.  Most contemporary Metal or Hard Rock acts wouldn't be able to touch the A-side material on this album and really only the other Thrash bands Megadeth or Slayer have put out better albums since 'Load'.

Countdown to Extinction VS. The Black Album

The two must successful and well known albums of each band in a steel cage death match against each other, the winner decided by yours truly, Hard Harry412!

Who shall be the victor in this clash of THRASH TITAN ALBUMS?

Hard Harry412 decides for.... MEGADETHS 'COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION'!

1.) While 'The Black Album' is probably better over-all, 'Countdown' has more GOOD songs!

'Black' in my mind has two really good songs that I like: 'Enter Sandman' and 'Wherever I May Roam' whilst 'Countdown' features three: 'Skin 'O My Teeth', 'Symphony of Destruction', and 'Foreclosure Of A Dream'.  It is hard to win when it comes down to 3 vs. 2!!

2.) When comparing these two I can't help but notice that 'The Black Album' sounds just way more produced.  I mean it was made with Bob Rock for crying out loud!  So as an Alternative Rocker who also likes noise rock I just am more drawn to the rawer sound of 'Countdown'

The rhythm section on the 'Black Album' actually I think sounds the best.  Lars bass drum still sounds pretty cool on this one (it was one of the main things I liked about '... And Justice For All) and Newsteads bass sounds deep and cool, but the two guitars just don't sound all that good to my ear.  I like Megadeths guitar sound way better!!!  HAIL MEGADETH!  Hail 'Countdown to Extinction!'

Metallica - The Black Album

Metallica just keeps churning out good albums!

There was a lot of controversy about 'The Black Album' when it came out... Metallica was trying to 'sell out' and other non-sense.

Over the years I have decided that is a bunch of crap.  Imagine if you will that Metallica had never made 'Master of Puppets' and '...and Justice for All'.  In this Bearded Spock-ian Alternate Universe then I think that 'The Black Album' would be a natural successor to 'Ride the Lightning'.  Why the heck don't other folks see that?!?!?!

I just don't see this album as that radical a departure from what the band had done in the past.  I can logically hear the same band that made 'Kill 'Em All' making this record when listening to it. Really Metallica wouldn't start making some radical changes to their sound until later... and that is a whole 'nother blog post!

Anyhow this album is great and is chock full of good songs and good videos!  I like it better than 'Master of Puppets' which is supposedly most hard-core Metallica fans favorite.

Probably my favorite song on here would be ''Whereever I May Roam'.  It is probably my second favorite Metallica song, after 'Fade to Black'.  That video really makes me want to go to a Metallica concert!!!

Metallicas 'Classic Quartet' Round-up

Let's break down Metallica first four albums with my favorites going first:

1.) '...And Justice For All' - After listening to this one, which I hadn't heard in years I am convinced this is the best of them.  The songs themselves are long and epic, much more so then on 'Master', but also seem to capture some of the 'brutal' rawness of their first two albums.  Hetfields vocals on here are by far his best as well!  Then there is Lars bass drum, which sounds awesome.  When one adds up all the good things about 'Justice' it just over-whelming appears to take the top spot.

2.) 'Ride the Lightning' - This album has that raw 'barely produced' sound that I like, but it is not AS raw as their debut and not as polished as 'Master' either.  Sort of a 'golden mean' as it were.  Plus 'Ride the Lightning' has some really awesome songs on there that I like such as 'Fade to Black'.  In fact I don't think there is a track on here I dislike.

3.) 'KIll 'Em All' - This thing is so raw and powerful!  The only real drawback is some of the lyrics are frankly dumb... 'Phantom Lord'?  not really all that scary!  Still this is a sick debut.  Why doesn't it get more credit?  To much of the mainstream out there wants their tunes to sound all produced and stuff.   In my mind this is right up there with some of the best debuts in Rock/ Hard Rock/ Metal such as Guns N' Roses 'Appetite for Destruction'  It is that good in my mind!

4.) 'Master of Puppets' - Well sadly something had to come in last.  I look at this as sort of transitional record to the epic achievement they would make on their next album.  I just don't really dig the title track, never have and I have heard it on the Metal Radio stations countless of times.  Still this record is by no means a failure!  It has one of my favorite Metallica songs on it: 'Disposable Heroes'!!

Metallica - ...And Justice For All

Just recently re-listening to this album blew me away!

Hard Harry412 had forgotten just how good this album is!

The best part about it is Lars bass drum, it sounds deep and sweet on this record!  It still sounds good almost 20+ years later!  James Hetfields vocals are outstanding!  He is aggressively barking out lyrics here on some of these songs in a way unheard of in the last three albums.

The only real drawback with this record is the guitar sound.  It just sounds like thin, certainly different then their last three records, but after 2-3 songs in one gets sort of used to the sound and it sorts of fades away.

When it comes to Metallica 'Classic Quartet' of albums this one is going to rank pretty high!

Metallica - Master of Puppets

Metallica first four albums are thought to constitute a 'Classic Quartet' and out of that most folks consider 'Master' to be the best album.  

Hard Harry412 dissents from that view!  Currently I like 'Ride the Lightning' better.  It is a little rawer sounding, the way I like my albums.  Hey I am at base an 'Alternative Rocker' who likes lots of guitar distortion, just the way it is!  'Master' just sounds a little to produced for me and also I think Metallica started to get way to technical/ progressive rock with some of the songs.  

The title song 'Master of Puppets' is a little over-hyped as well!  It is just a generic mid-tempo Metallica jam and I don't really see why it is fawned over so much. 

Don't get me wrong though this is over-all a great album with some excellent songs on here!

Songs I like on here include 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)' and 'Disposable Heroes'.  

'Disposable Heroes' is sick and sounds like an out-take from 'Ride the Lightning'!  'Master of Puppets' and 'Welcome Home' get hella' radio play on the Metal station around here, but I don't think I have ever heard 'Disposable Heroes' on there and that is a crime!!!  It kicks all possible ass!!!

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

It is generally agreed upon that Metallicas first four albums are their best and constitute a 'classic  quartet'.

However that still leaves a burning question: which of these four is the best?

10-15 years ago I would have said "Kill 'Em All' was the best since it is just so raw and powerful.  Also I like the drum sound on it alot.

Over the last 1-2 years though I have really warmed back up to 'Ride the Lightning'.  The production values are just a little better.  It is like a raw stone, that has had its edges sheened just a little to make it just a little shiney and little nicer.  Those are the sorts of albums I like now-a-days (Nirvanas 'Nevermind' and Dinosaur Jrs 'Where You Been' would fall into this category as well.

Pretty much every song on here is awesome.  My fave and possibly my most favorite Metallica song is 'Fade to Black'.  I don't really agree with the lyrics, but man the actual music itself is just awesome and it is totally heavy!

Believe it or not I actually don't really care that much for 'For Whom the Bells Toll' which is probably the most famous song out of the bunch.  Maybe I have just heard it too many times on the radio or it is just too slow tempo wise compared to the rest of the songs on here so I just consider it to be kind of wussy by comparison.

Metallica - Kill 'Em All

Guess what?  It is ok for alternative rockers to like Heavy Metal (like Metallica).  Soundgarden made it safe to do so:

Soundgarden made a place for heavy metal in alternative rock. Their fellow Seattle rockers Green River may have spearheaded the grunge sound, but they relied on noise rock in the vein of the Stooges. Similarly, Jane's Addiction were too fascinated with prog rock and performance art to appeal to a wide array of metal fans. Soundgarden, however, developed directly out of the grandiose blues-rock of Led Zeppelin and the sludgy, slow riffs of Black Sabbath. 

 http://www.allmusic.com/artist/soundgarden-mn0000001098

Something like 'Kill 'Em All' is especially tantalizing.  It has real indie label production values.  Hetfields and Hammetts twin guitar attack can churn out a sound that is listenable to noise rockers.

Also since J Mascis brought back guitar solos with Dinosaur Jr., it is A-OK to enjoy Hammetts solos!

Even Kurt Cobain liked Metallica!:

Is it true that the album cut "Whiplash" was Kurt Cobain's favorite Metallica song?
Absolutely. He told me that himself. He came to one of our shows in Seattle, on the Black Album tour. I remember at one point, we were playing "Whiplash," and he looked at me and kept punching the air with his fist, and gave me a big thumbs-up sign. I was like, "Cool. Kurt, I know you love this song. This one's for you!" I knew Kurt kind of well, and I hung out with him quite a bit. He was a pretty big Metallica fan – I was surprised at how much of a Metallica fan he was. He loved Ride the Lightning. He loved that album.

 http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-metallicas-kirk-hammett-on-horror-fans-hanging-with-kurt-cobain-20121001

'Kill 'Em All' is another album that is all killer/ no filler.  My favorite track is the first one 'Hit the lights', The beginning drum into and guirar intro just rule!