Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster

What started out as promotional piece detailing the recording of Metallica's next album ended up becoming not only a fearless portrait of one of the biggest bands ever in the world of rock, but also a poignant look at how a family deals with addiction and the rippling effects that can have on everyone involved.

The film opens in 2003 as journalists arrive to listen to tracks from St. Anger, the band’s first studio album in five years.  The band had gone through a number of upheavals recently.  They sued Napster and its users who illegally shared Metallica’s music, alienating a number of fans.  In January 2001, Jason Newsted quit the band after 14 years because he was told he couldn’t have outside projects and was annoyed that the group needed therapy and couldn’t work things out for themselves.  

During the credits, there is a cool montage of the band over the years playing “Seek and Destroy.”  Then we cut to the guys in therapy with performance-enhancement coach Phil Towle, who has worked with other rock stars, professional athletes and CEOs.

They begin to work on their next album, but the music was created very differently.  Previously, Lars and James would bring in the music and tell the others how to play.  This time they jammed together including producer Bob Rock on bass and built the songs, and while the lyrics used to be James’ domain, he opened up the duties to everyone.  James becomes overwhelmed and without warning goes into rehab for "alcoholism and other addictions".  Lars and Kirk are worried that James won’t return.  

They continue their work in therapy, including an emotionally brutal scene between Lars and former lead guitar player Dave Mustaine, who was kicked out in 1983 before the band began recording albums.  He is credited with contributing lead guitar parts on songs from the first two albums and claims to have written parts for some others, which has never been verified by the band.  It was hard to watch the pain Dave has felt over the years.  Even though the band he formed after his dismissal, Megadeth, was successful, he always felt like he was in the shadow of Metallica, derided by fans and sad about the friends he lost.

Article Author: El Bicho

El Bicho writes for a number of movie web sites, including Cinema Sentries, which he runs for the geniuses of Forwerd Media. He also occasionally cleans up around here. Follow at twitter.com/ElBicho_CS

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