Post by Shiguru Wazzat on Jun 20, 2003 11:59:04 GMT -5
Ah, Metallica. A lot of people have been waiting for this album for a long time, and I finally got it today So, I'm writing a review, because I am a big Metallica fan (meaning this review may be slightly biased...) and I've been waiting for the album for a long time. So, using the system I always use, of reviewing each song individually, then the album overall, here I go:
Frantic
A fast and intense thriller is always an excellent way to start of a rock record, and Metallica have gone straight for that approach. Frantic is a no-holds-barred Metallica classic, with all the feel of an 80s heavy metal single in a 21st century killer, and just like title says, Frantic really is very frantic.. It is a nice, long song, which for some reason will keep the listener hooked, even it doesn't suit their tastes. It also seems to change styles several times through the song, but a few seconds after, you'll become familiar with the words and music. Frantic is a very good start to a very good album.
9/10
St. Anger
This is a killer. An absolute monster. Call it what you will, there is no denying that St Anger is an incredible rock record. It blends everything needed to supply a song in one huge ball of energy, and releases it in a massive uproar in the chorus. St. Angers verses are slow, calming and relaxed, but explodes in an angry shout of pain in the choruses. If you've heard the TV or radio versions and liked it... you'll love the album version more. The difference or only slight, but they make a large difference - the extra few seconds in some areas, the extra couple of words in others, it makes the song a whole lot better. This was actually the only reason I bought the album in the first place, but I was very suprised with how great the rest of the album is - yet I still find myself coming back to St Anger. In one word, this is a masterpiece.
10/10
Some Kind Of Monster
A much more slow and almost confused sort of song, Some Kind of Monster suits more to the tastes of those who appreciate the older songs of Metallica. There is a very large instrumental in the beginning before any lyrics for a song that isn't in the progressive category, but it builds you up with expectancy for when the song begins. However, the beginning builds you up so much, you feel sort of dissapointed when the lyrics finally begin and they aren't as good as you thought they are - they're more like something crossed between a Linkin Park song and a KoRn song. But, that doesn't stop it having that familiar Metallica feel - Some Kind Of Monster is still an excellent effort from Metallica.
8/10
Dirty Window
To be honest, I found Dirty Window to be sort of a let down. It could have been so much more, but Metallica kept it at one stage, which is good, because they worked on it and expanded it to another memorable song, but after a while it becomes 'just another hard rock record', which it could have undoubtedly been better than. Sure it, is a fast passed, blood pumping shout, but that sort of keeps it out of breath and stops it going any faster or slower, hence – it stays in place in the song. However, Metallica have thrown in some excellent music and lyrics, which fit together hand-in-hand, and this keeps it above the level of a bad song.
8/10
Invisible Kid
Another fast passed song with lots of instrumentals, as most of the other songs are on this album. Hoorah, we’ve found St Angers album theme. The song begins very quickly, pulling you in gradually to the lyrics, which as usual are slightly confusing but obviously have quite a lot of emotion in them. However, the song slowly starts to slow down and become more of a conventional and modern-day rock song, than an old anthem that Metallica are used to creating. But, it doesn’t last, and we soon see the anthem rearing its head again. This song changes to and fro a lot more than it should do, although it isn’t immediately obvious. However, when push comes to shove, Invisible Kid is a good song and is well worth the listen.
8/10
My World
Personally, I think this song could have done better. But, it is actually quite a good accomplishment. The lyrics actually fit in so perfectly with the music, you will begin to forget that you’re listening to a veteran hard rock band who have been around for 20+ years. My World also seems to have quite an unusual song layout. Sure, it still has the same ‘verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, chorus’ thing going on, but he verses are completely different to anything I’ve ever seen. I recommend to any progressive fans, because this is probably the closest thing Metallica gets to progressive rock on the whole album.
9/10
Shoot Me Again
This is probably the most emotional song on the album. This is an outcry of suffering. It has a hint of Red Hot Chili Peppers in there, and maybe even some System of a Down. This is because it has the powerful, appealing lyrics of a Chilies song, and the slow, long sang lyrics followed by a loud and short instrumental, then a pause, and again. But, the chorus brings us back to Metallica land. Shoot Me Again reminds me of One. I don’t know why, but it seems to have been created with the same feeling as One, and has the same sort of style as it. But, I still think this is a very good effort, and seems like more than one song from more than one band has been mixed together. Shoot Me Again is a very inventive piece of music.
9/10
Continued in next post (I ran out of character room)
Frantic
A fast and intense thriller is always an excellent way to start of a rock record, and Metallica have gone straight for that approach. Frantic is a no-holds-barred Metallica classic, with all the feel of an 80s heavy metal single in a 21st century killer, and just like title says, Frantic really is very frantic.. It is a nice, long song, which for some reason will keep the listener hooked, even it doesn't suit their tastes. It also seems to change styles several times through the song, but a few seconds after, you'll become familiar with the words and music. Frantic is a very good start to a very good album.
9/10
St. Anger
This is a killer. An absolute monster. Call it what you will, there is no denying that St Anger is an incredible rock record. It blends everything needed to supply a song in one huge ball of energy, and releases it in a massive uproar in the chorus. St. Angers verses are slow, calming and relaxed, but explodes in an angry shout of pain in the choruses. If you've heard the TV or radio versions and liked it... you'll love the album version more. The difference or only slight, but they make a large difference - the extra few seconds in some areas, the extra couple of words in others, it makes the song a whole lot better. This was actually the only reason I bought the album in the first place, but I was very suprised with how great the rest of the album is - yet I still find myself coming back to St Anger. In one word, this is a masterpiece.
10/10
Some Kind Of Monster
A much more slow and almost confused sort of song, Some Kind of Monster suits more to the tastes of those who appreciate the older songs of Metallica. There is a very large instrumental in the beginning before any lyrics for a song that isn't in the progressive category, but it builds you up with expectancy for when the song begins. However, the beginning builds you up so much, you feel sort of dissapointed when the lyrics finally begin and they aren't as good as you thought they are - they're more like something crossed between a Linkin Park song and a KoRn song. But, that doesn't stop it having that familiar Metallica feel - Some Kind Of Monster is still an excellent effort from Metallica.
8/10
Dirty Window
To be honest, I found Dirty Window to be sort of a let down. It could have been so much more, but Metallica kept it at one stage, which is good, because they worked on it and expanded it to another memorable song, but after a while it becomes 'just another hard rock record', which it could have undoubtedly been better than. Sure it, is a fast passed, blood pumping shout, but that sort of keeps it out of breath and stops it going any faster or slower, hence – it stays in place in the song. However, Metallica have thrown in some excellent music and lyrics, which fit together hand-in-hand, and this keeps it above the level of a bad song.
8/10
Invisible Kid
Another fast passed song with lots of instrumentals, as most of the other songs are on this album. Hoorah, we’ve found St Angers album theme. The song begins very quickly, pulling you in gradually to the lyrics, which as usual are slightly confusing but obviously have quite a lot of emotion in them. However, the song slowly starts to slow down and become more of a conventional and modern-day rock song, than an old anthem that Metallica are used to creating. But, it doesn’t last, and we soon see the anthem rearing its head again. This song changes to and fro a lot more than it should do, although it isn’t immediately obvious. However, when push comes to shove, Invisible Kid is a good song and is well worth the listen.
8/10
My World
Personally, I think this song could have done better. But, it is actually quite a good accomplishment. The lyrics actually fit in so perfectly with the music, you will begin to forget that you’re listening to a veteran hard rock band who have been around for 20+ years. My World also seems to have quite an unusual song layout. Sure, it still has the same ‘verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, chorus’ thing going on, but he verses are completely different to anything I’ve ever seen. I recommend to any progressive fans, because this is probably the closest thing Metallica gets to progressive rock on the whole album.
9/10
Shoot Me Again
This is probably the most emotional song on the album. This is an outcry of suffering. It has a hint of Red Hot Chili Peppers in there, and maybe even some System of a Down. This is because it has the powerful, appealing lyrics of a Chilies song, and the slow, long sang lyrics followed by a loud and short instrumental, then a pause, and again. But, the chorus brings us back to Metallica land. Shoot Me Again reminds me of One. I don’t know why, but it seems to have been created with the same feeling as One, and has the same sort of style as it. But, I still think this is a very good effort, and seems like more than one song from more than one band has been mixed together. Shoot Me Again is a very inventive piece of music.
9/10
Continued in next post (I ran out of character room)