Metallica & Friedman JJ Amp!

[Rock Bodom]

I always loved both hard rock and the heavier stuff, so I think I might have been open-minded if Metallica had stopped making great thrash albums and became a kick-ass hard rock band. But I don't think they musically "evolved" at all, I have never listened to post-AJFA Metallica and said "damn, that's what they should have been doing all along." If you're gonna ditch what made you awesome to try something else, you are always going to be in the shadow of what made you great unless you capture lightning in a bottle twice, and very very few artists have ever done that.

And not liking them musically these days is not "hating on them" (such an obnoxious over-used modern expression) for being financially successful. Metallica was THE band that inspired me to start playing metal guitar, they will always be important to me. But I've got no connection musically to them anymore, and with the bazillion young retro thrash bands out there showing their love for the 80's stuff that I like best (many of them derivative, but quite a few showing the talent, energy, and fun), I'd rather just be honest with myself and enjoy what I like.

That said, for people who genuinely dig later Metallica, that's cool, musically you like what you like. But sometimes I feel like some people defend them like they're the fucked up family member that everyone else can see for what they are, but you have this deep emotional bond to them and feel the need to firmly stand up for them even if you know deep down there are problems.

 

[skoora]

Even if musically they regained a good flow in the heavy direction James's voice and his singing style will crash that party. Any moments on DM that were remotely interesting came to a screeching halt when he opened his yapper. Guy needs to get over that his voice is average and trying to cover that up by being so "creative". Just lay it down straight with attitude and it would be much more effective.

Need some pre-Bob Rock singing up in here.

 

[messenger]

Even if musically they regained a good flow in the heavy direction James's voice and his singing style will crash that party. Any moments on DM that were remotely interesting came to a screeching halt when he opened his yapper. Guy needs to get over that his voice is average and trying to cover that up by being so "creative". Just lay it down straight with attitude and it would be much more effective.

Need some pre-Bob Rock singing up in here.

i don't know that it's even pre Bob Rock. I thought he sounded fine up till around St. anger. (Maybe not live) but now he just kinda yoddles

 

[JeffHenneman]

But, this waiting 6 years between records, is complete bullshit. To me, it's the tell-tale sign of a band that is out of ideas, a band that is doubting itself, a band that is trying to reverse engineer their previous successes. You can put Tool in that same category as far as I'm concerned. It's a guarantee that there will always be an excuse, but if a band has "so much material that's written", there should be a much smaller gap between albums, and with these two bands (that are near and dear to me), it's a dark shadow over their next efforts.

You nailed there current state right there. They tried to reverse engineer on DM and I think it failed.
When it comes too new material, I agree. If they have some much stuff written they should have put out 2 albums since DM, but they are parents now. It is kind of hard to get albums done if they are really involved with there kids.

 

[syncrodude007]

Still better music and tone than most of the other rat shit drop Z, 8 string wanking going on these days. Nobody can fill a stadium like Metallica.

this...

 

[nevusofota]

Bottom line is, love it or hate it, if it wasn't for the Black album the OP picture wouldn't exist and the zillion threads about them wouldn't exist. They would be living in a trailer park playing the second stage on the occasional mini festival tour.

 

[anomaly]

Bottom line is, love it or hate it, if it wasn't for the Black album the OP picture wouldn't exist and the zillion threads about them wouldn't exist. They would be living in a trailer park playing the second stage on the occasional mini festival tour.

I don't agree. While their popularity wouldn't be as high, they would still be very successful band today without ever having made the black album. They already had a huge following by ... And Justice For All.

 

[nevusofota]

Bottom line is, love it or hate it, if it wasn't for the Black album the OP picture wouldn't exist and the zillion threads about them wouldn't exist. They would be living in a trailer park playing the second stage on the occasional mini festival tour.

I don't agree. While their popularity wouldn't be as high, they would still be very successful band today without ever having made the black album. They already had a huge following by ... And Justice For All.

I think that a large portion of their early fan base would not have followed them into the 90's regardless. People change, tastes change, maturity takes hold. The history of the music industry has already taught us this. Furthermore, the adjective "huge" is relative. I don't feel they were "huge" by any means compared to the mainstream definition. Again, just my opinion when looking at the grand scheme of music as a business.

 

[skoora]

Bottom line is, love it or hate it, if it wasn't for the Black album the OP picture wouldn't exist and the zillion threads about them wouldn't exist. They would be living in a trailer park playing the second stage on the occasional mini festival tour.

I don't agree. While their popularity wouldn't be as high, they would still be very successful band today without ever having made the black album. They already had a huge following by ... And Justice For All.

I think that a large portion of their early fan base would not have followed them into the 90's regardless. People change, tastes change, maturity takes hold. The history of the music industry has already taught us this. Furthermore, the adjective "huge" is relative. I don't feel they were "huge" by any means compared to the mainstream definition. Again, just my opinion when looking at the grand scheme of music as a business.

I'm sorry, you don't know what you're talking about. You mustn't have been a fan in the 80's living that stuff as it came out. They were headlining arenas for Justice with no radio and even before the One video came out. If they had kept on the heavy track the original fan base would have been fans for life. They weren't just another metal band with an expiration date. They were THE metal band. They would have rode over the sea change from hard rock to grunge like an 18 Wheeler over a squirrel. So they might only have become millionaire's instead of multi-millionaire's but that is huge by any definition.

 

[nevusofota]

You mustn't have been a fan in the 80's living that stuff as it came out.

I was a fan of rock and metal in the 80's. Though I was pretty young, around the age of 10, I have a brother who was 6 years older and a fan of all things rock and metal. He was the catalyst to my infatuation with music and the guitar. I learned what was fresh and popular in the genre through him

They were headlining arenas for Justice with no radio and even before the One video came out.

There is no doubt they had a following. I'm not too sure they had a headlining arena gig before the single "One" was released, I'd have to check that fact. "One" was their most commercial single to date and definitely made them arena headliners.

They weren't just another metal band with an expiration date. They were THE metal band.

The "Black" album made them THE metal band for eternity.

They would have rode over the sea change from hard rock to grunge like an 18 Wheeler over a squirrel.

They did just that but did so because of the "Black" album.

So they might only have become millionaire's instead of multi-millionaire's but that is huge by any definition.

Hetfield's net worth of $175 million is huge. This wouldn't have occurred with re-hashing KEA, RTL, and MOP.



BTW, my favorite album is Master of Puppets.

 

[jlb32]

One of the things I like about Metallica is their diversity. Not a huge fan of bands that rehash the same album over and over. I like the fact they actually try different things and don't hold themselves inside a genre box musically.

 

[Rayneman]

They would have rode over the sea change from hard rock to grunge like an 18 Wheeler over a squirrel.

I love it.

 

[El Mariachi]

I can't help myself but say who fucking cares…...
Their guitar tone has been seriously lacking for a long time.

+1

That being said... you have to respect them for continuing to be relevant for so long whether you like them these days or not.
They still put on a great show.

AND THEY ARE FILTHY RICH!!!

 

[p4vl]

Interesting...

But then again, not really...those guys are dunzo. I'm over getting my hopes up on old ass bands.

Metallica were over a long time ago but I have less than zero hope for new metal bands.

 

[shredhead7]

I was never really a fan of theirs, although I came up during their era (the 80's and 90's). To me, there were always better guitar players (any Shrapnel guy) and thrash bands (Annihilator, Overkill, Toxik, Testament), so Metallica just fell by the wayside. When the Black album came out, I remember my friends not liking it, as it was such a departure. But in hearing it back 20+ years later, it had some solid songs (most of the songs that weren't released as singles), and the tone is still kick ass. Lars as a drummer in the 80's was actually pretty influential, even if it was because of his limitations (never uses a ride, timing is off), which gave him a unique sound and the way he inadvertently turns the beat around on the snare is pretty cool.

With that said, Kirk was never good, even on solos that he worked out (which was most), his timing is crap and is vibrato is that of someone that has only been playing for a year. To say that Schenker is his favorite is a horrible insult to Schenker, as he has one of the best vibratos of all time, how do you not at least pick up that?

My best friends wife is the cheer captain of the fan club, so I hear all about Metallica and every song is on repeat, since the day I met her 1996. As a casual listener two things pop out immediately: the lyrics went from trite, to political, to shit, to not even trying. The song writing, went from garage, to classical ensemble, to hard rock, to pro tools. I find it ironic that someone on here was defending them saying that at least they weren't a pro tools band that couldn't actually play without it; considering St Anger and Death Magnetic wouldn't exist without Pro Tools, they literally are spliced together jam sections-in SA's case, abruptly so. Their tone has also gone from budget, to searing, to holy fuck, to what the fuck? To all the Diezel fanbois out there, like wearing an Affliction shirt, it's just not good. I'm curious to hear what the Friedman can do in a thrash setting.

Lastly, yes they still sell stadiums and good for them. Also, if people like them, and it makes you happy, perfect. But don't try to say that they are anything but a band that peaked in 1992, as that would be disingenuous. Btw, Nickleback and Creed before them also sold out stadiums, as does Miley, and what ever auto tuned flavor of the month. Which should have you asking yourself, do I like shitty music?