100 Albums That Changed Music - #97 - Metallica
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The release of Metallica's so called "Black Album" saw them projected in popularity from that of fellow Thrash bands, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth and into the area of multi-platinum record sales.
In listening to this album over the course of a week I came to realise just how much it reminds me of late 70's and early 80's British Metal. I feel that the overall reduction in speed that this album took, seems to cause the band's early influences to come forward through the music.
I don't know if anyone else has the same experience, but I hear bit's of Wishbone Ash around the time of the "Just Testing" album. Also, when I hear the opening refrain from "Nothing Else Matters", it makes we want to play NWOBHM classics such as "Free Man" by Angel Witch and "Strange World" by Iron Maiden.
I know the band was influenced by Diamond Head and so it was no surprise that I had the strong urge to check out some Diamond Head around the time of the so called "White Album", particularly the rifforama that is "Am I Evil".
I was thinking about what I would consider to be Metallica's best album and initially I though "Master Of Puppets", but then I remembered how much I enjoyed the speed and aggression of "Kill Em' All", in fact, I have a huge soft spot for all the début albums from the "Big Four of Thrash", even though they went on to all record more 'defining' albums.
I think you have to give Metallica full credit for expanding the sound palate of what most metal bands had utilised up until that point, and showing what could be achieved commercially, while still retaining a crushing sound.
Comments (8)
"It's so black, it's like, how much more black can this be? And the answer is..none"
Yes, a classic
But when I think of black I think of this...
"I shall need to get the black out."
Robin, the Fast Show clip is just a perfect reference!
Hey Jonh, I just love those 'Johnny Nice Painter' sketches, particularly this one. The line "My eyes are pies and yours are lies" is just classic.
I'd missed this one. hahahahaha! I wonder how many takes of this they did - and how many were just for fun. It's good to have Whitehouse and Enfield back, though I haven't seen it yet.
I tried to think of my favourite Metallica album, and decided "the first three," but to me the iconic Metallica is Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos :)
Jonh: I've only picked up on the new W & E stuff on YouTube.
dar: So wanted to see that band and was rather miffed when they did not end up supporting Megadeth when I saw them in London. Hopefully, they may get around to playing the Pavillion, Halifax. Just hope it's better advertised than the Cryptopsy gig last night.
I've tried to get into Metallica. Just not my cup of tea :(