I love Metallica's music. I even like the newer material, although I do prefer the 80's era. Anyway, I was hoping to get an idea of where they came from. In a way you do, but not in the most ideal format.
As I started playing the disk, I felt a strong feeling of deja vu. The disk opened stating that there was no original music from the band and that the contents were not authorized by the band, their label, or their management. Then the disk started and the title appeared Metallica: Dark Souls. What? I checked the case again, that isn't what it said, the case said Metallica: Out of the Loop. I just went through a similar situation when I viewed the lackluster Green Day: Suburbia Bomb.
Then disaster struck, the British voice of Sian Jones emanated from my speakers. "Not again," I thought. I am not sure what these people are thinking when they cast narrator voices for these things. Hearing the same voice on two disks makes me think they have her locked in a room, hand her the copy and have her read one right after the other. Some sort of narrator factory.
The content itself is rather lackluster too. It's all talking heads with the occasional archival footage of a band member saying "Hi" or some other nonsense. We get a parade of supposed friends and acquaintances. A big problem here is that these are essentially nobodies relating anecdotes from the past that don't always offer any insight into the bands formation. Everything we are offered just seems like its scratching the surface. You know, everyone is great, everyone has strong personalities, blah, blah, blah.
I did find this a bit more interesting than the Green Day disk, being a bigger fan. Still, I was left feeling flat. Then there is all the generic metal music used throughout. Do you have any idea how awkward it is hearing this lame music played while looking at a clip of Metallica onstage?
On the plus side, you can take a nifty little quiz on your Metallica knowledge after watching the disk!
Bottomline. I can't, in good faith, recommend this disk. There are a few interesting little nuggets, but overall it is like listening to a bunch of fans fawn over their favorite band and spout little facts as if they were best friends. I was hoping for more.
Not Recommended.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Moving to music, since this is a music DVD review
2 - Jones Violet
I can't help but laugh. I was wondering what the Metallica dvd would be like since I knew it came from the same people that sent us that lovely Green Day dvd.
That Sian Jones voice is really the worst for a music "documentary".
3 - Chris Beaumont
I don't necessarily think she is the worst, but punk and metal are not the right subject for her voice. I don't want to speak ill of her as she is probably very nice and is just doing her job. Just the wrong material.
4 - Mark Sahm
Even Amazon must realize it's bogus, because on the OOTL page, there's no description, no reviews, and they're offering it a Best Value package with the Black Album.
5 - Jones Violet
Chris, yes, you're right. I'm sure her voice fits with most things, but for these two dvd's it just doesn't fit in correctly at all.
6 - Chris Beaumont
I just got an announcement of a couple more upcoming: U2 and Eminem. I am curious....
7 - Jones Violet
I'll be waiting for your review on those two, especially the U2 one!
8 - Sem Hadland
This is just a strange re-release of a DVD I got two years ago. You can read my review here
It was then released by Chrome Dreams who still have the original version here
9 - Shaxul
The DVD is more about the scene in San Francisco during the early 80s than it is about Metallica specifically. The people interviewed - a lot of them actually were pretty important and did help the band out in many ways - especially Ron Quintana. But they shoulda made the DVD about Bay Area 80s Thrash on general and it woulda made a lot more sense.