KSHE played “St. Anger” this afternoon. All of this is IMO.
The good: It does seem like a return to a little heavier instrumentation.
The bad: The vocal qualities, much like on other recent albums, seem to be derivative of newer pop-metal bands. Specifically, a certain refrain reminded me too much of Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit, with the background grunting. One of the better sections reminded of the newer Megadeth stuff, though (which I happen to like, BTW). Other parts just seemed aimless. It also sounds as if Hetfield is responding to criticisms that he’s been trying to actually “sing” too much by deliberately singing off key.
The ugly: As in some of Metallica’s other recent stuff, the lyrics just seemed awful. It often seems now as if they’re always trying way too hard to coin a new phrase.
If you go here and click on the “St. Anger Player” you can hear snippets of three songs. From what I’ve heard so far, I think this will be yet another post-Bob Rock Metallica album that I won’t bother buying.
I heard it last night. I think I agree with your analysis, although I wasn’t paying attention to the lyrics. The new album has me real nervous, and the single doesn’t help a whole lot. I don’t know whether I’m going to buy it or not–probably, cause it’s unlikely that they’ll put out an album with no good songs, and I kinda liked Load and Reload. But I haven’t decided yet.
While the song didn’t sound all that great, I bet there’s better stuff on the rest of the CD. You also get a DVD that shows them playing through all the songs live in the studio rehearsal space if you buy the CD.
If you’re waiting for another Load or ReLoad, uhhh, well, don’t. While this album surely won’t contain any of the pure thrash metal aggression of their first three albums, it’s good to hear some heavy heavy riffs as opposed to the nonsense I had to wince through on Load of Crap and ReLoad of Crap.
I’m in general really excited for the new CD; Metallica’s always been a really intense thing for me (brought me through some tough times when I was a pre-teen/teen) so I’m glad that they’re endeavoring to re-create some of that flavor here. One thing that troubles me is that there aren’t any guitar solo’s on the new album. WTF is with that?? I really like hearing the double-bass drumming back in the picture though.
Now it’s time to haggle for some cheap gen. ad. seats for the summer tour…
I saw the “World Premier” of the video last night on Empty-V. I really hope that the overall sound quality is because it was live or something, because it was tinny sounding and poorly mixed. Me on a four track sounds fuller and more professional. I’ll admit that the fast part got me going though. Yay double bass!!
I don’t like the chorus at all, too call and response style thug core punk for me, and the detuned nu-metal riff in the beginning of the verses is pathetic. And yes, the lyrics are weak. However, it’s a bit closer to the pre-middle aged 'Tallica of old. I’m just afraid they did an uptempo one to reel in the suckers before dumping an entire CD of pablum.
I don’t think Metallica’s ever really been the same since Cliff died. I’ll have to listen to St. Anger a few times before I’ll know what I think. No matter what, though, they’ll never approach anything like “Master of puppets” or “Ride the Lightening” again.
Great to read some other opinions. So far, everyone with whom I’ve discussed it has had the same kind of reaction–“It’s not. . .bad, but. . .” The riffage seems greatly improved over the Load and ReLoad weirdness, but the lack of guitar solos is baffling. It’s just another sign of them trying to fit a trend. . .the trend right now is generally to avoid guitar solos, but if anyone could initiate the trend coming back full circle to total guitar god dominance I would think they could do it. Maybe they’re waiting for me to bring back the guitar solo. Maybe their lost their chops trying to grunge themselves up.
Ryan Mahoney, though I haven’t seen the video, I’m pretty sure I can tell you that that’s just what it sounds like. I was thinking I was getting bad reception on the radio, but then read in articles that they were trying to cultivate a sense of rawness and urgency in the album, so essentially mixed it poorly on purpose. sigh Again, trying too hard to create some image, rather than just being.
Another thought, since I still seem to enjoy much of the new Megadeth stuff (and the lyrics are, IMO, just as good as they ever were, or better–the same sense of humor, the same personality, etc.), maybe Metallica should reunite with Dave Mustaine. Hey, he’s sober now But I guess they’d have to kick out Hammett? Oh yeah, he doesn’t solo anymore, so see ya buddy.
That’s not what I meant Snoooopy. . .my phrasing was incorrect and ambiguous, I suppose. I meant that it’s yet another album made after Bob Rock started messing things up with the Black album. . . So post-arrival, not post-departure, if that makes sense.
I read something saying, basically, they really WANTED to have solos on it, but dadgumit, they just didn’t come out right. Wish I could find the article again. Personally, I think they’re trend-surfing.
Since the album got bumped up, I was able to find it at a local music store yesterday and give it a few listens last night.
I really enjoy it, but my earlier comments still apply that I’m disappointed with the no-guitar-solo problem.
The vocals are strong as hell though, and I enjoy some of the lyrics a whole lot. I think he’s using the voice that he developed over the past few years for good things now. It sounds downright creepy in some instances.
The DVD is pretty damn cool too, seeing them play all the new stuff live.
Well, that would be a pretty neat trick considering Mustaine has indefinitely retired from playing because of an injury( this is also the reason he broke up Megadeth). So I guess, in a way, he doesn’t solo, either.
Whats up with that Tin Pot drum sound? Remember that SNL skit where it was BOC in the studio recording “Don’t fear the Reaper” and the producer kept saying “We need more cowbell”…well, I picture Bob Rock in the studio saying, 'Cmon Lars, We need the Tin Pot drum sound…the kids LOVE that Tin Pot drum sound"…And some of the lines James tosses off…“My lifestyle determines my death style…” What the fuck is that? I wanted Metallica to fail with this record, and they didn’t dissapoint.
This is all IMHO of course. I thought they sold out when Ride the Lightning came out
I actually like the no guitar solo thing, but then again, I’m looking at things from a punker point of view. A lot of the songs could have been great if not for Lars banging on that stupid tin pot, James’ stupid vocals and Bob Rocks stupid production.
You gotta love it though…its too nu-metal for the old school kids, too old school for the nu-metal kids and way too heavy for all the mullet heads who liked the last few albums.
But I guess they’d have to kick out Hammett? Oh yeah, he doesn’t solo anymore, so see ya buddy. 