- Jan 8, 2007
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I couldn't find a thread anywhere for this anywhere. Thoughts?
Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107333
MetalSucks: Speaking of that, do you guys agree or disagree as it applies to METALLICA? Have you guys heard the new album?
Mikael Åkerfeldt: I heard one song.
MetalSucks: One song? What did you think?
Mikael Åkerfeldt: It started like "Load" or something, but then it picked up and became really fast. I thought it was cool and definitely a step in the right direction. I think it's a bit like a desperate move in a way for them. People want the old stuff, so it didn't sound like a step forward more like a step backward. I still think, from what I heard, people are saying that it's the best one since the Black Album which I don't think is far from the truth. I didn't like the "Load" or "Reload" albums. I didn't like "St. Anger" either.
MetalSucks: I don't think anybody did.
Mikael Åkerfeldt: This one, I could definitely see myself buying the album. I haven't yet, but I could. I am a big fan of METALLICA, but I haven't heard a good album from them since 1991.
Fredrik Åkesson: Have you heard the entire thing?
MetalSucks: Yeah.
Mikael Åkerfeldt: What do you think?
MetalSucks: My kind of view is basically like his. It's definitely a step forward rather than trying to recreate something. At the same time, some of it does seem a little desperate, but it's definitely the best since the Black Album.
Fredrik Åkesson: More thrash metal now?
MetalSucks: There are some thrash elements on there. There is some "Load" kind of stuff on there.
Mikael Åkerfeldt: The stuff I like most with METALLICA is the progressive stuff. Like " And Justice for All", I love that album and more of their orchestrated stuff like "To Live Is To Die" and stuff like "Orion". I love that stuff, and I think in a way they haven't done anything like that since the Black Album. Like the first time I heard "The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters", I thought it was beautiful. That is something I think they missed, I guess.
MetalSucks: So to bring this back to you guys, how do you try to stay relevant without trying to recreate the past or seem desperate? How do you balance that?
Mikael Åkerfeldt: I don't know. I think a lot of people think we're desperate and that we're clutching at straws or something like that. There are more people who think we have developed and are turning into a better band with each release. It's all different from person to person. So far, I never felt while writing music for an album that I was struggling. The songwriting for this last album was all there. A lot of people probably hate it, but a lot of people love it. You can't please anyone but yourself, and that's what we try to do. I think you can tell with our music that we're not trying to kiss up to fans of a certain record or era. We're just trying to please ourselves. I hope it shows.
Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107333