Metallica

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Called "the Black Album" by many (due to its monochrome cover), iMetallica/i 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 i... And Justice for All/i, which was weakened by overly complicated song structures and mediocre production. i--Genevieve Williams /i

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-05-27 rating:
Metallica's best sold over ten million and won awards.
br /I know when the Black album came out in 1991 it upset lots of fans because they use to be thrash metal but, at the same time they made millions of new ones. I like all their music but prefer their newer stuff overall. One of the awards the Black album won was best lyrics which was unheard off back then for a heavy metal band to win such a reward. You only have to listen to such great tracks as Enter Sandman, Sad But True, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam and Nothing Else Matters to know why. br / br /If you are a big rock fan and want something really heavy for your Hi-Fi to blast out buy this it's classic stuff. br / br / br /

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review by: date: 2009-04-11 rating:
Metal masterpiece or commercial sellout?
This album from thrash metal pioneers Metallica has become the source of considerable controversy in more recent years among the band's fan base, many hailing it as a modern masterwork, others decrying it as a regrettable sellout and a ticket to the mainstream and stupendous commercial success. My own view is that it is an album to be heard and appreciated for the quality of the playing, songwriting and lyrics before, however, the more discerning listener moves on to better things, such as Metallica's first four albums - ultimately more interesting and stimulating experiences in my opinion. Perhaps it just hasn't dated that well, but the Black Album, though I absolutely loved it when I was 17, sounds too measured and mechanical to my 30-year old ears, despite its afore mentioned strengths; this is due in large part to Bob Rock's commercial, high tech production, which I would say cramps Metallica's artistry. Overall a good introduction to the band and indeed to metal music in general - it's just a shame that Metallica didn't make anything as thrilling as the Cliff Burton era albums again, although recent effort Death Magnetic comes close.

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review by: JillyGee date: 2009-02-16 rating:
Metallica "Black" album
This album not only lives up to my expectations... it surpasses that! Lars' drumming is superb! Love it!

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review by: date: 2009-01-28 rating:
Perfect production values, but weak content.
This is a slightly over-produced Metallica, with songs that lack the fire and intensity of previous albums. After "Ride the Lightning" and "Master of Puppets" defined "the sound" for thrash metal bands, "... And Justice For All" blew them all away by taking away all the reverb (and bass guitar!) and concentrating on making the guitar riffs as crunchy and salty as possible. br / br /This album is the antidote to all that went before. The atonality of previous albums is replaced with rock/blues based riffs, meaty bass, and probably the most perfect metal guitar sound ever. The lyrics are utter nonsense however, and there's no overall theme to the album at all, thus no cohesion. This is Metallica at the height of both their career and their arrogance, right down to the Spinal Tap styled album cover - black and untitled. br / br /They had made their money, bought their mansions, estates and car collections... in short, they had nothing more to write about and could only deliver soulless pop music. It would take another 18 years for them to deliver what the fans really wanted, and deserved.


review by: date: 2008-09-30 rating:
Quite simply, their Classic Album
With well over a hundred reviews for this album, why should I add another? There is nothing more to be said other than br /1) When they next get together to get another series of 'Classic Albums - The Making Of' DVD's, this should definitely be one of them, and br /2) Every 'serious' rock fan's collection should have this album, it is absolutely essential!! br /Say No More!!

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Similar products

Master Of Puppets
... And Justice For All
Ride The Lightning
Death Magnetic
Kill 'Em All

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