 | Blog author: Alex Stojanovic There's a lot of excitement surrounding both the Iron Maiden and Metallica shows in Toronto this coming Saturday and Sunday. Many of you will be going to both shows. I will be. |
It's going to be one of the biggest metal weekends Toronto has seen in a long time. Since I've already done a Maiden-related list last month, this time let's focus on a Metallica list. As I've said many times, they were my gateway into metal when I heard the Black Album for the first time. "Wherever I May Roam" was the first song I heard and 13 years later, they still mean as much to me as they did back then. This weekend, it will be my second time seeing them live after seeing them in 2009 on the Death Magnetic tour. With that being said, I thought I'd share with you all my rank of the Metallica studio albums.
10. ST. ANGER
I don't think that St. Anger being in last place should be a big surprise to anyone. However let me just say one quick thing. After cranking the Black Album for a few weeks after first listening to Metallica, the next album I listened to was St. Anger. The first song I heard was "Some Kind Of Monster" and I heard it on the radio. Back then, it was the heaviest and angriest thing I ever heard, but I was 11 then so I never understood all the flack it was being given, but as I got older and started to have a better understanding of music, I understood the negative reception and it started to become my least favourite Metallica record, and that's where it has ended up now. Although I totally understand why the band needed to put out an album like this back then because of the situations they were going through at the time and I give them all the respect in the world for that, but I'm in the majority of people who rank St. Anger at the bottom of the list due to the lack of guitar solos, mediocre songwriting, pretty shitty production and especially the sound of Lars' snare. However, I will say that tracks like "Some Kind Of Monster", "Dirty Window", "Sweet Amber" and "All Within My Hands" contain some pretty sweet riffs, not gonna lie, but other than that, St. Anger is just a mess.
I don't think that St. Anger being in last place should be a big surprise to anyone. However let me just say one quick thing. After cranking the Black Album for a few weeks after first listening to Metallica, the next album I listened to was St. Anger. The first song I heard was "Some Kind Of Monster" and I heard it on the radio. Back then, it was the heaviest and angriest thing I ever heard, but I was 11 then so I never understood all the flack it was being given, but as I got older and started to have a better understanding of music, I understood the negative reception and it started to become my least favourite Metallica record, and that's where it has ended up now. Although I totally understand why the band needed to put out an album like this back then because of the situations they were going through at the time and I give them all the respect in the world for that, but I'm in the majority of people who rank St. Anger at the bottom of the list due to the lack of guitar solos, mediocre songwriting, pretty shitty production and especially the sound of Lars' snare. However, I will say that tracks like "Some Kind Of Monster", "Dirty Window", "Sweet Amber" and "All Within My Hands" contain some pretty sweet riffs, not gonna lie, but other than that, St. Anger is just a mess.
09. RELOAD
Reload may be best known for "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains", but if you ask any true Metallica fan, they'll tell you that songs like "Bad Seed", "Better Than You", "The Unforgiven II", "Devil's Dance" and "Slither" are killer. There's tons of great grooves and melodies to be found. This would also be the band's last studio album with Jason Newsted. and this year, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. As much as I love "The Memory Remains", Marianne Faithful's chanting just ruins the song. What made them want to include that in the song, I have no idea, but it sounds like someone's trying to sing a melody while drunk. It sounds a lot better when the crowd is singing it when the band plays the song live.
Reload may be best known for "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains", but if you ask any true Metallica fan, they'll tell you that songs like "Bad Seed", "Better Than You", "The Unforgiven II", "Devil's Dance" and "Slither" are killer. There's tons of great grooves and melodies to be found. This would also be the band's last studio album with Jason Newsted. and this year, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. As much as I love "The Memory Remains", Marianne Faithful's chanting just ruins the song. What made them want to include that in the song, I have no idea, but it sounds like someone's trying to sing a melody while drunk. It sounds a lot better when the crowd is singing it when the band plays the song live.
08. DEATH MAGNETIC
Death Magnetic was the first album where I was already a Metallica fan and anticipating the arrival of the next album. They re-connected with their thrashier roots which is what the fans have been wanting for years. The biggest complaint about the album with a majority of people is the production with the high distortion, making the album fall victim to the "loudness war". The record was mastered by Ted Jensen, but there isn't a mastering credit on the record, which is unheard of. Jensen however claims that the mix was already distorted when he received the tracks for the mastering process. What's kind of bizarre is that people have claimed that the sound quality of the songs on Guitar Hero is better than on the album. Do you think there might be a remixed/remastered version of this album to come in the future? We'll just have to wait and see, but I doubt it. However, you can't deny that songs like "That Was Just Your Life", "Broken, Beat & Scarred", "All Nightmare Long", "The Unforgiven III" and "My Apocalypse" are just awesome. On a side note, I can't believe that next year will be 10 years since this album was released. Where did the time go?
Death Magnetic was the first album where I was already a Metallica fan and anticipating the arrival of the next album. They re-connected with their thrashier roots which is what the fans have been wanting for years. The biggest complaint about the album with a majority of people is the production with the high distortion, making the album fall victim to the "loudness war". The record was mastered by Ted Jensen, but there isn't a mastering credit on the record, which is unheard of. Jensen however claims that the mix was already distorted when he received the tracks for the mastering process. What's kind of bizarre is that people have claimed that the sound quality of the songs on Guitar Hero is better than on the album. Do you think there might be a remixed/remastered version of this album to come in the future? We'll just have to wait and see, but I doubt it. However, you can't deny that songs like "That Was Just Your Life", "Broken, Beat & Scarred", "All Nightmare Long", "The Unforgiven III" and "My Apocalypse" are just awesome. On a side note, I can't believe that next year will be 10 years since this album was released. Where did the time go?
07. LOAD
There's really no difference between Load and Reload. Even though the recording of both albums began at the same time and both albums are in the same vein, I just put Load ahead because it contains the better collection of songs. Tracks like "Ain't My Bitch", "Hero Of The Day", "Until It Sleeps", "King Nothing", "Cure" and "The Outlaw Torn" are some tasty jams. However, just for laughs, I wish I could invent a time machine to go back to 1996 to see the reactions of the people who hate this album when they heard this album for the first time, especially "Mama Said". I think it's pretty hilarious that even after 21 years since the album came out, there are still people out there that are like wanting an apology from Metallica for even releasing this album. IT'S 2017! Have you not forgiven yet?
There's really no difference between Load and Reload. Even though the recording of both albums began at the same time and both albums are in the same vein, I just put Load ahead because it contains the better collection of songs. Tracks like "Ain't My Bitch", "Hero Of The Day", "Until It Sleeps", "King Nothing", "Cure" and "The Outlaw Torn" are some tasty jams. However, just for laughs, I wish I could invent a time machine to go back to 1996 to see the reactions of the people who hate this album when they heard this album for the first time, especially "Mama Said". I think it's pretty hilarious that even after 21 years since the album came out, there are still people out there that are like wanting an apology from Metallica for even releasing this album. IT'S 2017! Have you not forgiven yet?
06. HARDWIRED...TO SELF-DESTRUCT
The newest offering from Metallica is one hell of a record. Hardwired...To Self-Destruct was without a doubt the most anticipated record of 2016. When you compare this record to Death Magnetic, the first noticable difference is the production is miles better. It's crisper, cleaner and punchier. Words just couldn't describe how I felt upon hearing the title track when it was first released and knowing that the wait for the record was finally over. I'm obviously in the large group of fans that want to hear "Spit Out The Bone" played live and hopefully they please us soon. In this day and age, the words "platinum album" are pretty much an obscurity, but the album just cracked over a million sales, so a huge congratulations to Metallica is in order, but on the other hand, it shouldn't really be surprising because it's Metallica. Anytime they come out with a new album, it will always go platinum. I mean, yeah it took a few more months for this album to hit the platinum mark compared to Death Magnetic, and it may take a little longer for the next album to hit that mark due to record sales constantly declining, but like I said, for a metal album to go platinum in this day and age is incredible.
The newest offering from Metallica is one hell of a record. Hardwired...To Self-Destruct was without a doubt the most anticipated record of 2016. When you compare this record to Death Magnetic, the first noticable difference is the production is miles better. It's crisper, cleaner and punchier. Words just couldn't describe how I felt upon hearing the title track when it was first released and knowing that the wait for the record was finally over. I'm obviously in the large group of fans that want to hear "Spit Out The Bone" played live and hopefully they please us soon. In this day and age, the words "platinum album" are pretty much an obscurity, but the album just cracked over a million sales, so a huge congratulations to Metallica is in order, but on the other hand, it shouldn't really be surprising because it's Metallica. Anytime they come out with a new album, it will always go platinum. I mean, yeah it took a few more months for this album to hit the platinum mark compared to Death Magnetic, and it may take a little longer for the next album to hit that mark due to record sales constantly declining, but like I said, for a metal album to go platinum in this day and age is incredible.
05. KILL 'EM ALL
Ah yes, the album that paved the way for thrash. When I was 12 years old and I first heard "Hit The Lights", when the vocals came in, I didn't think it was Hetfield that was singing. I couldn't believe what I was hearing because it was so different than what I was normally used to listening to. I will say that it took me a little bit to get into Kill 'Em All, but once I did, I was obsessed with it. At first, the only song I enjoyed was "Seek & Destroy". Much like on Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets, each track on Kill 'Em All has become a fan favourite, from "Hit The Lights" to "The Four Horsemen", "Jump In The Fire", "Seek & Destroy", "Phantom Lord" and "Metal Militia".
Ah yes, the album that paved the way for thrash. When I was 12 years old and I first heard "Hit The Lights", when the vocals came in, I didn't think it was Hetfield that was singing. I couldn't believe what I was hearing because it was so different than what I was normally used to listening to. I will say that it took me a little bit to get into Kill 'Em All, but once I did, I was obsessed with it. At first, the only song I enjoyed was "Seek & Destroy". Much like on Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets, each track on Kill 'Em All has become a fan favourite, from "Hit The Lights" to "The Four Horsemen", "Jump In The Fire", "Seek & Destroy", "Phantom Lord" and "Metal Militia".
04. BLACK ALBUM
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, the Black Album was the very first thing of metal that I embraced. Anyone who says this album is a shitshow is just high. It has great songwriting, great hooks, great melodies, lots of heavy and crunchy riffs, gigantic production, a thunderous drum sound and huge bass tone. It was so ahead of its time for 1991. The only problem I have with this album is I can't stand to hear "Enter Sandman" anymore because it's just overplayed. Not saying it's a bad song by any means, I just heard it so many times, I'm just sick of it, although I can take it in small doses. On the other side though, you can't deny what it did for both Metallica and metal in general. Whenever I listen to this album, I skip "Enter Sandman" and go right to all the other tracks. It's also amazing that 26 years later, this album is still selling like hot cakes. It's just unstoppable.
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, the Black Album was the very first thing of metal that I embraced. Anyone who says this album is a shitshow is just high. It has great songwriting, great hooks, great melodies, lots of heavy and crunchy riffs, gigantic production, a thunderous drum sound and huge bass tone. It was so ahead of its time for 1991. The only problem I have with this album is I can't stand to hear "Enter Sandman" anymore because it's just overplayed. Not saying it's a bad song by any means, I just heard it so many times, I'm just sick of it, although I can take it in small doses. On the other side though, you can't deny what it did for both Metallica and metal in general. Whenever I listen to this album, I skip "Enter Sandman" and go right to all the other tracks. It's also amazing that 26 years later, this album is still selling like hot cakes. It's just unstoppable.
03. AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
After the release of Master Of Puppets, the death of Cliff Burton and the addition of Jason Newsted, I can only imagine the pressure that Metallica was under when it came time to write And Justice For All, but they delivered with an absolutely stellar album. Obviously the biggest complaint about the record is the lack of bass, and it will continue to be complained about for the rest of life to come. I'm obviously not a fan of the lack of bass, but at the same time, that doesn't take anything away from the magnificent songwriting. The many different time signatures, tempo changes and unusual song structures all stand out, and of course "Dyers Eve" is one of Lars' best performances.
After the release of Master Of Puppets, the death of Cliff Burton and the addition of Jason Newsted, I can only imagine the pressure that Metallica was under when it came time to write And Justice For All, but they delivered with an absolutely stellar album. Obviously the biggest complaint about the record is the lack of bass, and it will continue to be complained about for the rest of life to come. I'm obviously not a fan of the lack of bass, but at the same time, that doesn't take anything away from the magnificent songwriting. The many different time signatures, tempo changes and unusual song structures all stand out, and of course "Dyers Eve" is one of Lars' best performances.
02. RIDE THE LIGHTNING
We're now down to the runner-up. This one was real close to being #1. Since there was a lot of buzz and hype coming off of Kill 'Em All, the anticipation for Ride The Lightning was huge for sure. I'm sure that it disappointed a few fans because there weren't as many faster songs on this one. I think it's also hilarious that people accused Metallica of selling out on this album simply because of the acoustics on "Fade To Black", but you know what, screw 'em! If you accuse a band of selling out just because of one song, something's wrong with you. As a drum teacher, I think that "For Whom The Bell Tolls" is a good example to use when you start introducing students to the basics of spicing up a straightforward 4/4 groove with nice little simple fills and creative ideas. I'm sure many people will agree with me on this, but Ride The Lightning is one of the coolest titles ever for a record. A masterpiece!
We're now down to the runner-up. This one was real close to being #1. Since there was a lot of buzz and hype coming off of Kill 'Em All, the anticipation for Ride The Lightning was huge for sure. I'm sure that it disappointed a few fans because there weren't as many faster songs on this one. I think it's also hilarious that people accused Metallica of selling out on this album simply because of the acoustics on "Fade To Black", but you know what, screw 'em! If you accuse a band of selling out just because of one song, something's wrong with you. As a drum teacher, I think that "For Whom The Bell Tolls" is a good example to use when you start introducing students to the basics of spicing up a straightforward 4/4 groove with nice little simple fills and creative ideas. I'm sure many people will agree with me on this, but Ride The Lightning is one of the coolest titles ever for a record. A masterpiece!
01. MASTER OF PUPPETS
I think you all might have all seen this coming. However, I was torn between having Master Of Puppets and Ride The Lightning as #1 because they're equal in terms of quality, but Master Of Puppets won by a hair because it's a heavier record and the songs are better. When you compare most albums that were released in the 80s, Master Of Puppets is just crushing. Whenever I watch live footage of Metallica from 1986 and seeing them open up with "Battery" with the stage presence they displayed, I wished time machines existed so I could travel back to that year and see Metallica on the Master Of Puppets tour. Here's another thing. How often do you find a record where pretty much every song, whether they were a single or not, is a fan-favourite? Not often. That's the case with Master Of Puppets. The big hits on the record are of course "Battery", "Master Of Puppets" and "Sanitarium", but even "The Thing That Should Not Be", "Disposable Heroes", "Leper Messiah", "Orion" and "Damage Inc.", are all fan-favourites. This album also features what I think are Kirk Hammett's best solos. The only downside about Puppets is that it's the last one with Cliff (R.I.P.) For a thrash album, this is some high quality songwriting. Just listen to all the time signature changes in "Disposable Heroes" for example. The Black Album may have turned me on to Metallica and metal in general, but it was this album that turned me into a Metallica lifer. That's why Master Of Puppets will always be my #1 Metallica record.
I think you all might have all seen this coming. However, I was torn between having Master Of Puppets and Ride The Lightning as #1 because they're equal in terms of quality, but Master Of Puppets won by a hair because it's a heavier record and the songs are better. When you compare most albums that were released in the 80s, Master Of Puppets is just crushing. Whenever I watch live footage of Metallica from 1986 and seeing them open up with "Battery" with the stage presence they displayed, I wished time machines existed so I could travel back to that year and see Metallica on the Master Of Puppets tour. Here's another thing. How often do you find a record where pretty much every song, whether they were a single or not, is a fan-favourite? Not often. That's the case with Master Of Puppets. The big hits on the record are of course "Battery", "Master Of Puppets" and "Sanitarium", but even "The Thing That Should Not Be", "Disposable Heroes", "Leper Messiah", "Orion" and "Damage Inc.", are all fan-favourites. This album also features what I think are Kirk Hammett's best solos. The only downside about Puppets is that it's the last one with Cliff (R.I.P.) For a thrash album, this is some high quality songwriting. Just listen to all the time signature changes in "Disposable Heroes" for example. The Black Album may have turned me on to Metallica and metal in general, but it was this album that turned me into a Metallica lifer. That's why Master Of Puppets will always be my #1 Metallica record.
There you have it. My rank of the Metallica studio albums. Feel free to post your ranks of the Metallica discography in the comments!
See you at the show on Sunday!
See you at the show on Sunday!
RSS Feed
