The early reviews of St. Anger suggested that this album was a return to form for Metallica, some even going so far as to declare it the best album of their career. Those early reviews were a bunch of hype, to say the least. To be fair, St. Anger is a much more aggressive album than both Load and Reload, and it's a lot less radio-friendly then their self-titled album. However, there are several elements preventing St. Anger from being a success.
First, the production on this album is horrible. I've never liked the glossy sound Bob Rock saddled the band with in the past, but that's almost preferable to the utterly weak sound of St. Anger. In a few articles I read, the band claimed that Entombed was one of the influences on recording of the album, and it sounds like they were trying for the distorted sound found on Entombed's most recent albums. However, they ended up getting guitars that sound muffled and weak, especially when compared to the guitars of Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. Furthermore, the drum sound is just embarrassing. Lars Ulrich sounds like he's hitting tin cans in a garage somewhere instead of playing drums for Metallica. When the band decided they wanted their album to sound like it was recorded in a shoebox, they should have gotten a second opinion
The songs themselves are a good deal heavier than anything Metallica has done in years. The band plays faster than they have since the self-titled album, and there are no ballads a la "Nothing Else Matters" or "Mama Said". However, while the band has rediscovered the joy of being a heavy metal band, it seems like they've completely forgotten how to write compelling songs. Nothing here ever really gels; the songs are just a collection of random riffs with James Hetfield singing some of the most trite and inane lyrics he's ever penned ("I'm in anger with you"? Whatever). The first song, "Frantic", is kind of fun to listen to, if only for the novelty of hearing Metallica play something somewhat brutal again. However, the following track, "St. Anger" sounds like a typical nu-metal song and is one of the worst things they’ve ever done. Some of the other tracks ("The Unnamed Feeling", "All Within in My Hands") are an improvement, but at no point does it sound like the band's heart is in it. To make matters worse, the album is completely devoid of guitar solos, which would have at least helped break up the monotony a little. The album is almost entirely devoid of memorable moments; I've listened to about half a dozen times, and I have trouble remembering anything noteworthy ten minutes after I'm done listening to it. Put simply, St. Anger doesn’t even sound like a proper Metallica album. It sounds like the band got together some lazy Sunday afternoon and demoed 75 minutes of potential ideas for an upcoming album, divided it into "songs" at random intervals, and decided to kick back and wait for the royalty checks to come in.
If the band had taken the time to craft real songs, then St. Anger could have been something special. It's encouraging that the band has taken to playing more of their old songs in concert, and it is nice that Metallica is trying to be heavy again. However, this new album is just a wasted opportunity for the world's former greatest heavy metal band to reclaim their throne. Like many other fans, I'll be hoping that the next Metallica album will be the one that gets them back on track. However, if they keep releasing substandard material like St. Anger, there won’t be too many fans left.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Tom Johnson
This is essentially how I felt about it too. The overall impression I was left with was actually a question: "Why would I ever want to listen to this again?" The only answer I could come up with was, "I don't." What's most frustrating is that many songs start out in a great direction - lots of aggressive riffing and they build up some inertia - and make think they're going to head deep into what made Master, Justice, and Lightning so special. Then they just swing left and go straight into Load-land, a dull place of simple, repetitive riffs and James' psuedo-singing. And I'm not one of those fans who pines for the old days. What I pine for is great music, and great music this is not.
I found myself surprisingly sad after hearing St. Anger, especially considering the fact that I expected it to be pretty bad. It was worse than I expected.
2 - James Russell
I've only heard the title track so far, caught the video for it on TV last night, and have to concur with what Tom says... the beginning is wonderful, the double-kick drumming suggests a return to thrash, whereupon it abruptly becomes a rather ordinary bit of nu-metal. It's not a bad song, I think, but not as good as I thought it would be going on the intro. Still a considerable improvement on recent efforts, though. I'll wait until I hear more of the album before passing judgement.
3 - Drunk Guy
Disgust. Thats all I can say.
Wait and "hope" the next album will be on track? I've been saying that since the black, self titled album. I think its safe to say I won't be jumping to buy their albums with excitement on the opening release date ever again. Although I've said that after load and reload...
Yea, and whats up with no solos and that annoying cowbell Lars keeps banking on?
4 - Jim Carruthers
I was walking down the street this afternoon and some mook was driving a jeep with no doors and blasting St. Anger.
I was thinking "who is this asshole".
It turns out it was a fucking cop in uniform driving with no seat belt.
Obviously no citizen would bother him for being an asshole (since by definition cops are assholes), but if I could snitch him out to CRIA, boy howdy would I like to see that case.
5 - Marty Dodge
You are right the production is appalling. I have discovered that the sound is better on the DVD than the album proper. I love old Metallica and really liked the black album but Load/Reload were just unlistenable rubbish.
6 - markbrandt
I've heard the single and it was horrible, just absolute trash.
7 - mike
I-ahem-retrieved this on a Web site (begins with a k; kazoo or something); and the RIAA or some other clown substituded "Trip to the Brain" by Suicidal Tendencies; you know how they do that. What a great song that is!
I was thinking that this was one of Hilary Rosen's tricks, but then I realized she probably hates "St. Anger" too and thought to herself: "If they're going to download, let's give them some bitchin' thrash instead of this garbage"! She was a real ST groupie when I was dating her back in the day. Man oh man, I could tell you some stories.....Who thought she'd end up such a stick-in-the-mud?
8 - Eric Olsen
And a lesbian.
9 - Eric Olsen
What exactly did you do to the poor woman, Mike??
10 - Wes
I think most people have a poor critique of this album. The reason could very well be due to the system you are listening on. I notice the first day the album was pretty crappy sounding. However this was because I was listening on a crappy stereo. I then started listening to the album on some top-end headphones and it rocks out. The low end roar is what drives this album. As a guitarist of many, many years I can tell you that guitar solos in the old sense are dead. The whole semi-classical feel of metal was taken over the top by Malmsteen, nobody can beat that. The blues-rock riffing has been dead for a while, and who could beat EVH at his game. Testament did the whole jazz metal solo as well and there is no beating an Alex Skolnick. Kirk was never really that good at soloing anyhow. There are a whole list of guys that could chump him lefty. He kinda had that canned solo that changed keys occasionally and sometimes (like the last three albums) didn't even fit in the song. This album has rockin' riffs and that is what made Metallica in the first place. Lets all remember those crappy solos from the days of Dave Mustain, now that sucked. The raw sounds of the riffs are what made Kill 'em All. St. Anger rocks and is in your face. It is a great escape from the rap-rock-pop crap that has come out lately. I think the more people listen to it the more they will get it. A great album always rubs me wrong for the first hand full of listens and this is one of them.
11 - Jay
When I first played the st anger album I heard that annoying pop of the drum and thought, oh my god... it IS that bad. Why, they would release somethingl ike this is beyond me, i'm sure they know exactly how it is and have released it like that anyway. The song lyrics seem meaningless, maybe they do have some meaning to the band. What I hope is that metallica is being metallica and not attempting to be what people want, because all I wanna hear is metallica. Seems like they didn't put the kind of dedication into this like they have other albums, or they just ran out of content to metal on about.
After taking wes's advice i put on some headphones and it does seem better - although I could listen to album a dozen times and not be able to remember any song for its content.
Has metallica ever used song titles as lyrics in their songs before? Could just be me but i find this tacky for a band to do. 'hit the lights' in the song st anger. its especially lame, i'm suprised they didn't mention they were metallica in one of the songs too.
I think metallica wanted to be a badass band like they were before, the real metallica in this album shows through, even if they want to be a hard rock metal band like they used to be, they've lost it. All the fans wanted a hard core metal album so metallica made one, i think they'd have to look way into their past to come up with anything good for that. Invisible kid wasnt anything particularly inspriring for me. I'd have a tough time beliving any metallica band member had a problem with being invisible. Heh, maybe we'll convert some fans to metallica with this shit. If its like 1983 again metallica has some growing to do for their next album.
12 - mike
She was a lesbian?! God, that explains a lot. I thought it was just me. Obviously, I never "did" anything to or with her. Our relationship was purely platonic: long walks on the beach, throwing up all over each other after the Suicidal Tendencies concert, shoplifting from record stores; you know, that sort of thing. And always with that headache when it was time to get romantic. To think I put up with it for all those years......
13 - Mike
I just have to say I agree with this review, but after listening to Anger for the last few days it has grown on me. I have been a Metallica Fan since 1984 and lost interest after the black album. I have found that the riffs get catchier with each listen. You really do need to give this at least 4 listens over the span of a few days. I have a feeling the next album will be very good now that they have their punch back. Hopefully some more cohesive songs will appear next time. One of my problems is that while I am liking Anger now, there are other bands that are doing a better job with the same type of metal. I listened to Anthrax's We've Come For You All, and thought the songwriting was much better. Even the opener sounds more like a Master of Puppet's song than Metallica has in a while (which is probably what most of would like to hear). It's like Metallica has gone Anthrax style, but Anthrax is doing a better job. I can only see Metallica learning that you need more than brutality to make a good album. They have made their point that they still can rock, but let's get some melody and a few solos next time.
14 - synjar
All you fags aren't even worthy........bunch of dumb ass bitches. Anger is were its at
15 - thesilkpirate
Again! A five year wait for a mediocre Metallica studio album. For the last 10 years they've followed trends rather than sticking their finger up at them and that's the problem. Whether it be the complete lack of solos which demonstrates how important Kirk Hammett's work was to Metallica. This album sounds like a James Hetfield demo album. The drums are wretchedly thin and the ring on the snare appears to get more pronounced as the album plays, it's disgraceful. I could crap on for hours about the crap parts of this album;lyrics,singing (too much) etc. The good parts; Some nasty sounding riffs, real nasty,the design of the whole pack and the end of the album.
To Wes(comment 10) I did listen to the album on a kick arse system worth $25,000.00 and it just made the whole the mess even more discernable. The ring on that snare sounds like the goddam Liberty Bell. Kirk was never that good at soloing????????????????????????????????
No wonder why your advice about listening on a better system was a bum steer. Crap still sounds like no matter what reproduces it.
16 - wolf
Metallica sounds like a Garage Band that has potential talent on this album, but needs someone who knows how to write music. Their No Life Til Leather Demo has more polish then this album. I guess this is what happens when you create your own album without input from the studio. For those of you who think this is a great album and those who would like to hear what this album should have been like if they truly went back to their basics, listen to the cuts from this band:
http://www.manditory.com/media.html
17 - Alejo
Hey dudes! st.anger fuckin' sucks
It's the biggest shit I've ever heard
Metallica sellout men
The album sucks , really bad production ,horrible snare sound
They're fuckin dead!!!
Ozzy rules!!
Jason is the best!
Metallica
Die,die my darling!
18 - JimmyTango
I didn't like Anger at first, but now I really am into it. I'm sure they could do a Puppets sounding album if they wanted to, but decided not to go in that direction. I guess as in all music it's a matter of taste. I downloaded this album and after 4 listens went and bought it for the DVD. I heard they were influenced by Entombed (which I have never heard) on the sound effects. That's why the drums sound flat and such. This bothers me a little since I always saw Metallica as leaders and not followers in the metal scene. I would love to hear a version of St. Anger with "normal" sound. I would probably prefer it. I give this one a B grade. A good thrash album, but I expected something a little different from Metallica.
19 - Downunder Dan
I like St. Anger. I like the dirty, unpolished sound, i thought it suited the album. But I'm a big big blackmetal fan, and when you hear "Stormblast" by Dimmu Borgir, you will here the most poorly produced album, that still manages to kick 7 shades of arse.
If Metallica didn't deviate with "Black", and kept making another Lightning or Master, i belive by now they would be dead by now. Look at Megadeth, they made one album after another with the same sound, and with each effort it just stagnated. While Load and Reload were not the greatest albums, there was still some terrific tunes on them (Unforgiven 2, Fuel, Fixxxer, King Nothing, Until it Sleeps).
With St. Anger, they are once again diversifying, this time getting down and dirty, with some low riffage. The lack of solos did bother me a little, but i grew to like each song.
Maybe their next effort will satisfy the old school fans, who are unwilling to give anything different a chance. But then again, wouldn't that be like taking a step backwards. Master of Puppets was a good album, but why would you want another to imitate it, when you already have what you want.
20 - mrmood
you guys are all fukin crazy.this album kills period.purify-all within my hands ...SO FUKIN KICK ASS...fuk that snare . best shit since justice no doubt
21 - joe
This album kicks ass to me. Better than kill em all which also had shitty quality but no one seems to mind. People just love to hate metallica.
but im glad theyre getting their millions and pissing u off, cuz they like pissing u fuckers off
22 - Nate
I own all mass produced Metallica albums up to St. Anger. I was extremely hesitant to buy the album since the title track and lead off single seems mediocre at best. I have tried listening from downloads and in store listening stands, but cannot bring myself to buy this album. I realize that to some this album is great, to others they love it because it is Metallica who can do no wrong, but to me, and apparrently most reveiwers, this album is a far cry from any form of Metallica. They have been known as the leaders of the hard to heavy metal rock scene for a long time, a title they didn't lose even with the load albums, but they seem like they went too far back to reinvent themselves. It almost sounds as if they were trying to blend the heavy metal they used to be so great at with a little of the pop rap-rock stuff, all while they were recording in the mens room.
23 - milton
i've been a metallica fan since "kill em all" and the last album i bought was the "black" album. this new album really disappointed me, more than the previous ones.it's really shitty.Lars sounds like he's beating on thrash cans. what the hell were they thinking!!
24 - Andrew
I have to agree with the majority on this one. ST.Anger is a mediocre effort at best and unlistenable at it's lower-than-low worst. First off...they should have waited to make the album until they got a permanent bassist. If they had Rob Trujillo during the writing process,maybe the album would have been at least marginally good. Maybe the next one will be better.
I guess what probably bugs the most people about this album is that there are no solos. (As far as Kirk not being a good soloist...I'd like to see you do better!) I know that the whole (sad) situation of music in todays world besically shuns any kind of real guitar solo,and that's a shame.Nowadays it's either nu-metal or pop-punk. (I want METAL and PUNK!!) But come on....I remember a day when Metallica flipped the bird to all the trends,and now they have become th trend!
The other thing that bugs me about this album is that annoying ring on the snare drum.(Hey,Lars....You see that little lever on the side of your snare drum? good...now move it so the little springs are touching the bottom of the drum. Thanks...now you won't be as annoying.)
Anyway,that's my ruling on this one.
25 - Rami Khoury
Rami From Leb:
1). be Happy MetallicA Are Back
2). from 1982 till 2003 metallica was making in each album something new!!
ther changed their style a lot of times... from trash to speed to heavy and to Nu-Heavy not Nu-Metal i don't think they look like Linkin ParK or whatever the guitar Riffz are very hard to play it doesn't matter if there is no Guitar Solos their is hard riffz i don't think it's to play
and about the Drums it really kicks ass
it sounds like a trsah bin but it sounds very agressive ... (double Bass parts...) and in this album we find something called Synchronization between the 4 members... and i do not think we can find the same syncro in other metal bands (especially in heavy like Iron Maiden - they are so repetetive)