METALLICA [AKA: THE BLACK ALBUM]

Black is a color often related to funerals and death. How appropiate that Metaliica's Metallica or the black album as some call, contains a complete black cover. This album is a complete failure in relation to Metallicas earlier works.

This was the first metallica album I heard. I got it when I was eight. At that time I loved it, but when I was ten my uncle gave me a copy of Master of Puppets. What a masterpiece that was, so much more complex, deep, and creative than the black album.

The big problem with the black album is how simple it is. Sure enter sandman has cool solo the first time you here it and wherever roam has an interesting bass intro, but after listening to Kill em all, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, And Justice for all, hell even after listening to Death Magnetic, those impressions fade away. Alot of the songs on this album are forgetable. The stand out tracks are still to cliche. Nothing else maters sounds like something a hair metal band would do. Back in the day, hetfield, ulrich, hammet and burton would shit talk hair metal, and it was sensical. When Metallica started they where playing much more intricate and complex music than the LA Glam metal bands. Influenced by Maiden, thin lizzy, queen, diamondhead, and sabbath, Metallica was a great thrash metal band with progressive elements.

Yet with the black album, complex song structures, tight grooves, masterfull solos, deep lyrical content and imagery are all abandoned. The album doesn't even have an instrumental, a a trademark of eighties metallica and one of my favorite things on thier earlier works. The Black album would make sense as a freshmen effort, yet is isn't. Its thier fifth album and its a complete step backward in relation to how the first four albums grew the bands sound.

Well I'm sure you've heard enough, and I know this review isn't anything new, but don't waste your time with this album. I listened to it for the first time in years a few months back and after it was over I remembered why I never listen to this album. If you want great metallica listen to thier first four albums and death magnetic.