THE $5.98 GARAGE DAYS RE-REVISITED

One of my first ever thrash metal purchases, recommended by a fan who thought my favorite band Iron Maiden was music only suitable for grandmothers. Oh the innocent youth.

Metallica lost Cliff Burton in the bus crash in Sweden and Jason Newstedt was the new kid on the bass. This EP was his first recording with Metallica. Jason Newstedt was then produced off the Justice For All album, but he re-emerged on the black album again.

I had heard a lot of good things about Metallica, but this EP was and still is a damp squid. The band runs through some cover versions like a flock of bulls runs through the streets of Pamplona during the cultural festivals there. The songs are reasonable good with The Wait as the best song, but nothing more than that. There is a naive, innocent feeling over the album though with Kirk Hammet's guitar solos and James Hetfield's vocals. Jason Newstedt can even be heard in the mix here. Besides of that, this is a half-decent run out, but nothing like Master Of Puppets or Justice For All. For collectors only, I am afraid.

2.5 stars