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05/31/2007 Entry: "CATCHING UP - BACKING TRACKS DONE"
Metallica.com reports that Lars and girlfriend actress Connie Neilsen have had a son. Bryce Thadeus Ulrich-Nielsen joined the Ulrich clan on May 21st.
Says Kirk of the still untitled new album:
"Yeah, it's super raw! There are some songs on that album that are so fast, that James and I kinda look at each other and go, "Ouch! Our wrist are gonna fall off." There are a lot of really, really fast songs, a whole lot of really heavy stuff. We changed our approach to writing the songs, all of us were working on the material this time. We also changed our tuning. With "St. Anger" we had the guitars really low. This time, we tuned the guitars back up to what they originally were for the first five albums. Because we've done that, James' voice sounds more like it did in the '80s than it did in the '90s. There's a lot of changes that we've made, but I believe that they are all for the better." (Blabbermouth)
...and Lars:
"We were down in L.A. for the last four-five weeks just doing all the backing tracks to the new album with [producer] Rick Rubin. We just finished about a week ago doing all the backing tracks and then I came back up here to San Francisco and I had a baby on Monday [May 21] — I didn't have a baby, but my better half had a baby — so this is my first night back in the house here, so I've got a three-day-old baby in the bedroom in there with the lady. So we took a little bit of a break for that and then we're gonna start rehearsing in a couple of weeks and we're gonna go over to Europe and do three weeks' worth of shows and do some of the festivals and all that outdoor fun and games and then back to L.A. in August and finish up the record." (Blabbermouth)
Music Video director Wayne Isham, responsible for Metallica's Enter Sandman, Wherever I May Roam, The Unforgiven, Fuel, I Disappear and Frantic, as well concert video's Live Shit: Binge & Purge, S&M and the St. Anger rehearsals, received a The Lifetime Achievement Award during the 16th Annual Music Video Production Association Awards. A taped message from Lars was played. (Music Video Wire).
James and Lars attended the reunited Black Sabbath Dio line-up going by the name of Heaven & Hell. Lars said James started his own mosh pit.
HQ has been upgraded with new Meyer Sound Equipment. Evidently, James likes it loud. (Meyer Sound)
James went to see the Dalai Lama speak (Blabbermouth), and helped honor Sammy Hagar, who received a Recording Academy Honor.
Replies: 136 comments
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wow
Posted by Yukoner @ 05/31/2007 01:09 AM EST
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something!!
Posted by Yukoner @ 05/31/2007 01:09 AM EST
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wow, Kirks comments sound promising. Good they are tuned bhack in E as well. can't wait for this album!
Posted by morr1e @ 05/31/2007 09:01 AM EST
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what exactly are backing tracks?
Posted by johnny d @ 05/31/2007 09:07 AM EST
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same tuning as the first 5 albums and the songs are really fast.....that's so good to hear. I knew Hetfield's voice sounded better on those albums. This is fantastic news.
Posted by The General @ 05/31/2007 09:39 AM EST
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A backing track is a base recording of the song. You record a rough backing track and then you go in and record all the parts one at a time, the backing track serves as a guide for the completed song.
Posted by Tech Guy @ 05/31/2007 11:57 AM EST
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Still behind (I'm sure you're busy JD... getting pussy!) Yeah, Kirk's comments made me feel relieved that an UnLoad, or OverLoad aren't making it anytime soon
Posted by MOTORBREATH666 @ 05/31/2007 12:55 PM EST
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Finland top 40 album chart looks quite interesting this week. 40 albums - ten Metallica records!
Check it out:
http://acharts.us/finland_albums_top_40
Posted by Oh my god! @ 05/31/2007 01:56 PM EST
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Great fucking update!!! Kirk's comments gave me the chills. I can't wait for this album to come out!!!!!!
Posted by MONSTER @ 05/31/2007 02:17 PM EST
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Well, I've seen lots of griping and complaining about tuning over the last 5-10 years, so at least the bitchers have one less thing on their list.
I think they are going all out to put out a record that can be favorably compared to their best stuff. If so, it's worth the wait.
Posted by kurt @ 05/31/2007 02:40 PM EST
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so good to read...
Posted by xino @ 05/31/2007 03:53 PM EST
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since i read this goog good news the first five metallica-cds are in heavy rotation at my place.
my current favorites:
1. sad but true
2. blackenend
3. master of puppets
4. for whom the bell tolls
5. the four horsemen
since yesterday i expect nothing but the best from the new album. seems they are back in form! hopefully it´s true!
good stuff!
Posted by santor @ 05/31/2007 04:09 PM EST
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Howdy fuckfaces... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gGJ_bjn6QU
I gotta say this is pretty entertaining... Let's just say we know why the people in MetallicA have the jobs in the band that they do. I gotta say I appreciate a friend of mine whom none of you like in here (and JD's best friend) for emailing this to my myspace page.
Posted by MOTORBREATH666 @ 05/31/2007 08:48 PM EST
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haha yeh that video is choice. i love it. greenhell? anyways im lovin the standard tuning and fast riff comments from kirk. I just hope he putting time into his solos and not just tremolo picking on the wah pedal..leave that to the people who dont have the finger dexterity like godsmack.
Posted by sean @ 05/31/2007 11:13 PM EST
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You put it in the stinky pink Sean. We were bullshittin' all day and he sent me that, and some chick stripping to a shitty LP song, but I didn't post that for fear of not interacting with sick fucks (like myself) on here!
Posted by MOTORBREATH666 @ 05/31/2007 11:44 PM EST
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Jesus!I've just watched the video w/Lars on vox.Thank god he is not the front man.I know they did this just for fun,but it's like watchin some lame-pose band not 'Tallica
Posted by Jesius @ 06/01/2007 04:00 AM EST
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This record is sounding more and more promising. Some very fast stuff.. This is a good sign indeed.
I enjoyed St.Anger, but I'm confident this record is going to be a lot better. Should be good times..
Posted by Caspian @ 06/01/2007 04:11 AM EST
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I totally agree with caspian!
MetallicA Fukkin' Rocks!
Posted by J!uz @ 06/01/2007 05:08 AM EST
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I just hope it doesn't sound like a recycled album or anything, hope it's still gonna sound new.
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/01/2007 03:20 PM EST
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After all Metallica has done in their career..it's gonna be hard for them to come up with something really "new" without sounding like Rob Zombie or something like that. Dave Mustaine came out with a great album but is not a "new" sound, cuz it sounds like a extinction & youthanasia!! I'm pretty sure that the boys will come out with something that that is new to us but will show their roots & influences!! What I'm saying is........they've done pretty much everything except an acoustic album ( which I hope they do next!!) so just expect a great metal Metallica album!!!
Posted by MONSTER @ 06/01/2007 05:33 PM EST
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I'm still holding out for something really progressive and experimental, some giant middle finger to the music business in general...
...But I'll be more then happy with some good thrash tunes.
Posted by Caspian @ 06/01/2007 11:11 PM EST
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i think we all just want good fuckin songs. i mean hopefully its not to difficult for them to add a song or two to their legacy and thats really the expectations at this point a great song or two. a setlist staple from this decade..yeah sad but true is good but so wuz joe montana 16 yrs ago.
Posted by sean @ 06/01/2007 11:29 PM EST
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I would like to hear a few NEW "classics" off this record. I'm kinda bumbed they are only planning on doing 9 or 10 songs though. I was hoping for 12. Kirk said not everything was fast and there are some melodic songs they wrote. I personally hope a few of those make it. Diversity is always good no matter what kind of music u play.
Posted by Nick @ 06/02/2007 03:57 PM EST
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I think this is going to be the record that they intended St. Anger to be. And that's not meant to be disrespectful to St. Anger, as I enjoy quite a bit of those songs very much, but this album is going to be the product of a newly-energized band that is no longer on the brink of disaster.
Posted by Mitch @ 06/02/2007 05:49 PM EST
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I'm glad there's only going to be 9 or so songs. I'd definitely prefer quality over quantity. If it's mean there's only going to be 9, there will be heaps less filler, and it will be a lot more focused.
Posted by Caspian @ 06/03/2007 02:54 AM EST
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But longer doesn't always mean better either. I like the songs on St. Anger but there are more then a few that could of been 2 or 3 minutes shorter, got a little repetative. I found that the New Song was good, but might be dragged on a little to long again. So yeah, longer doesn't always mean better, hope Rubin will pick up on that.
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/03/2007 12:38 PM EST
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Unless the song has a lot of depth, I think after 7 mins is pushing it.
Posted by Nick @ 06/03/2007 06:07 PM EST
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After only latching onto these albums in the last few weeks:
Machine Head - The Blackening
Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake
Lamb of God - Sacrement
..I am personally hoping that Metallica's album is something which can be compared favourably with the above listed albums (which I think are amoung the best released for quite some time).
I have faith in the boys to come up with something worthy of their name.
TALLICA RULE THE WORLD
Posted by Waverley73 @ 06/04/2007 02:37 AM EST
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The Blackening rules... Those are some pretty good albums, though I do favor Machine Head over Lamb of God anyday. I've been listening to United Abominations which to me sounds like it could've come out after Youthanasia. I really like the whole album and even the lame version of A Tout La Monde is growing on me (though the old one is a ton better) Joey Z had some very nice things to say about metallica. It's on Blabbermouth, and it's stuff I agree with. Just read "The Dirt" by Motley Crue for the first time, and I must say it was a good read with the exception of the Tommy Lee chapters toward the end. They really are my favorite 80's band. For some reason I really hate Guns n Posers, and Youtoo (U2) now. Not sure why... Anyone else think carrie underwoods panties might smell like cotton candy?
Posted by MOTORBREATH666 @ 06/04/2007 11:09 AM EST
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I'm glad that songs #1 & #2 are not gonna be on the album. When I first heard #1 I liked it a lot but after a little bit it got a little boring...and I wasn't crazy about #2 at all. The middl part was good but not really the rest. I'm feeling better and better about this new album. Also, unfrotunately it doeslook like early 2008 until we get the cd in our hands.
Posted by MONSTER @ 06/04/2007 02:40 PM EST
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it seems like everyone hates rob now eh? I mean WTF is goin on with those kids at blabbermouth...its still kinda funny...but still
Posted by xino @ 06/04/2007 08:33 PM EST
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that news is a sigh of relief
Posted by sean @ 06/04/2007 11:20 PM EST
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WOW! I am actually really surprised those 2 songs aren't going to be on the album! I thought they were gonna get tweaked around and stuff and was expecting to hear it. Yeesh, now I have NO IDEA what to expect... this is killing me.
Like how Rob said this album tkaes a little from MOP and TBA though... now THAT'S a great combo!
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/05/2007 11:22 AM EST
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I'm really not surprised at all.. very happy actually.
Posted by Nick @ 06/05/2007 12:03 PM EST
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I don't mind both of the new songs. Maybe we'll get them as some B sides to some singles or something. I'd like to hear a little acoustic guitar on here. I remember James mentioning in a video from last year that Rob was taking some guitar lessons. Maybe we'll get an acoustic intro. like Fight Fire w/ Fire.
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/05/2007 07:50 PM EST
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not really surprised either. if theyre going back to more standard tuning it would rule those songs out esp song1, i think that was in C flat or C Sharp if i remember.
Minus Human
Posted by Minus Human @ 06/05/2007 08:14 PM EST
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I bet that the other new song will make it. It goes along with what they are saying the album will sound like, and touched/buffed a little, add some slick lyrics, it would be a great song. I say look for it on the next album.....probably track 2 or 5. Write that down.
Posted by The General @ 06/06/2007 08:51 AM EST
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don think so, probably just the bridge from that song, cause that was preety heavy
Posted by xino @ 06/06/2007 09:24 AM EST
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I believe the first new song was just a drop E tuning.
Posted by manguy @ 06/06/2007 10:11 AM EST
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Great news... but even better, the Meet-and-greet pass contest has begun for those of us attending european shows, in MetClub!
Can't wait for those shows and the new album.
Posted by Vilela @ 06/06/2007 10:39 AM EST
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I must disagree General. Rob said they basically took song 2 and ripped it apart. He said only a part of the song might be on the album. Hence they found better riffs for one of those parts to go with. Neither song will be on the new album. If anything at all.. a part from song 2 and that will be it. Write that down.
One more thing.. drop E? is there drop E? lol I'm pretty sure that song was in drop c. Drop C is basically "sad but true" tunning with the top E string tuned down 2 steps. I'm pretty sure most people on here know that though.
Posted by Nick @ 06/06/2007 01:09 PM EST
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just bought Dream theater's Systematic chaos....great album,
Posted by xino @ 06/07/2007 09:54 AM EST
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Sorry, i meant drop D, which is the low E string tuned down a full step.
Posted by Manguy @ 06/07/2007 09:56 AM EST
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What tune is TTTSNB in? Man, I was playing sand volleyball last night and 2 guys were playing some acoustic for a Birthday party and they were pretty good. I need to pick mine up again and learn how to play it. It's hard to try to learn when the weather is nice out.
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/07/2007 10:25 AM EST
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I like to play outside on the beach when it's nice out.
Posted by Nick @ 06/07/2007 01:32 PM EST
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TTTSNB is onm D tuning,which is(from high to low)DAFCGD
Posted by Jesius @ 06/07/2007 03:23 PM EST
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TTTSNB is actualy EBGDAD
Posted by Bleeding @ 06/07/2007 05:55 PM EST
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i do standard or dropped d fuck all the open ass tunings c,e,d i dont even play sad or thingy cuz im too lazy to tune my guitars down a full step
Posted by sean @ 06/07/2007 11:41 PM EST
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TTTSNB is indeed in drop-d tuning. Low to High: DADGBE. I've got the official tab book somewhere.
Is that what you mean, Bleeding? I looked at your tuning and I was like 'what??' but now it kind of makes sense.
Posted by Caspian @ 06/08/2007 02:26 AM EST
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Ya TTTSNB is drop D, I agree. I was their heaviest song until SBT.
Posted by manguy @ 06/08/2007 09:27 AM EST
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I don't think it's drop D. I'm pretty sure its just tuned down a full step and that isn't drop D.
Posted by Nick @ 06/08/2007 10:22 AM EST
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What's the tuning of -Human?
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/08/2007 10:30 AM EST
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Whole Guitar 1/2 a step down, and then Drop-D on the low E string if I remember correctly.
Posted by EET FUK @ 06/08/2007 02:28 PM EST
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yeah 1/2 down drop d on E string for minus.i've always used DADGBE for TTTSNB, just tune the pitch slightly higher from 440 to 445.
Sounds spot on to my ears when playing with the album.
Minus
Posted by Minus Human @ 06/08/2007 07:26 PM EST
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the right way to play thingy is one step down. binge and pirge tab book got it right
Posted by sean @ 06/08/2007 10:51 PM EST
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I'm pretty sure that TTTSNB is tuned one step down as i've said.Look on a video how the fingers are put on the guitar when they play power chords.They don't use one finger as when the guitars are D-tuned.Besides,can anyone tell me a song which is D-tuned(Not Drop-D) from the 80s?
Posted by Jesius @ 06/09/2007 02:48 AM EST
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anyone in the UK, Metallica is on BBC 2 tonight at 9.10 BST as part of the 7 ages of rock series Rock on !!!
Posted by andrew @ 06/09/2007 03:01 PM EST
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I don't know if I can take waiting anothe year for a Metallica album...
DAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/09/2007 10:34 PM EST
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actually the thing that should not be is tuned c#. There was an article on guitar world where kirk talks about it.
Posted by ozzker @ 06/10/2007 05:03 PM EST
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That's bs.
Posted by Nick @ 06/10/2007 05:28 PM EST
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I wonder if they actually played live songs from the first few albums 1/2 step down. Like MOP or Fade to Black.
Just for fun, what would be a cool album title for the new record...based on what we've heard the songs are sounding like of course? I think it would be cool to have the classic Metallica logo in 3-D..like it's rising from the cover.
Posted by For Fun @ 06/10/2007 07:43 PM EST
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they did play all the classic songs half step down around the load tour or actually for a good period of time.
Posted by sean @ 06/10/2007 10:01 PM EST
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You know what bugs me that James has started doing lately?
He actually says "Guitar!" right before a guitar solo. Why would you need to say that name of the instrument that is being played? Just seems kinda corny is all.
This has been another random comment with no point.
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/10/2007 11:58 PM EST
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I'd rather hear him say that than him say "yeah, baby!" I guess it's kind of petty, but it can be a little annoying after hearing it often.
IS-JD, for some reason it appears the screen is too far to the right and you can't scroll to read all the comments. It did this at home for me, too.
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/11/2007 09:57 AM EST
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Definitely need some news now since Sopranos is over.......the hockey season is over...........give us a little bit of news or even some pics of them in the studio or something.......I'm dying over here!
Posted by MONSTER @ 06/11/2007 10:45 AM EST
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"IS-JD, for some reason it appears the screen is too far to the right and you can't scroll to read all the comments. It did this at home for me, too."
Yeah, that was due to NoCreativeNameGuy's extended "dah..." -- I've cleaned it up.
Posted by IS-D @ 06/11/2007 01:31 PM EST
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Sorry!!!!!!!! No more extended lines :(
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/11/2007 02:17 PM EST
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ummm yeah...and the drum tomms are tuned to an F# and kick pedals squeak in B. Jesus people....just tune your shit to whatever range your vocals can handle.
Posted by guidedbyvoices @ 06/11/2007 03:11 PM EST
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they actually still play most of the songs half step down live, at least every song that was in standard tuning
Posted by xino @ 06/11/2007 03:13 PM EST
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I wonder if James will kind of joke around during Whiplash and change the words from "Marshall noise" to "Meyer noise." Whiplash on B&P is so awesome! I think they should maybe consider that as a closer, especially with the last verse of the song. It fits in so well.
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/12/2007 04:56 PM EST
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Why would he change it to "Meyer" noise when he didn't change it to "Mesa Boogie" noise... JD... What fuck bud... get rid of bullshit spammers! Get some ass too while you're at it, and get over links of pork
Posted by MOTORBREATH666 @ 06/12/2007 07:05 PM EST
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It would be pretty sweet if they closed on Whiplash- it might be better as an opener though. Whiplash then Blackened as the openers would be pretty sweet.
Another thing regarding live shows- am I the only one who thinks it'd be a good thing if Metallica shortened their live set a bit? You listen to all the bootlegs from 87, 85 etc, and the sets are shorter and much more energetic. You definitely get the feeling that if Metallica cut half an hour of their sets it would be a lot more intense and more entertaining, even if some songs would get cut..
Just a thought. Obviously one of the main reasons why it's what more intense back then was because they where younger, but still- if they didn't go as long today, they cut put a lot more energy into each song.
Posted by Caspian @ 06/12/2007 09:00 PM EST
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well they played shorter sets because they werent headlining they were opening acts and yes, younger. so guys we're getting closer to the live shows which im sure means new material are ya nervous? cuz obviously this time around whatever is played is a final cut(song)
Posted by sean @ 06/12/2007 11:22 PM EST
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Pesonally, I'd like a set closer to 3 hours or so. Yeah, I wonder if we'll hear new stuff. I'm torn about it. It might be cool to hear because it's fressh, but on the other hand, it kind of spoils it if the songs show up on the record.
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/13/2007 01:05 AM EST
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Motorbreath666 - you need to calm the fuck down. I'll deal with the spammers, you can't expect them to disappear minutes or even hours after they're posted.
I have a job that leaves me with no internet access for 24 hours at a time, I also have a life, etc. So chill out.
Posted by IS-JD @ 06/13/2007 08:31 AM EST
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longer sets man! they should play the old songs at the tempo they recorded them, instead of rushing them, that way they'll have more energy for the whole show, also they should play the new era songs a little more slower, i dont like how they play no leaf clover that fast or i disappear
Posted by xino @ 06/13/2007 10:02 AM EST
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alright alright, Nick you are right. I didn't know that Trujillo said that about the two songs. So they are chopping them up and not using, that good news. Although you need to get some new catch phrase material. Write THAT down.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------So as I mentioned above I just read that article on blubbermouth about the new album. This part really excited me, "Hammett also hinted that the new record features "a lot of really, really fast songs, a whole lot of really heavy stuff. We changed our approach to writing the songs...There's a lot of changes that we've made, but I believe that they are all for the better." ---very nice.
Posted by The General @ 06/13/2007 10:27 AM EST
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lol ya got me there General.
Posted by Nick @ 06/13/2007 11:01 AM EST
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Wow just found this document on PC Hyping up St Anger, i wonder if the same will happen with new album, due for realese in 2008 / 2009 ---- 2015...
In many ways, "St. Anger" is the most anticipated, yet most dreaded, metal release since, well, the last METALLICA album. Twenty years (to the month) after the arrival of their monumental debut, "Kill 'Em All", this band still has the ability to command the attention of the entire metal community — from their legions of fans to their sizable army of detractors to fellow musicians to the ever-analytical media — with every musical move they make. And make no mistake, "St. Anger" is already as controversial a release as 1991's METALLICA and '96's "Load". It's also as different from those discs as they are from "…And Justice For All" and "Master Of Puppets". It's also one of the most memorable and powerful rock/metal albums of 2003, a fiery exorcism for this band of demons both personal and musical.
Let's get one thing straight: "St. Anger" is not a "return" to anything. The feverish rumors that swirled around the making of this album, signaling a retreat to the classic thrash sound of the first four studio efforts, were based, perhaps, on a mixture of wishful thinking and distorted snippets of information slipping out of the band's Bay Area headquarters. Anyone with any sense of how music works would have to realize that METALLICA could no more recreate "Ride The Lightning" today than BLACK SABBATH could recreate "Paranoid". The musical skills are different, the recording technology is different, but most importantly, the people are different. James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett are not the same musicians and human beings they were in 1984. To expect them to produce the same kind of material they did back then is unfair and illogical.
Moreover, it's doubtful they'd want to. Would you want to be back at the same job you were doing nineteen years ago, or back in the same class, or stuck in the same apartment? Life is about moving forward, and for music to sound alive, it has to move forward too. Listen to "…And Justice For All" now. It was great in 1988 (although not one of the band's best albums, and probably the least of the first four), but in several ways, it sounds dated and stiff, the product of a band slowly realizing that they needed to change, but not quite able to make the jump yet. Diehard METALLICA fans are well aware of the way that "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets", and "…And Justice For All" follow the same structural pattern: side one consisted of the fast opener, epic title track, sludgy slower third tune, and the powerful ballad. Side two invariably ended with a combination of a long instrumental and another fast thrasher. By 1988, the formula was getting predictable — and the band sensed it as well. For them to have kept that blueprint would have been creative suicide.
So METALLICA experimented. The black album, "Load", "Reload"…all variations on the original theme, some of them successful, some not. The black album was a masterful fusion of the band's monster heaviness with a new commercial sensibility, and still one of their best albums despite the groans of some fans who insisted on living in the world of "Kill 'Em All" forever. "Load" and "Reload", on the other hand, could only be deemed failures, despite some solid songs on both albums. For the first time, METALLICA were behind the times instead of ahead of them, trying too hard to keep up with the "alternative" wave and working overtime to distance themselves from their metallic roots. It wasn't organic, it was contrived, and it ultimately made those albums the weakest links in the METALLICA chain.
In the nearly six years since the release of "Reload", nu-metal reached its peak and died a quick, mostly deserved death, its own one-dimensionality and contrivances dooming it to self-parody within five years. Underground metal has continued to flourish on a small level, but with few bands having enough talent or ambition to manage even the slightest accessibility in their sound. And then we have the rise of "garage rock," supposedly the next wave of music that was going to literally save rock, but, with only one or two exceptions, has proven to be more of a hollow pastiche than a true resurgence of what made bands like THE STOOGES and THE RAMONES so vital.
What all this has lacked is real feeling, real humanity — there's no sense that you're hearing any true emotion on any album by STAIND or MESHUGGAH or THE DATSUNS, as capable (or not) as any of those bands might be. This is a sin that METALLICA has been guilty of in the past as well: masking true feeling with naked aggression, although they were far better at it than almost any other band of their ilk.
So now we come to "St. Anger": an album of raw, bleeding, naked humanity, full of mistakes and flubs and sloppy moments, engineered and recorded to frequently sound as if someone just hung a microphone in the band's rehearsal room and let them jam. The already-notorious drum sound does come remarkably close to the ring of a garbage can cover, while guitars rise and fall in the mix, crisp and precise one moment, muddy and distorted the next. There are audible missed cues and ragged edges. James Hetfield's voice is dry and unproduced, cracking, not hitting notes, and sometimes straining. There are moments in the 75-minute running time when any one of these things, or a combination of them, is actively annoying or distracting.
Yet this is also an almost unrelentingly heavy album, an in-your-face, nonconformist, uncommercial recording that sounds like virtually nothing else produced by a rock band in this young century. As bizarre as this sounds, only the WHITE STRIPES come close in terms of the kind of vibe that "St. Anger" puts across – and that's not to say that "St. Anger" sounds anything like "Elephant" (I could hear millions of jaws dropping there for a minute). After the last miserable few years of corporate nu-metal clones, trend-driven, model-fucking, "garage rock" posers, and regurgitating death metal wannabes, METALLICA has made an album that flies in the face of all conventional expectations of heavy rock music in 2003.
Again, the band hasn't retraced their steps to the thrash days of old, but there are signature styles that resurface here, filtered through the new, looser sensibility that dominates the album. There's plenty of double-bass, a major surprise from the questionable feet of Lars Ulrich. Vicious chainsaw riffing propels tunes like "Frantic" and "Sweet Amber", while the SABBATH-sized chords of doom made famous in classics like "The Thing That Should Not Be" are given a new spin on "Some Kind Of Monster" and "The Unnamed Feeling". The title track and "All Within My Hands" have the epic twists and turns of "…And Justice For All" or "Disposable Heroes". But the tightness of those productions is replaced by a raw immediacy that only a band finally comfortable with themselves as people and musicians could achieve.
"St. Anger" is not meant to be a perfect recording, and it's not. Like many great talents, METALLICA need an editor, but no one seems willing to take on the job. "Invisible Kid" doesn't need to be over eight minutes long, and some of the songs have perhaps one or two too many changes jammed into them. "Shoot Me Again" is, frankly, a mostly horrid faux-outlaw boogie that proves once more — as did similar songs on "Load"/"Reload" – that METALLICA just doesn't do blues well. While the production (or lack of it) suits the vibe of the material, the band still seems to have a problem with letting the bass be heard (even if it is producer Bob Rock playing).
But — "Shoot Me Again" aside — the songs are there. They have sweep and power and feeling. And yes, Hetfield has written and delivered his most personal, intimate lyrics and vocals yet — with all their imperfections intact. METALLICA fans have watched and heard this man struggle and evolve for two decades in his means of expressing himself, and this is perhaps the biggest step he's ever taken. He seems finally unafraid to show weakness or hurt or fear. Some of the lyrics drift a little too closely to nu-metal angst, but Hetfield doesn't blame his mom or his girl or anyone else for the torture he's going through: the responsibility falls squarely on his shoulders.
There's no way to tell where "St. Anger" falls in the METALLICA discography — it's too unlike anything else the band has ever done. A numerical rating simply doesn't sum up the album's many features and characteristics either, which is why I haven't given it one (which will surely piss off the editor). There's also no question that many fans will hate this album, while many will love it. Either way, this is a record that will trigger strong reactions.
That's nothing to take lightly. In a climate where more and more entertainment seems pre-packaged, pre-sold, and disappointingly predictable and generic, no other current metal band, and no other current metal record, will spark as much discussion, debate, opinion, and intense emotion as this band and this disc (just check the BLABBERMOUTH.NET boards for proof). Not for the first time in their long career, METALLICA has given us something to talk about. In the end, that alone makes "St. Anger" a success.
[The following note was added by the author after the original review was posted—Ed.]
P.S. I wanted to address a few readers who thought it odd that didn't give "St. Anger" a numerical rating. I find numbers or stars or "K's" or whatever people like to use to be increasingly restrictive, plus they have the effect of basically allowing people to grab a quick — and sometimes wrong — impression without seeing the context of the rest of the review. However, if I had to nail it down, I would give "St. Anger" an 8 out of 10. Hope that helps. — DK
Posted by andrew @ 06/13/2007 03:07 PM EST
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holy fuckin novel batman
Posted by sean @ 06/13/2007 10:29 PM EST
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It was an album they had to make at the time. I think thats what pisses people off the most is the kind of album they got after waiting years and years for a new Metallica record.. if this makes sense to anyone.
Posted by Nick @ 06/14/2007 01:15 AM EST
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can I get the cliff notes for that? Yeah I agree with that. They've all said that it was an experiment and they had to do it, for themselves. Good they did it then, so as to get it out of their system.. if this makes sense to anyone.
Posted by The General @ 06/14/2007 09:32 AM EST
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ur an asshole General.. jk ha
Posted by Nick @ 06/14/2007 05:09 PM EST
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i dont want to see the terminater pregnant in a movie and i dont want to hear metallica play poor twisted me but our icons love experimenting ..i dunno wutcha gonna do..people have to realize their reason for fame..for example if the swimsuit issue "got tired" of being the same and had the girls wear winter clothes that would be the st anger issue
Posted by sean @ 06/14/2007 11:38 PM EST
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They fucking suck honestly, who you trying to kid.
Posted by Nick @ 06/15/2007 03:32 AM EST
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Lucas = sum 41 lead singer wants his voice back;
tommy lee = poison called, they want their hair back;
jason newstead = embarassing;
the other two guys = can I get fries with that?------------------
supernova = gross
Posted by The General @ 06/15/2007 08:17 AM EST
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Wow, really friggin awful. I wonder if Newstead really got hurt, or if he's just at home hiding in shame. How could he ever do that shit. One thing people identify him with is credibility, quiting a huge band based on his principles. Then he does that? I hope he hasn't spent all the money he made.
I don't understand these reality shows involving making bands, or stuff like the bachelor. Those things just never work out for the people involved. Must be the hunger for their 15 minutes.
Been listening to a lot of ozzy lately. Made a mix CD from all his live releases. Youtube's got a lot of cool performances from the download festival too.
Posted by kurt @ 06/15/2007 10:10 AM EST
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For starters, get ur own name d-bag and second know one cares about ur masterbating bullshit.
Know one click on the name above, it's a virus/spyware.
But hey guys, guess what!?
http://metallica.com/index.asp?item=600264
updates! well kinda.. mainly pics
Posted by Nick @ 06/15/2007 07:15 PM EST
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cool thanx nick. pics r badass i like the ambiance and the drums look mic'ed up nicely.hopefully metallica will save the metal world.
Posted by sean @ 06/15/2007 11:53 PM EST
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WTF... All the spam... That review is from blabbermouth.net about ST. Anger
Posted by CREEPINGFUEL2006 @ 06/16/2007 12:17 PM EST
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Thanks for posting the link, Nick. Oh, the old stick in the snare skin again. Yeah, the room looks really cool.
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/17/2007 09:11 AM EST
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fuckin spammers.
Posted by Nick @ 06/17/2007 10:45 PM EST
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How the hell do they do that?
And honestly, would anyone ever be persuaded by spam?? Does someone look at that and think "wow, look at all those fake posts, I should check it out"
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/18/2007 08:07 AM EST
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Metallica's been confirmed for Live Earth. The only surprise here is that it took so long to announce.
Posted by Trace @ 06/19/2007 01:10 PM EST
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hey, have you seen the new studio pics right after the rehersal-pics? the one of rob is so damn cool. man, it looks like he is digging the new stuff, at least one song! this pic gives a lot of hope, at least to me!
going to see them live in a few days! yeeeeeeeeeessssss!!!!
Posted by santor @ 06/19/2007 02:43 PM EST
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it will be brodcast worldwide via cable or satellite, why watch that on the internet when you can watch it from you tv...hehe lots of sucky bands in that bill...
Posted by xino @ 06/19/2007 09:51 PM EST
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i hope one of the shows is broadcasted live
Posted by sean @ 06/20/2007 04:12 AM EST
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yeah, surely they will have one of the shows live to stream. They should offer a pay per view of the show. I'd buy it quicker that mustaine's stint with metallica. "what time does my plane leave?"
Posted by The General @ 06/20/2007 08:55 AM EST
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what the fuck is this shit? Ban these cocksuckers
Posted by kurt @ 06/20/2007 03:58 PM EST
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Where's the Spam-o-meter when you need it? Sheesh!!!
I am so stoked for the new album, I hope when Kirk says "raw" he doesn't mean it in the same way St. Anger was "raw". Not that St. Anger was a bad album, but methinks it was a little _too_ unpolished.
Cheers!
Posted by DuManchu @ 06/20/2007 04:20 PM EST
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Ok guys here's the deal. Banning these spammer's by IP address means little as each post has a different IP anyway.
I recently updated my Fire Dept's site to a newer version of the software we use. It was a very buggy install and leaves me a little nervous about doing so here... it took a few weeks to get everything right and that meant no posting til it was sorted... and frankly, I had some help from a very gracious volunteer (ie, I was over my head). It eliminated spam... and while this update might go without a flaw, it's still a very strong possibility of losing the site for a while.
Posted by IS-JD @ 06/21/2007 08:38 AM EST
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Do it Do it
Bacardi & Coke do it do it
Posted by MONSTER @ 06/21/2007 11:12 AM EST
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only a few more days till we could potentially hear some new songs....
Posted by The General @ 06/21/2007 03:27 PM EST
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I don't think they will.
Posted by Nick @ 06/21/2007 07:56 PM EST
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Nick, I agree with you. I don't they will or at least I hope they don't. It will just make the suspense greater and make us all go crazy until the album is finally released. I remember hearing snippets of st anger before it was released and it kinda killet it when I first listened to it. Don't want it happenening with this one.
Posted by MONSTER @ 06/21/2007 10:04 PM EST
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But if they do, how the hell can anyone honestly NOT give it a listen?
Posted by NoCreativeNameGuy @ 06/21/2007 10:06 PM EST
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they're def gonna play a new song or two..i mean damn they played a rough demo with no chorus ..they cant leave us hangin until 08 with whoa oh oh.
Posted by sean @ 06/21/2007 11:48 PM EST
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Hi! Good site respect!!! POO AND WEE!! TUUUUURDDDDDSSSSSS!!!
Posted by caspian @ 06/22/2007 02:59 AM EST
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Well, I'd rather they not play a new tune this time. However, if they do, I'll certainly be getting the livemet versions ASAP.
Posted by kurt @ 06/22/2007 09:17 AM EST
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i hope they bring back the four horsemen as a concert staple
Posted by sean @ 06/22/2007 09:43 AM EST
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yeah, the four horsemen, full verison. None of that chopped up shit like on B&P. I think there is no way they won't play some new material. They are probably anxious to get something fresh out there. You can write that down. Nick?
Posted by The General @ 06/22/2007 12:07 PM EST
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Gee, I wonder if they will play "Blackened" at the Live Earth Concert...
Posted by Crushing Metal Strikes @ 06/22/2007 12:45 PM EST
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Yeah, I think Blackened is a sweet song. I was listening to the black album on sales calls yesterday and i really like James' rhythm guitar playing on it.
I recently saw that the boys came out with a "Frantic" shirt. It's pretty cool lookin'.
I think i might pick up the new Dream Theater CD this weekend. I've never bought any of their stuff, but I need to expand my music collection. Anyone have it? Sound pretty cool?
Posted by The Thing that should not be @ 06/22/2007 12:57 PM EST
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If they do play something new live and it is on the internet to listen/view........I don't think I'll be able to control myself and I'll have to listen. When it comes to Metallica & beer......i have no control!!!!
Posted by MONSTER @ 06/22/2007 03:15 PM EST
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Itching to play new stuff or not, I really don't believe they will. It would ruin everything. Rob said they most likely wouldn't be playing new material. It's like St. Anger in my opinion. They play a few gigs before the album is out. Play DKR which doesn't make it and that is it. They didn't play Frantic or St. Anger till the single was just about out. Like I said I find it highly unlikely.. right that down smart ass, General?
Posted by Nick @ 06/22/2007 04:11 PM EST
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lol thats the first time i ever seen spam and don mattingly go together.
Posted by sean @ 06/22/2007 11:06 PM EST
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What the fuck man?! Spam like a motherfucker! BASTARDS! And i agree... they should play Blackened at Live Earth. haha!
Posted by The Dude @ 06/24/2007 01:49 PM EST
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Hi!This is a good site,so you SPAM MOTHERFUCKERS STAY the FUCK AWAY!!!Damn...
Posted by Jesius @ 06/25/2007 02:59 AM EST
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