It's has been a full week now since St. Anger has been in my possession, and I still find very interesting: namely, people's initial impressions of this album
This is really turning into a love it/hate it thing, and who knows ... maybe that's the buzz that Metallica was going for after 8-9 years of not recording new original material
That being said, let's get more into a review than my essay about what other people may think about this album
Again, you do get with this nicely packed up digipak ... a CD and a DVD of the 4H playing the songs on the album LIVE --- there is a value to the DVD performances, and some are really different sounding than the CD, maybe more palatable sound wise in terms of production
Again, let me disclose bias that definitely does exist ... I've been listening to Metallica since 1984, I've been a member of their fan club since about 96, I think ... so what you get from me is the worst of both worlds ... extreme knowledgeability, extreme fandom, but also hopefully more perspective than your average reviewer
I'll be the first to say that I got somewhat caught up in the hype ... I mean, I was one of the regular visitors to their Jump in the Studio website ... and a whole bunch of us fans followed them pretty much from July last year up to release day last week ... so I've been following this thing now for about a year ... and I am cognizant of the PR machine that is Metallica and the early reviews of the album ... I even find it curious that initially the band was going to release in FOUR different color schemed album covers (that was scratched, common sense prevailed?)
So what did we get? Well, out of the box there is clear effort to go lean, mean, and aggressive ... in fact, this is yet another direction taken by Metallica, contrary to hype which called it a return to the old style Metallica ... and from this reviewer's perspective, Metallica seems hungrier, more focused, and more willing to push the envelope than they have been since Black Album, fame, and the recent turmoil experienced by the band
It seems ironic to me that the speed, chug, heaviness, tempo changes, and dynamics which everyone who is an old school fan of the band wanted to come back ... are back and spank the hell out of your ears for 75 mins... yet the vast majority of these fans with opinions to self-declare indicate that they don't like this album at all ... why? because this isn't Master of Puppets 2
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Steve
This album blows. Hetfield rambles on like some wacko with vocals that sound more like they were recorded during a sound check. The most appropriate lyrics are during St. Anger where James says "Flush It Out!" over and over. He's right, flush this turd of an album down the crapper and forget about it. Forget guitar solos-they are completely devoid from every single track. The tracks are mishmashed crap, jumping from one style to another for no apparent reason. I guess Lars thought he could save the album with his double "kick-drum" ressurection, but it does nothing but make me-as a big Metallica fan-angrier than ever at them. The funniest part is watching the DVD where there is a huge "Ride The Lightning" era Metallica logo on the wall. I guess it's there to remind James and the boys that they ARE metallica since the noise they are grinding out sound nothing like the kings of metal from the 80's. I don't expect a remake/rehash of the Justice, Lightning or Puppets albums, but this album blows worse than Load & Reload. The cover of the album is even lame as hell. There should be a big, cartoon-style fan bent over holding his ass-cheeks apart, ready for that fist to get rammed home because that is exactly what Metallica is doing to it's fans-shoving it up your ass. My local radio station said it best when mocking the track Invisible Kid and it's Dr. Suess-style lyrics. "Green egs & ham! Gree egs & ham! I do not like them, Sam I Am!" Too funny.
2 - Tom Johnson
What I think is most fun about this "controversy" is that there is no in-between. You either love it or hate it, and the "lovers" tend to be much more literate in the reasons why they love it while the "haters" tend to just spout off belligerently. You have to give the band credit - they have revitalized themselves. Causing this much controversy only means that the band has riled people's feathers. When the Loads came out, almost everyone dismissed them as trash. With St. Anger, it seems that Metallica is going to wind up clearing out those fair-weather fans who only want to hear the Kill 'em All through Justice period over and over again. Great albums they are, but that era ended 15 years ago. St. Anger, imperfect as it may be, represents another turning point for the band. Hopefully they won't screw it up by releasing something like the Loads in the future.
3 - Paul Pelkonen
I just finished spinning "St. Anger" and I must say that while it's different, it has some of the band's strongest, most energetic songs since--well--"Load" and "Re-Load." I know it's an unpopular position but I like both of those records. It might even be that because everyone hated them when they came out I decided to give them an extra chance. Anyway.
"St. Anger" is not conservative or a throwback to the band's original sound. It is a gritty step forward. Highlights include "Shoot me Again", "Sweet Amber" and the title track.
It challenges the listener in an aggressive, confrontational fashion. It growls, spasms and yes, thrashes through eleven songs.
The new record is 80 minutes of sheer power, with the band exploring a gritty, almost industrial approach anchored around the new secret weapon, an anvil-like snare drum sound that makes some of the tracks feel like high-speed Nine Inch Nails. This is not a bad thing.
4 - booker
Being a fan from the beginning, I too was as sceptical as anyone listening to the new album after the crap that has been put out since and justice for all, I mean the black album had a few good songs on it, but like most of the early metallica fans it was a turning point that was sending my favourite band quickly downhill.
This time however, I am fully into the new album, there are of course bits I like and bits i don't, but I definatley see it as a positive move from metallica.
Some kind of monster is easily my favourite track on the album, nice and heavy and has a great feel to it, and the title track St. Anger is easily my least favourite on the album, the melodic bits just don't sit right with me.
The other problem I have is that Kirks guitar solos are really missing, how can you have one of the best solo guitarists in your band and not have him do one in 80 minutes?
Other people seem to be complaining about the length of the new album, well you won't get that from me, every song over 5 minutes - that's what metallica was about, remember and justice for all - it had two songs pushing really close to the 10 minute mark, stuff that you could put on before you went to sleep at night and you'd wake up the next morning and it was still going...
All said, I'm pretty stoked with my copy of the album, the dvd just sweetened the deal for me, and 30 odd live songs that the boys let me download from the vault hasn't made me too angry either.
It is definatley a step in the right direction for the masters of the speed metal era. All they need to do is let kirk let loose with a few solos now and again.
5 - Tha Dogg Father
Listening to this album helped me to appreciate Load and Re-Load for what they are. I'd like to start by saying that I've been a Metallica fan for roughly 3 years now. Not long, I know, but I have studied the band inside and out and listened to each one of their albums dozens of times over.
The second thing I'd like to point out is that I am a "hater" of the new St. Anger album.
Having listened to the Kill'Em All - And Justice For All albums, I can come to appreciate Load and Re-Load, because they simply sound like a new-aged Metallica. With solo's present, and individual song-uniqueness in tact, St. Anger helped me develop a new appreciation for Load and Re-Load.
I wont rant or rave, but St. Anger is a very long and tedious album. Kill'Em All was great because it was a eardrum bursting metal sound.
Lightning kicked ass because every song made shivers run down the listeners spine. Listen to Fade To Black and tell me you don't f*cking love that song.
Puppets, simply put, was just a great album.
... And Justice For All showed us that Metallica knew how to write great songs. The title track from that album was incredibly well written. One, Blackened, all great songs.
After those albums it went downhill for Metallica. But I think they're biggest downfall has been with St. Anger.
Load and Re-Load at least sounded like Metallica. St. Anger sounds like some middle-aged metal band who is struggling to get some music together.
Another thing I wanted to mention. Anyone notice that as soon as James Hetfield became sober, his music started to suck?? I think alcohol was the bands muse. Just a thought.
6 - Manji
I don't understand this controversy about the new album. it's very simple, if you like it, buy it. And don't do it if you don't, but don't this people who says that new album is just shit and only have listen a pair of songs one time must shut theri mouths putting his cock in. This new album is an art masterpiece. Bad production? Who cant it be bat produced with the same people behind that produced the black album? Maybe they just wanted to sound like the album sounds. It's completly raw, simple an hard. If you listen to it a pair of times, you only discover the angry behind the songs. But if you listen more, you can also feel the great work of every one of them, specially lars and his drums. I think load and reload was also great albums of metallica, exploring new paths of his music. They do what they want. And if you like it, support them. And if you don't, just don't keep annoying. Put the cd in the trash, burn it or just forget it. But you would be losing a true effort of innovation and 11 execellent songs.
7 - Jester
This is by far the most simplest album they have produced. My 5 year old can play just as well. Noise, cracked voices, lyrics that even my son can understand and drums that are indeed tin cans. If you like this crap, buy it.
I do not. I listen to music, not shit.
This is shit in its purest sense.
Metalica now has desended to just another shit band. Good job guys.
8 - mourad
welome home ?
9 - Mark Saleski
i kinda like it.
let's fact it...if they had done something like Load/ReLoad, people would have hated it. the same would have gone for the black album and Justice styles.
so they do something different...and people hate it.
ya, ya...Metallica is all washed up. sure.
fricken get over it.
10 - tim
This album kicks ass. For all those who hate it, get over it. The only reason you don't like it is because its not Master of Puppets 2. Don't judge Metallica on the past. Listen to it and judge it on the music itself, not what you think Metallica should be. I do have to say that I miss the guitar solos, and I hope that Lars leaves out that pinging drum next album. I'd rate it 4 out of 5 stars
11 - S
Some people loved the old Metallica. And some the new. For those of the former catagory who were waiting for them to get back to their roots, here is an album that you were waiting for. It's not perfect at all, but it's better than Reload. For the latter catagorey, welcome to the real world.
Guys, give them a break. JH just came out of rehab and after the loss of JNewstead this is still a good album.
St. Anger does not do any 'Justice', but it kicks. I'm glad they're back to their old ways...or at least starting to go that way again.
12 - Marty Dodge
Sorry, in no way does this album get back to their "roots." I have been listening to and admiring Metalica since their first track on a compilation way back when.
In 6 months time, how many people will be listening to this disc over anything pre-Load? I doubt very few.
As far avant-garde metal, it isnt that either. You want really good this type of metal, listen to any Voivod.
13 - BS
We were expecting an album in line with "Puppets" or "Justice", but that was in the eighties. Music has changed.
If I Know James, we would neve make a copy of those albums. This one is in another direction.
3 things i dislike: no solos (not even one), the "can" drums, and sometimes James voice that looks like a rehersal.
If they could correct this "details" it would be a GREAT album for me. The question is: "Why are they doing music at all?
- To enjoy themselves?
- To enjoy the fans?
- Just to make money?
If they're doing it for the first reason, then this is the right direction.
14 - NineIron
Lol,
i love it when people diss this album.. tell me dissers, do you go and buy a madonna album, then go to a review of that album, after you buy it, and slate it for being crap?
if you bought this and think it sucks - then fuck you, go listen to kiddy pop or whatever you like! if you didn't buy it, then shut the fuck up.
i notice people only do this to metallica,
hmmmm, envy? or sheer childishness?
btw: St. Anger up your ass!
15 - Bauul
Truly a love/hate album it would seam. Unfortunately for me, not so much hate, more "I see what they're doing, I just don't like it". St. Anger is not the classic Metallica sound, it's not like they have similar sounding songs, just upped the production quality (like Maiden did on their flawless Brave New World album), the entire structure and emphasis of the songs have changed. Metallica songs traditionally were great for their catchy, clear nature. You weren't ever struggling to hear the different bits of the song, you never had a big mess of notes, it was always clean cut and felt, simply, right. You could listen to a classic like Creeping Death and know the song perfectly when you next heard it. Above all else, this style made them memorable.
This cannot be said for St. Anger. I have found, so far, one, and one only, memorable riff on the whole album, being the three chord descending riff on Unnamed Feeling. Everything else simply doesn't have them. Riffs are no longer chords, their lots of fast notes around the bottom of the E string. To me, this sounds just like a System Of A Down song (see Toxicity). In fact, Metallica have tuned their guitars to the same tuning of System, further aiding this sound.
The low tuning, coupled with dirty production, is one of the reasons the album sounds so muddy. Try knocking the bass right down and the treble right up, it almost sounds like it should again. When I say 'should', I mean the sound of the first few albums, none of this muddy rubbish, good clear, crisp guitars. The very odd thing is, in amongst all this gooey, smudgy guitar work are drums that sound more trebly than And Justice.... What was Lars thinking, the drumming may be very fast, but the sound simply doesn't suit the rest of the album. If it’s a down tuned album, you don't have tinny little drums that sound more like grandma's saucepans. I'm not trying to alter anyone's opinions, if you like muddy guitars where you struggle to even hear a single note, good for you, I'm just saying why I don't like it.
So, you have this style, of very fast, not clearly structured (the intros, verses, choruses, bridges etc. all blend into one), what's the one thing you don't do? Make 8 minute songs, that's what. Long songs always need variety to make them listenable, the greatest epic pieces have all very unique, very different parts to them, so one section doesn't get boring. St. Anger's songs do not have this sectional approach; the whole 7 or 8 minutes are based around the same riff or lick. And seeing as all the songs are plus 5 minutes, and many of them sound very similar, you get an album that simply doesn't go in.
You listen to it, at the end of All Within My Hands can you remember the verse to Invisible Kid? No, and that is a sign of not just poorly structured songs, but a poorly structured album. It's 75 minutes of lots of fast notes around the bottom of the E string, or should I say the drop C string or whatever it is. Really, good tunes? None. Fantastic melodies? Forget it. About all the album has is 'Attitude', but then again so does 'Slipknot' and 'Chocolate Starfish...' by Slipknot and Limp Bizkit respectively. Do Metallica want to be like these bands? Obviously, yes. As for the solos, or lack of them, if Bob Rock had said in an interview they wouldn't have felt right in the songs, he should have realised straight away there's something very wrong with the songs then. To me, a solo is very important in a song that doesn't have much lead work, like all of St. Anger. The only long songs that can get away without a solo are, like I said, the lead driven ones. For example, Maiden's epic Sign Of The Cross could have easily done without one, of their more well known Hallowed Be Thy Name. Speaking of this song, everyone knows the riff makes the base for it, but is there a single thing like it in all of St. Anger? No, nothing. It's not that there isn't any solos, there isn't any bleeding lead work either.
To me, the album sounds like a big pile of dung. Literally, the muddy, gooey, dirty sound of the whole thing, over long songs that never lift themselves out of messy E notes, reminds me of a huge pile of Rhino dung. It might be very from a very mean, angry animal, but its still dung. Sorry if I've been waffling, but I do feel strongly about the album. I don't hate all of it, I think St. Anger the song is very catchy (but in the same way Can't Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue is catchy), and some of the riffs if ever played on decent sounding guitars, may be real stompers, but everything seam to came together to not make this a good album.
And don't even get me started on the lyrics. 'Frantic tic tic tic tic tic tock'? Please, my dog could have come up with those lyrics. 'Purify, you and I, Purify, you and I, Purify..... you and I, Purify, you and I, Purify'? You can tell the thought process:
Lars: Hey, hey James, OM, what do you think would rhyme, OM, with Purify?
James: *half a seconds thought* You and I?
Lars: OM, don't you think that's a bit, OM, unoriginal, lame, simple and totally totally terrible?
James: Yeah, but at least it has 'Attitude'
Lars: OM yeah!
*repeat for all the lyrics in the whole album*
Oh dear, I got started on the lyrics and I said I wouldn't. Oops.
Anyway, after that huge rant, I'd give St. Anger a C+. Is it listenable? Yes. Background music it's perfect. You put it at a reasonably low volume, it just sounds like a distorted hum, perfect for working or reading to. A sit down in the dark with a beer and a huge hi-fi system to listen to with all your attention for an hour and a quarter? LOL, gimme a break.
All I can say is role on Dance Of Death (the new Maiden album, release date September).
16 - James
The words of this last comment (15) are my words!
These are the most realistic thoughts, not just filled with "I like it / I don't like it".
Anth realy, the guitar tune makes me remind of SOAD! what a joke!
17 - marcus
this cd is wasted on you dumb metalheads.
remember the garage days covers cd? - songs by punk bands such as discharge & anti-nowhere league & also the ultimate no-frills metal group motorhead?
well thats whats going on here.... no solos? great! rough vocals? nice one! its the best thing since 'MOP'
the good thing about metallica always used to be mix of punk attitude with the metal skills & constructions, and st anger has that with knobs on!
you lot are the same people who would have hated '..and justice' but now love it... come to think of it, you are the same kind of people who would have argued that the invention of the wheel was a bad idea, cos you prefered to drag stuff
18 - Meathead
Hey dudes, I can’t believe the crap I’m readin’ here.
St. Anger's like totally awesome cock enhancing M-E-T-A-L
Get on message you stone washed spandex wearin’ Neanderthal's.
19 - MOOSE
Hey Marty (comment 12)
If you’d been listening to Metalica (sic) since ‘way back when’ then maybe it’s time you learned how to spell the frickin’ name! It’s Metallica, you turd.
20 - St. Hubbins
Hey, wake up and smell the glove Marcus (comment17) St. Angers sucks, dude. For one there ain't no guitar solo's, two St. Angers a garbage title, three the artwork sucks. All the vital ingredients for a kick ass metal album are AWOL!
Hey Rock fans, does anyone know how to get blood stains out of Spandex???
21 - Perks
Blood stains on your spandex?
A common problem easily remedied.
Rub (not while wearing) a tincture of crushed wild orchids mixed with a tea spoon of fresh mountain water and the blood of a red crested Grebe.
22 - Perks
Sorry metalheads, I forgot to add the caveat emptor for comment 21. After you have applied the tincture to said pants leave in a dark room until Black Sabbath reform.
23 - Vermin
whoa, dudes, top cleaning tips.
Does anyone know where I can get hold of some leopard skin spans with enhanced crotch padding, I need them in time for Donington Monster's of ROCK festival.
24 - Globbox
The best way to describe St. Anger?
Take the worst song from any other Metallica album. Go ahead, take whatever song you hated the most from any of their previous efforts. Now listen to it followed up by the entire St. Anger album.
Then, you realize that the crap song you totally hate is the best track you just listened to in the past 90 minutes!
25 - mike
Comment 18: "Cock enhancing metal"? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Did Lars just come out of the closet? Come to think of it, the average Metallica fan probably would fit in Saturday night in the Castro. And the band did live in San Francisco for a while. Hmmmmm...it's all coming together now, so to speak. Not that there's anything wrong with it!