St. Anger sucks

[Stereo Steve]

Will Metallica ever produce a good album again? Should have known from the Black album they were on the way out, I still bought it and have to say it's a big load of trash. Listen to it, then put on Puppets.

Dross. Wish I had illegally downloaded it now, it would have ****** them off and I could have just deleted it afterwards.

[karkus30]

Cant get better than The Meat Puppets

[DavidPeat]

I totally agree - I really wanted to like it but it is too disjointed. They have tried to be too clever but to be honest they haven't been able to do that since Cliff Burton died.

Mind you - I am surprised at some of the vitriol spilling from fans. What do you expect - they are all approaching middle age now. They are stinking rich. The angst has gone. The anger and passion has gone and you can hear that in their material. They are churning it out because it's all they know.

Iron Maiden (after a little hiccup mid 90's) get away with this because you can tell they still love it.

I would prefer it if bands like Metallica would just retire after a certain point. I suppose it's really our fault for still buying the dross, expecting some miraculous recovery. There are plenty of new, fresh bands to listen to instead.

By the way, considering fave album is Master Of Puppets (followed by Ride the Lightning) - what new bands would other people recommend?

Cheers
David

Originally posted by karkus30
Cant get better than The Meat Puppets

[JohnG]

Long time Metallica fan here. I was looking forward to St Anger as I'd heard that it was going to back to basics stuff - but I just can't get on with it. I don't think I've managed to listen to the whole album all the way through in one go yet
If you don't mind your rock a little thrashy and quirky, System Of A Down are good value for money.

[DavidPeat]

ratso and karkus30 - I've listened to some of the Meat Puppets samples on amazon.com and have to admit being a little bewildered at the comparison to Metallica's Master Of Puppets. Am I missing something.

If you are just trying to recommend the Meat Puppets then sorry but they don't really fluff my pillows

Are you serious??? Meat Puppets were a huge influence on Metallica. Their album 'Up On The Sun' was basically a blueprint for 'Kill 'Em All'

Ratso

[Azrikam]

This may well ruin St. Anger for anyone who enjoys it, so read at your own peril.
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Imagine "Weird" Al Yankovic singing any of the songs on St. Anger. Hetfield's voice sounds exactly like Weird Al when he sings metal-type stuff. I can't stop laughing when one of the tracks comes on. (can't remember which one) Metallica has become their own spoof.

[Azrikam]

Oh, check out this review of a Metallica documentary. I think it addresses much of what's wrong with the band.

http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=5436

[DavidPeat]

Ratso - ?????????

Sorry mate, but I've listened to the samples from Up On The Sun and I still don't like it, or see the influence on Metallica.

By the way - Metallica's Kill 'em All was released in 1983 - two years before Up On The Sun (1985), so it is hard to imagine it being a blueprint.

Anyway, I've listened to the samples and I don't like - 'nuff said. That doesn't mean that they are not good - just that I don't like them

[JohnG]

I think maybe you're being wound up mate
I think the link was "Puppets"

[DavidPeat]

[Stereo Steve]

Am I alone in thinking the rot started with the black album? Most people say it's a DSOTM or Machine Head type album. I don't really rate it that high. It's a godd listen with some highlights but compared to MASTER OF PUPPETS it sucks. Justice for all was OK too but not that great. Load and Reload are just crud.

I think Metallica are finished. Maybe they are still good live. AC/DC haven't made a really good album since Back in Black but they tottaly rock live (Angus sweated on me and it tasted so good........YEAH).

Sorry about the wind-up David - couldn't help myself.

I am, or was, a big Metallica fan from when Puppets first came out. It blew me away. I was never that keen on 'Kill Em All' or 'Lightning' but I thought 'Justice' was magnificent. Listening to it now, I think it has stood the test of time better than 'Puppets'.

I wasn't that keen on the black album - the Bob Rock production made it sound similar to an album by 'The Cult' which he had produced not long before that (and I hated it).

Strangely though I really liked 'Load' and 'Reload'.

To say that I was disappointed with 'St. Anger' is a huge understatement. As a drummer I may have the tendency to listen to the drum playing and drum sound too much. The problems with the drum sound on 'St. Anger' have been well documented but the bottom line is that I can't listen to any track off the album for more than a few minutes. I don't think I've been able to listen to two tracks in a row yet.

I put the DVD on and thought that it wasn't too bad. The drum sound was passable until about 20 minutes in. I didn't notice Lars changing his snare but, all of a sudden, we're back to the 'bin lid' sound that's on the studio tracks. Dire doesn't even begin to cover it.

The sad thing is, if the tracks on the album had have been recorded and mixed better, 'St. Anger' could have been a fine ablum.

As it is, it's a coaster. I think the band have realised it too as they've only been playing two tracks off it on their recent tour.

(Just my tuppence worth)

Ratso

[Azrikam]

Yeah, I was a huge Metallica fan up until the Black album. I really liked it, but it was like a completely different band. Had another band put out the exact same album, I probably would have loved it. (if that makes sense) We lost Metallica that year, replaced by Metallica-lite.