MetallicA Black Album released in 96 kHz 24 bit

ParadoximA

This post got a little longer than I intended, so I've bolded the important bits for those who don't feel like reading...

The Metallica Black Album recently got released on HDTracks in 96 kHz 24 bit format - the CD version was one of the first albums I ever bought, and now this is the first album I've listened to in "Hi Def" (besides vinyl of course ? ). I payed for and downloaded it within minutes of hearing it had been released.

The download you get has nothing but the flac files and a low quality image of the album cover in pdf and jpg format - no liner notes at all, never mind any details about the mastering or who did it. All I got from a little googling was that this was not the same as a disappointing DVD-A version that was released a while back.

From the first note of Enter Sandman, it's clear that what you're listening to isn't just a better quality version of the original album - it's a remaster. The guitar and bass both sound slightly fuller, but not the way you'd expect from a higher bit rate, I'm quite sure they've changed the EQ, the panning and possibly added some compression. Then the drums confirm that it's a remaster, as they've raised the volume of the snare drum (and possibly EQ'd it too). As the song carries on it's difficult to decide if the new mix is any better than the original, but then the solos come in and any magic that this album could have had is instantly destroyed, by what sounds like a kid playing with the pan tool. The lead guitar floats from speaker to speaker, with the apparent volume changing as it goes. It sounds cheap and gimmicky.

So the second track (Sad But True) starts and sounds great! Until 2 seconds into the song when it sounds like someone mumbles something on the right speaker. I listened back 2 or 3 times but still can't quite tell what it is, except that it shouldn't be there. From that point onward I lost interest in listening critically to the rest of the album, and switched to some more casual listening.

Most of the solos (throughout the album) have been messed with, sometimes just panned to one side, and never seem to sit in the track as well as in the original album (but that could just be because I'm so used to the original mix). Sometimes it sounds like instruments have been emphasized just for the sake of making them sound more "HD". Other guitar parts that were prominent on the original are barely audible. The same with some backing vocals and vocal "fills" - they often sound like someone is shouting out in the distance. There's one instance (I can't remember where) where the vocals are supposed to come in with a "pre-echo", but instead you get this weird phasing sound which is completely detached from the rest of the track. [Edit - this phasing effect is on "The God that Failed" at 3m36, just after the solos.]

Holier Than Though suffers from the wandering guitars right at the start, and doesn't need any further comment.

The Unforgiven is completely ruined. They've boosted the volumes on all the clean guitars, which sounds awesome... until the distorted guitars (including solo) are supposed to crash in - but their volume has been reduced, leading to a dull anti-climax.

The sitar on Wherever I May Roam sounds washed out in comparison with the original album, but the rest of the mix actually sounds better than the original IMHO, especially the way the guitars come in at the start of the track.

Through the Never seems to have some guitars missing (or just turned down) and just sounds weak, but it's very subtle and could be my imagination. The solo guitar sounds like there is less reverb on it, but that could just be due to different volume levels.

On Nothing Else Matters, the orchestra is more prominent and sounds amazing, it really adds a whole new dimension to the song.

Of Wolf and Man also sounds a little better than the original, it "thumps" a little harder and sounds a little heavier over all.

Then I got tired and didn't listen very carefully to the remaining tracks, until the intro to Struggle Within caught my ear. There are guitars missing. Not altered - completely absent. And completely inexcusable.

Overall, I'd say it's not worth getting this version of the album - the slight improvements in (some of) the audio don't make up for the gimmicky treatments and flaws littered throughout.

ParadoximA

I didn't intend for this to be a review - I just needed a place to rant ?

shaundtsl

Cool, thanks. Its very interesting!

I didnt know that you get HDTracks now ???

I think the black album should be left as is.... I like it that way.

ParadoximA

shaundtsl wrote: I think the black album should be left as is.... I like it that way.

I agree, but the higher bit and sample rate versions in theory should bridge the gap in quality between CD and vinyl - but we don't want remastered versions, we just want the original mix at the same quality as the original master.

BluJu

Thanks for the post. I liked the bolding but it was such a good post I ended up reading it anyway.
I haven't listened to it but it sounds like a last ditch attempt to stroke some fresh cash out of a sunken ship.
I like Metallica but they should stick to touring to pay the bills.

Jyscalus

I too am a huge fan of the original so found the whole post very interesting, thanks alot. ?

flatfourfan

Nice review and rant..........made for good reading. The self titled album was the last Metallica stuff that i bought. I'm yet to even decide if I want to listen to death magnetic or not.

I have the self titled album on vinyl and I'll leave it that. It's sad to hear that this remastered version is just another way to make more money. Get back to your roots Metallica!!!!

ParadoximA

Thanks for the response! Helps in the healing process ?

flatfourfan wrote: I'm yet to even decide if I want to listen to death magnetic or not.

Death Magnetic was a return to their old style and really is a good album in itself, but to me it was like they just reused the old ideas with new riffs. If you do decide to listen, don't bother with the commercial release as the clipping on it is terrible. Some guys got together and ripped the tracks from guitar hero (which didn't have the clipping), and remastered those into a couple of different versions. The guitar hero source files were MP3 so there is some quality loss, but the end result is still more listenable than the commercial release. My favourite versions are the Marck III (High Dynamic Range version) and Moderus III (as true to the original as possible, but without insane digital clipping, with a little tube distortion).

shaundtsl

ParadoximA wrote: Death Magnetic was a return to their old style and really is a good album in itself

I agree, I dont have the album, but have a heard it a few times and I did enjoy it.

flatfourfan

I listened to a song this morning. 7-8 minutes a song???................lol, that's so old school metallica, the jury is still out though, only listened to a few seconds of each.

Explorerlover

To me, their best albums were Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning.... these were the albums that epitomised "Thrash Metal" back in the day. However, I find myself enjoying the 90's Metallica more
( Metallica, Load & Reload ). The guitar sounds & the overall production of these in my book are the best. After this "era" they seemed a bit lost to me... St. Anger and even Death Magnetic are just not in the same league and it's predecessors.

Metallica is still and will always be my favourite band though. Up there next to the Beatles.

Anybody give Beatallica a listen as yet?

Explorerlover

flatfourfan wrote: I listened to a song this morning. 7-8 minutes a song???................lol, that's so old school metallica, the jury is still out though, only listened to a few seconds of each.

Like with ...And Justice for All.... , after a while I also tend to skip the tune....too much too soon ?

flatfourfan

Explorerlover wrote: To me, their best albums were Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning.... these were the albums that epitomised "Thrash Metal" back in the day. However, I find myself enjoying the 90's Metallica more
( Metallica, Load & Reload ). The guitar sounds & the overall production of these in my book are the best. After this "era" they seemed a bit lost to me... St. Anger and even Death Magnetic are just not in the same league and it's predecessors.

Metallica is still and will always be my favourite band though. Up there next to the Beatles.

Anybody give Beatallica a listen as yet?

WHAT?...........no kill em all, that has to be the most raw Metallica ever.

load, reload, st anger all total sh*t in my books. While the production is better, the music sucks ass........kinda like polishing a turd.

I've been listening to Exodus, Kreator and Sodom, those are guys that have stuck to what works.

Explorerlover

flatfourfan wrote:
Explorerlover wrote: To me, their best albums were Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning.... these were the albums that epitomised "Thrash Metal" back in the day. However, I find myself enjoying the 90's Metallica more
( Metallica, Load & Reload ). The guitar sounds & the overall production of these in my book are the best. After this "era" they seemed a bit lost to me... St. Anger and even Death Magnetic are just not in the same league and it's predecessors.

Metallica is still and will always be my favourite band though. Up there next to the Beatles.

Anybody give Beatallica a listen as yet?
WHAT?...........no kill em all, that has to be the most raw Metallica ever.

load, reload, st anger all total sh*t in my books. While the production is better, the music sucks ass........kinda like polishing a turd.

I've been listening to Exodus, Kreator and Sodom, those are guys that have stuck to what works.

? Thought I'd get that response from you....Kill 'em all was awesome and it had it's moments, but MOP and RTL was the more polished versions to me.

Haven't listened to Exodus in a while, will have a poke a Kreator and Sodom.

ParadoximA

Explorerlover wrote: Anybody give Beatallica a listen as yet?

BeatallicA are awesome ? And probably also the reason I'll never be able to do meaningful vocals, destroyed my voice singing along to that band...

Explorerlover wrote: However, I find myself enjoying the 90's Metallica more ( Metallica, Load & Reload )

I also like the Load and Reload albums, I bought them the same time that I bought the Black Album and before I'd heard their old stuff, so there was no "let down". They're great albums, but not if you're expecting more 80's thrash. St. Anger sucked, it was nothing more than a live recording of a therapy session IMHO, at least it lead to a good movie.

flatfourfan wrote: WHAT?...........no kill em all, that has to be the most raw Metallica ever.

Who would have guessed that you like that album ? Depending on the day it's my favourite too!

At the moment TestamenT are my favourite thrash band still going. I haven't managed to get hold of a lot of their albums yet, but the two I have so far (The Ritual, The Formation of Damnation) are exactly what you should be listening to if you got bored with MetallicA after ...and Justice for All.

shaundtsl

I hope I am not hijacking this thread,

But I was looking for some pics of myself for the GFSA members performance pics thread and stumbled across this in the archives. Poor quality pics, but what an awesome show...

Was at centurion (2006 I think?).

Those uncles do rock!

flatfourfan

lol.......yeah it's my fav, but I do agree that mop and rtl are light years ahead with regards to production quality and overall sound. There's just something about the grass roots stuff that I like more. It's like the early slayer stuff........like Black Magic........very raw....very cool.

Testament also are ace in my books.

Explorerlover

shaundtsl wrote: I hope I am not hijacking this thread,

But I was looking for some pics of myself for the GFSA members performance pics thread and stumbled across this in the archives. Poor quality pics, but what an awesome show...

Was at centurion (2006 I think?).

Those uncles do rock!

Man, that was a show... It seemed unreal when they blasted into their first tune... and the guitars,.. OMG!!!! I was lucky enough to go to the meet and greet. Very down to earth guys...and I was able to give Lars & James a crappy demo of my band...nothing came of it, but the experience....

flatfourfan

I think the coolest part of all those pics is the KL...........

shaundtsl

Explorerlover wrote: and I was able to give Lars & James a crappy demo of my band...nothing came of it, but the experience....