DonovanB
Metallica had their days with thrash metal, then the black album showed signs of maturity thanks to Bob Rock and some of his suggestions. There is a DVD of the making of that album i think EVERYONE must watch it. It is amazing what you learn...
After that album Load and Re-Load had, again, a more mature aspect and I was starting to like this "grown-up" look at metal. It was normally thrashing around trying to be as heavy/fast/angry as possible. Garage Inc. was awesome and I was REALLY getting into this controlled sound.
Then, they blew my mind with S&M. It is IMHO the BEST performance any metal band has put together. It's also one of those must own DVD's and it was Metallica at their very best. Just listen to this
Professionalism at it's best. If you could sum up my musical ambitions it would be to perform like that. With an Orchestra and to have such awesome arrangements.
Unfortunately they went a bit backwards with St Anger and when I saw them in 2006 they were average. I guess the S&M performance is the kind of energy you can only capture from a one time thing. (even though there were two performances...)
---mario---
S&M rocks! ?
Now that top priority mentioned IMO Metallica's success is due to their highly instrumental aproach and their abbility to have created music that satisfies there existing market while opening up to potential new markets and keep to rather current music trends at the same time, wich makes them a very versatile band.
They have their mellower songs, easy listening, instrumentally earbashing and 'headbang' beats, that caters for a wider taste in music than any other band in the same genre that I enjoy, and they do all of the above very damn well.
As stated by mr Hetfield himself when interviewed about the decision to dismiss a former bandmate who wanted to do a solo album: It's about the growth of the band and the development of their music and for that they need each member's full devotion and contrabution.
I also think that their Black, Load, Reload, Garage Inc. and S&M era was their prime, but face it, they have been at it so long the outoppies must start to get tired now ?
Plus you have Lars Ulrich who was considered the best drummer at one time due to his fast double basspedal, you have Kirk Hammett, student of Joe Satriani, rated 11th by Rolling Stones mag and I think 7th in Guitar mag, you have James Hetfield, very acomplished guitarist, song writer and vocalist an Rob Trijulo, who speaks for himself ?
A awesome blend for a band if you ask MHO 8)
NorioDS
Yep, S&M kicks ass. Definitely my favourite album of theirs. It's absolutely perfect and I've also had that feeling that that's what I want to do some day, orchestra and all. Must have been amazing.
Would love to see making-of for THAT album / concert!
