Metallica

As of late, Metallica has come under scrutiny for losing their roots. Starting with the Load album, Metallica fans have said that the band has lost their original sound. I even thought that Metallica was changing, I was not a big fan of the Load and ReLoad albums.First I would like to talk about the Metallitinerary as of late. In April 1996, I saw Metallica on their Load tour. This is when I really started listening as a loyal fan. I really liked the Load album, but as I started to listen to earlier CDs, I realized a change, starting with the Black album. They weren't the same, and I started to dislike the Load album. When ReLoad came out, I listened to Fuel and that was it. All other songs were horrible. I knew that Metallica changed.

Metallica is changing their music. Lars (the drummer) himself said "I felt there was an incredible sharp turn after the '...And Justice For all' record. It changed direction, we made the 'Black' album, then the 'Load' records and I feel Garage Inc. is bringing what we started on the 'Black' album to a close. When we sit down and start writing new material next Summer, and hopefully head into the studio in the Spring of 2000 to make Metallica's 8th studio album, I feel that we're going to somehow end up taking another drastic turn." They may be changing their music, but one thing remains the same, their love for playing. Ever since that Load tour I saw until this year, they have been on a straight tour. What Metallica lost in their old style, they gained in their love of their fans. This CD is exactly what Metallica needed. This CD is the end to the horrible Load and ReLoad CDs. Every song on the second CD is an old garage headbanger, while the first CD is cool tracks from Metallica. That new Metallica look is out, they have returned...There is not much I can say about this CD that isn't good. The only problem I noticed is the bad producing job that Metallica has done. Usually on their CDs, they display un characteristically good producing for a metal band, but this CD was very hastily produced. There are scratches, mistakes, voices in the background, and many other things. But there are two things that make this all better. First of all, Metallica produced this whole CD in under a month, which is utterly amazing. They took a short break on their tour just to record more songs for their fans. The other thing is all of you Metallica garage-lovers are used to their old scratchy tapes and their bad producing jobs. For all of you Metallica fans out there that think Metallica has lost their touch, get this CD. If you still like Metallica, get this CD. Not only are the songs unbelievably cool, but the CD has an extensive biography of the band. After listening to this CD and you still think that Metallica lost their roots, do everyone a favor and stick your head out of a window, feet first.