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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Called "the Black Album" by many (due to its monochrome cover), Metallica marks the group's entrance into the mainstream, with shorter songs, simpler song structures and slower tempos overall. That said, this is an excellent album, featuring some of the best songwriting Metallica has ever done. "Enter Sandman", "Wherever I May Roam" and "God That Failed", despite being slower and more groove-oriented than the band's earlier work, feature the same heavy riffs and heavier rhythms that have always been a feature of Metallica's music. The band goes introspective with "Unforgiven" and proves that they can write a ballad with "Nothing Else Matters", which succeeds better than one might expect. Overall, this is a high-energy album despite its laid-back approach and is in many ways superior to the previous ... And Justice for All, which was weakened by overly complicated song structures and mediocre production. --Genevieve Williams
Review
Any attempt to move away from a tried and tested formula is often met with resistance by some fans who never want their idols to change. Smarter than your average heavy metal band, the more complex turn-on-a dime twists of their previous albums, Master Of Puppets and 1989’s And Justice For All, were trimmed back in favour of a more honed-down delivery. Though the band didn’t always see eye to eye with Bob Rock (who had previously cut his teeth engineering for the likes of Bon Jovi before producing Motley Crue’s Dr.Feelgood), the tensions between the two camps resulted in an album bursting at the seams with alternative ideas.
Sure enough, accusations that they had sold out came from the rump of hardcore fans within seconds of their fifth album being released in 1991. Several years later thousands of fans signed an online petition calling on the band to sever its links with Bob Rock such was their conviction that their beloved Metallica had strayed from the straight and narrow.
Yet his involvement gained them mass sales (number one on both sides of the Atlantic) and earned them the Grammy they’d missed out on, having lost out to Jethro Tull’s Catfish Rising the previous year. With millions of new fans going on to discover their back catalogue, Metallica moved from cult metal gods to bona fide rock stars, straddling the airwaves with the psycho-dramatics of “Enter Sandman”, whose terse motifs served notice that things were changing. The spaghetti western set dressing of “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters” with its sensitive lyrics and string section embellishments, as well as the widescreen dynamics of “My Friend Of Misery” demonstrated how keen they were to move things on.
In “The God That Failed”, vocalist, rhythm guitarist and principle writer, James Hetfield deals unflinchingly with parental loss and the contradictions of faith in a mature and considered manner. The confidence exuding from almost every track isn’t due to a clichéd, puffed-up HM swagger but a result of literate and articulate artists breaking free of generic expectation. --Sid Smith
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Paul
Format:Audio CD
This review seems almost a pointless exercise as a) everyone probably owns this and b) most people say this is Metallicas finest work. Well I disagree with the latter reason. I love this album and gave it a truly deserved 5 (probably be a 9/10 if that was an option) but that is listening to it on its own merits, ie being adult about it. Listening in a little more childish manner this would be rated as a Metallica album and therefore compared to their other work. This album is far superior to St Anger, but then so was Take That's last effort I imagine. It is the best of the "new" more abbreviated Metallica which includes Load and Reload but it pales somewhat next to the previous 4 outings, especially master of Puppets which has to be the pinnacle for the band musically if not commercially. This album brought Metallica into the mainstream and found them lots of new fans but I will always remember this as the beginning of the end for the band. One reviewer compares this to Back in Black, I agree, that album is also excellent but not the bands (AC/DC) finest and also the start of something new and not altogether wonderful!
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
This album deserves no less than 5 stars, 100%, however you want to put it. It is a masterpiece, each song perfectly crafted with power, agression and emotion. When I first bought this i had high expectations of it, as it was a Metallica album after all. But i never thought it would be so good. The drummer (Lars Ulrich) astounds me in every song with the perfection of his strong drumming which i have never heard so good. James Hetfield (vocals/rhythm guitarist/co-song writer) is equally astounding with the amazing heavy and melodic riffs he wacks out and some of the most original and touching lyrics inside his powerful vocals. The fact he can do both at once is pure talent. Lead guitar is also great and fairly frequent, keeping each song nothing less than perfect. Metallica's black album is the real beast of heavy metal and no metal-head can call themselves by that name unless they have witnessed or own this 'brainwashingly' good album. Linkin Park sound like S Club 7 next to this, and i am not joking! Just buy it and you will see what i mean...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By genejoke
Format:Audio CD
Wow, this was the album that got me into Metallica. Often fairly simple but it works on a primal level. Enter Sandman is legendary, I need not say more.
Sad but true, simple, a repetitive beat and easy to pick up lyrics.
Holier than though picks up the pace a little, not the best here but a good song nonetheless.
Unforgiven. Classic.
Wherever I may roam. brooding and menacing. great stuff. slow versus building up to a powerful chorus.
Don't tread on me is a defiant track which thunders along.
Through the never. Again speeds along, before slowing for Hetfields vocals which he spits out with his usual ferocity. Not the greatest metallica track.
Nothing else matters. Classic rock ballad. Emotive guitar works, sedate drumming and genuinly good vocals that show hetfield isn't just a grunter.
Of wolf and men, comes thindering in after and states in no uncertain terms that metallica havent gone soft. The guitar riff is full of power and is unforgettable.
God that Failed, enters with drum and bass before guitars echo in building to a typically metallica riff.
my friend misery, begins with a haunting guitar, that is joined by the rest of the band soon after. Hetfields vocals are a little more subdued here, giving a potent effect.
struggle within, closes the album, beginning with a marching drum beat, before kicking into very fast vocals for the verses. Possibly the weakest track present.
Sad but true, simple, a repetitive beat and easy to pick up lyrics.
Holier than though picks up the pace a little, not the best here but a good song nonetheless.
Unforgiven. Classic.
Wherever I may roam. brooding and menacing. great stuff. slow versus building up to a powerful chorus.
Don't tread on me is a defiant track which thunders along.
Through the never. Again speeds along, before slowing for Hetfields vocals which he spits out with his usual ferocity. Not the greatest metallica track.
Nothing else matters. Classic rock ballad. Emotive guitar works, sedate drumming and genuinly good vocals that show hetfield isn't just a grunter.
Of wolf and men, comes thindering in after and states in no uncertain terms that metallica havent gone soft. The guitar riff is full of power and is unforgettable.
God that Failed, enters with drum and bass before guitars echo in building to a typically metallica riff.
my friend misery, begins with a haunting guitar, that is joined by the rest of the band soon after. Hetfields vocals are a little more subdued here, giving a potent effect.
struggle within, closes the album, beginning with a marching drum beat, before kicking into very fast vocals for the verses. Possibly the weakest track present.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I shut him up!
Whenever music was mentioned, a workmate always complained that he couldn't get hold of this album. 'It's a classic and you can't buy it' he'd say. Have you tried Amazon I asked? Read more
Published 10 days ago by ALAN G
5.0 out of 5 stars
great condition, sent to me double quick, cheap as chips, what's not...
great condition, sent to me double quick, cheap as chips, and it's Metallica album i was without, what's not to like....
Published 1 month ago by iain thomson
5.0 out of 5 stars
present
I chose thtis c.d for my son as a birthday present and as he is a metallixa fan it made his daymany thanks
Published 1 month ago by lizx
5.0 out of 5 stars
only decent@lbum ever made by metallica
worth every penny the only decent heavymetal i understand.they trully lost the plot after 91 not sure what crap they sang about after this AS THERE FINEST DONT BOTHER WITH THE REST... Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. Ditta
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Black album - Say no more
Bought this album as Metallica were playing it at Download, as I had never actually bought the album I thought I better!!
Great album especially if you love Metallica!!
Great album especially if you love Metallica!!
Published 3 months ago by P A JAMES
5.0 out of 5 stars
Metallica
Been a fan of metallica ever since getting a cd for xmas afew years ago now.
This cd has all the best hits on it and is a good buy for anyone thinking of a metallica cd. Read more
This cd has all the best hits on it and is a good buy for anyone thinking of a metallica cd. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bagman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
This Cd arrived within a few days of order. Although it is described as 'used' it appears to be as new. Disc plays perfectly, no scratches.
Published 4 months ago by karyn
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not yet received, and I purchased it on November 23rd!!! Deal with
Deal with the store "beaches_music_canada". I'm still waiting a responsible answer to my question "where's my stuff?". Never again with you!!!
Published 5 months ago by Dani
5.0 out of 5 stars
metalica
theyve made some exsellant albums but this has to be the one that put them on the metal radar a must have for fans and metalists
Published 5 months ago by blue
3.0 out of 5 stars
Its the classic Metallica Album
Its the classic Metallica Album. I think I probably find them too heavy for regular listening but they really moved Heavy Music on...
Published 7 months ago by AndyL
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