Whoa. And I thought I didn't like Metallica since before Reload. Phil Freeman over at Cleveland Scene REALLY doesn't. Well, at least not the new album, St. Anger. I haven't heard it yet, but after his blistering review, I'd like to write my own.
- St. Anger is definitely the noisiest, ugliest record Metallica's ever made. It scrapes and slams and crunches and screeches. Lars Ulrich's drums crash like empty barrels whacked with steel rods. James Hetfield's guitar chops the air with the fury of a prizefighter. (Kirk Hammett's guitar, by contrast, is apparently sitting in Jason Newsted's garage — there's not one solo anywhere on this album.) The vocals are sometimes distorted, like Ministry's; other times, though, Hetfield's voice cracks, as he strains for long-lost notes.
- The mix is punishing. Too often, the guitars and drums blend into a wall of raw noise. Sitting and listening to this record (under the gimlet eye of a surly, paranoid publicist — Lars's hatred of the internet forbade mailing advance copies to critics) isn't cathartic, the way the old albums were. It's painful. Eventually, you start wanting to escape, to run from the noise and let a different room's empty, silent air caress your eardrums, like cool water after a too-hot, too-big meal.
And that's just part of the review. Any of you guys heard this yet?
For more reviews, photos, show listings, and plenty of scene drama, click over to www.myaimistrue.com.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - jason
totally sold out for the cash garb long ago
2 - markbrandt
I heard the single on the radio and it was horrible..just absolutely horrible. I couldn't believe they even played it on the radio.
3 - NITRO
ST. Anger really is about a lot of noise and "Anger". There are no redeeming qualitys on this album. Metalica will be lucky to even get a gig at a nightclub after hearing this crap. Sheesh, they are totally out of touch with reality.
4 - lauren
big metallica fan.. well i used to be before st. anger anyway.. it sounds unorganized, people say it sounds like "old school" metallica, but atleast the old stuff was audible and sounded awesome. this album sounds sloppy to say the least. i'm severely disappointed
5 - Dj_ XTc
WoW
what a "LOAD" of Crap.
Wanna know what i think, i think metallica sold out. Did a half assed cd just to srunge up as much money as they can before they leave and finally retire.
Maybe makeup for the losses of those Napster days.
Think about it they hyped it up on the ICOn awards just so people buy it without really listening it 2 it because it is "Metallica"
I still love the band. And Justice For All and the black album and ride the lighting are still my favorites
"Looks like somebody should give James a drink of VODKA and bring back the old Metallica"
6 - God
what a piece of shit. i am very angry at metallica for wasting away their talents on this crap of an album. i think impellitteri, yngwie, symphony x, and dream theater should be good substitutions for this once good band.
check out impellitteri's new album "system x". graham bonnet sings in it.the later bands really have talent and should be listend to.
7 - BRICKLAYER
To Nitro: Fool, they are selling out stadiums. Don't look for them to appear at Joe's bar anytime soon.
To Dj xtc: You said: "Looks like somebody should give James a drink of VODKA". Nice. I hope neither you, nor anyone in your family ever has to deal with drug or alcohol addiction.
To God: Your short list of wank bands don't impress anybody but the geeks at Guitar Center
Have any of you dweebs realized that this was the sound they were going for? If you don't like it, there's 10 people waiting in line behind you who will. After hearing the album, I also wished I could hear these songs with all the pro-tools, big production, and bells and whistles. It would have been cool for them to have done that, and also released the dvd with the rougher versions. But that's just me, and my wishes don't mean jack poopy. But since the rest of you jizz gobblers are dissing the album, I will say "A STAGGERING WORK OR UNBRIDLED ENTHUSIASM".
8 - mike
"Fool, they are selling out stadiums."
Yeah, well, so is Yanni.
9 - Amber
Hahahahahahahah nice.
10 - andy
what's hard to take about this album is that they TRIED to make it sound this way. The songs, they sound like good crunchy balls to the walls metal songs, but the production totally kills it. I've heard indie metal releases that sound a lot better than this. I would love to hear the songs mixed correctly, eq'ed better(especially that tin can snare drum that just overpowers EVERYTHING), and it's like James' voice is way out too much in the mix(and it sounds weak at times too...which sucks because I love his voice). Over all, I don't think anyone's complaing about the songs(except for maybe a lame lyric here and there.."I'm madly in anger with you"? what the hell is that?), the "production" really what hinders this disc. the hardest part is knowing they tried to make it sound like that
11 - Mutant
-----Comment on St. Anger------
Good god i'm dissapointed. Not one freakin' solo or suitable melody!NOT ONE! But it's not really that, it doesnt really matter if a song has a solo as long as it captures you. But c-mon man this cd is not metallica at all. "Master of Puppets", "To live is to die"..what the fuck happened??!! these are bad ass songs and they sound nothing like ST. ANger. Seriously, I was in utter discontempt when me and my friend got home anxiously popped the dvd in, and we just looked at each other wordlessley between songs.
12 - Mike
Well after owning all of the albums, I usually only listened to metallica. I put them on a pedastal. I bought this cd and I wanted to be shot again and again becuase this cd im sorry to be blunt but sucked. I work at circuit city, and I saw two kids buying it, and I felt sorry for them wasting the money on it. It is laying in my car just collecting dust. I really hope this isnt the end of metallica. They were so good. What happened.
13 - BRICKLAYER
To Mike, if that's really your name (comment 8, Yeah, well, so is Yanni):
Kudos to you, my good fellow, for a stinging zinger, and drawing the agreeance of the alluringly rubinesque Amber. You have exposed me as the not so bright bulb of the econopack. But sir, it is you who ride the musical shortbus! First, your rude and insensitive comment was misplaced and irrelevant, as I was simply pointing out to Nitro (a nom de plur, no doubt, and not the name his parents gave him!) that Metallica would not be playing the corner bar anytime soon. I can verify this, as I called the corner bar this very afternoon, and they substantiated that, indeed, Metallica will not be appearing there this weekend. They do, however, have a saturday night regular who will dance on the bar naked for spare change-no cover charge. Anyway, I also checked with Yanni's tour manager, and it turns out he does not play stadiums, at least not in this country! So Mike,(if that's really your name) as I have proven your callous statement as false as your friends and family's love for you, I await your apology!
14 - Eric Olsen
Bricklayer, for a guy with tattoos not into his fourth decade of existence on this coil of mortals, but who possesses many yet longs for more Now! you sure are funny.
15 - Jason
Worst Metallica album I have ever heard. The rhythm of the songs sucks so bad, that I sometimes wonder if it is playing in reverse.
Maybe if I could play the songs backwards it would sound better.
What a stinkfest. Old Metallica my anus. Old instruments maybe. Is that a kettle drum I hear?
Save your money.
16 - Amber
Oh crap! I've been called "alluringly rubinesque" by the Bricklayer. Golden.
And dude. You are the only other person in existence who says "aggreance" other than Fred Durst. Hahaha.
Do I know you anyway?
17 - The Theory
this thread is classic.
peace.
18 - BRICKLAYER
Fair Amber,
Alas, you do not know me, and nay, we shall never meet, not even in the pit at a Converge show. But I am a fan of your very own Website (though not of those scurrilous rapscallions whose company you keep-they are not worthy of you!) It is like watching the hardcore kids real world, only on a computer. A request if I may: Please return the photo exhibits. Your work is superb. And I don't really mean the pics of sweaty gorillas grunting into microphones, and banging on electric guitars (though they are fine indeed), but rather your non-musically themed shots, as they are quite nice to look at while sipping 1/2 caffienated coffee in the early morn, as the cleaning man swirls his vacuum betwixt my feet.
19 - Amber
Haha awesome. Thanks, I appreciate it.
20 - Amber
Bricklayer, you should go post some on my messageboard. Keep those scurrilous rapscallions in line, ya know?
http://myaimistrue.conforums2.com
:)
21 - BRICKLAYER
Amber,
I am far too old and slow of wit to parry and thrust with the likes of those young turks. However, I will continue to admire your efforts.
Minor Threat
We're not the first, I hope we're not the last
'Cause I know we're all heading for that adult crash
The time is so little, the time belongs to us
Why is everybody in such a fucking rush?
Make do with what you have
Take what you can get
Pay no mind to us
We're just a minor threat
WE'RE JUST A MINOR THREAT
Early to finish, I was late to start
I might be an adult, but I'm a minor at heart
Go to college, be a man, what's the fucking deal?
It's not how old I am, it's how old I feel
Take your time
Try not to forget
We never will
We're just a minor threat
WE'RE JUST A MINOR THREAT
22 - Eric Olsen
Bricky, it would appear you are content to be a commentator on the commentators on the commentators of our culture.
23 - Amber
Oh man he's posting Minor Threat lyrics. He DOES know me.
Sigh. I love that song.
24 - Eric Olsen
I feel protective and proud of my little Amber - she is my daughter's age. I believe we should view her with an avuncular eye.
25 - BRICKLAYER
Mr. O,
It appears you have nailed it. Your analysis of me is as iron clad and true as the certainty that I will be the oldest person in attendance at tonights In Flames/Soilwork/Chimera/Unearth show, that I will be disgusted by the cigarette smoke and indifferent attitudes, and that I will feel sleepy as the hour approached ten o'clock, and wish I was home in bed. And yet, I will go back for more!