Metallica

Is there good music, or is it all a matter of opinion? Well, my viewpoint is there good and bad music, but it can't really be defined that way. Rather, there is product and art- that is, music that is designed to sell, and music that is an expression of what the artist is/was going through at the time it was created. Product and art- or, good and bad music, as such.

Now, what does this have to do with this album? Well, simply put, this album is product in every sense of the word. The production is crisp and extremely radio friendly, the chorus becomes the biggest part of the song, and everything is shortened, compressed to hell and made supremely catchy. Everything about this album is designed to sell, which is something Metallica haven't before, or even after this album. So, it's a sellout.. shortly it must suck then? Well, it isn't exactly that simple. What this album loses in lack of integrity it makes up for in it's sheer catchiness and melody. Simply put, this album is Arena metal at it's most entertaining.

This album is a very consistent album, there's no doubt about it. Enter Sandman has that cool intro and huge chorus that we are all completely sick off- but listening to the tune with an open mind shows you why it's so popular. Sickeningly catchy vocal melody, quite possibly the most memorable solo Kirk has ever done, and a simple but effective main riff. Most bands wish they could do something this good. This formula is repeated throughout the album, with few deviations. Sad but True is slow and crushing, Don't Tread on Me is full of big military style riffs, and more excellent vocals, and Holier then Thou is as close to Thrash as this album gets, with a surprisingly heavy opening, and again, a super catchy chorus.

When Metallica aren't delivering these tunes, there's some power ballads- the auto-biographical Unforgiven, and the classically-tinged Nothing else Matters, which comes complete with a string section. This song, despite it's lovely guitar parts, is probably where Metallica go a bit wrong. The lyrics make no sense, the solo is pure arena rock cheese, and the whole song just goes "Look how hard we are trying to be mellow and different!" Metallica have delivered the whole introspection thing extremely well in other albums (You've got Fade to Black, Bleeding Me, even something like Low Man's Lyric), but within the context of this album, the whole emotional, vulnerable power ballad doesn't really ring true. While the Unforgiven works quite well, Nothing Else Matters comes across as Shallow and Empty.

Amidst all the ballads and rocky tunes, it's when Metallica go a little bit back to their roots that the songs are the best. Of Wolf and Man and The God that Failed are probably the only two radio unfriendly tunes here, with Of Wolf.. having some real nice crunchy riffs, and a sweet galloping main riff. The God that Failed, meanwhile, is a slow/mid tempo crusher, with some venomous vocals and a solo that's a bit more shreddy then most of the ones in this album. You've also got Struggle Within, which is the last, and possibly the best song on the album, with an unforgettable intro, a huge call and response style chorus, and a super melodic solo.

Of course, any review of the Black Album is incomplete if you don't mention the production. Personally, I love it- it's perfect for the songs, and at the time it set a high water mark for good hard rock production. The guitars are layered, crunchy and full of weight, the bass is actually audible (!!!), and the drums, while slightly snare heavy, are full and fat. Of course, it's the vocals that are the centrepoint of this album- and damn, they're good. In my opinion, James' voice hit a peak in Load, but here he's got that aggressive-yet melodic style down pat. Basically, the production is pristine, and very hi-fi, which is the only kind of thing that would work for this album.

So, I've been raving about the way this album excels at the whole "incredibly commercial arena metal" thing, but, of course, that's where it falls down too. While I'm not a Lars hater, I would say that the drumming is incredibly repetitive and fairly retarded. The only people who can get away with repetitive drumming are the guy in AC/DC, and possibly the dude in Isis. But seriously, this drumming is disgusting. It's the same beat in every song, and the fills are rarely anything too special. It's a shame that after the great beats in AJFA, the drumming could be so sub-standard. The guitars aren't as bad, of course, (it is Hetfield we're talking about, remember), and while I know they're not meant to be as complex as they where in previous albums, it's still a disappointment that there's nothing like Blackened. Oh well.

I guess a way to conclude this review, and to sum up the problems of this album is by saying that Metallica wanted to sell a lot of records, and this is the kind of album that can do that. It is catchy, melodic and an example of how to make commercial metal and get rich as a result. As a result of that, however, it's soulless and the songs, however catchy, do not stick with you. This album is a great record for driving, or for getting drunk to, but that's about it. Those who want a life changing experience will want to look to Justice For All.