[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

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.

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

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.

[DavidPeat]

Totally agree - the Black album is a good metal album with some good tunes but not earth shattering.
Load and Reload much of the same.

I thought Justice had some great songs but hated the production - it sounded very sterile too me.

Agree about the drums on St. Anger - when I first put it on, I thought - ***? - Is there something wrong with it!

The most recent Metallica album I've enjoyed (a lot of people reckon it's a cynical cash cow but I think it's good fun) was Garage Inc.

It sort of backs up my earlier point that I reckon Cliff was the creative genius behind the band. When he died (during the Puppets tour) it was downhill....

I did buy the Black album on DVD-Audio and it does breath some life into it...

[Stereo Steve]

Agree completely, Black is worth having on DVD-A. Also agree that Burtons death was the end. And I also agree that the recent Garage Days compilation is the finest work they have done for years, especially the Motorhead stuff and, of course, 'So what?'.

[karkus30]

Being serious for a change if you like Metallica and want to stay with the same sort of thing as Ride The Lightning, then have a listen to Iced Earth- The Glorious Burden (its a Karrunk 5 star recommend), if you want to go a little off the track, then venture over to Sikth and listen to their first album, system of A down is a good choice, Tool -Latreralus is sort of the prog version of a heavy sound.

Now, as you can see by my Av Im a big tallica fan, but if it came to a choice, The Meat Puppets would always win, listening to a few tracks wont get you there. MP are a long term listen, took me ages to get them, but when you do, your hooked. Try Meat Puppets II and be prepared for a strange journey. As you have probably found out they are not a metal band ......but, they could be

Originally posted by Stereo Steve
Garage Days compilation is the finest work they have done for years, especially the Motorhead stuff and, of course, 'So what?'.

Don't forget though that 'So What' was recorded just after 'Justice'.

Ratso

[karkus30]

Originally posted by Stereo Steve
Agree completely, Black is worth having on DVD-A. Also agree that Burtons death was the end. And I also agree that the recent Garage Days compilation is the finest work they have done for years, especially the Motorhead stuff and, of course, 'So what?'.

by The anti-nowhere league, but brilliantly done by Metallica

I've got an Iced Earth teamup with Blind Guardian (excellent band), and it's quite good. Might check out the others too.

[SOUNDSTYLE]

Listened to it once but can't get myself to have another listen.
I thought it was absolute rubbish (Lucky it was a copy then ).

[karkus30]

Originally posted by SOUNDSTYLE
Listened to it once but can't get myself to have another listen.
I thought it was absolute rubbish (Lucky it was a copy then ).

to what?? oh, It. Should have used a capital letter to make it easier

[Stereo Steve]

The thing that should not be.

[Smurfin]

I loved the early Metallica stuff, but for me the Black Album is in my top 10 of all time; to me they peaked there, Load and Reload were ok, but St Anger is dire. I threw my copy in the bin.

This is probably part of Metallica's crusade to end music piracy. Produce an album that nobody even wants for free!

[Stereo Steve]

That reminds me, a mate downloaded it from Kazaa quite early on and it turned out to be an entire album copy of Kiss Destroyer. Stroke of luck if you ask me.

[Nike]

With the exception of the chorus to 'Purify', St. Anger has actually grown on me - I quite like it.

[cwick]

Apologies if you've heard it before, but I just stumbled onto this tribute to St.Anger and thought I'd share 'cos it's rather good.

Cheers, Carl.

[DavidPeat]

LMAO