Hey Slayer that's your opinion... personally I don't ever listen to Metallica's albums anymore EXCEPT the Black Album... the others are boring as fuck imo. I think Kirk does all his greatest solos on this album (they don't gotta be fast to be good), Lars doesn't pretend to be a good musician, hehe... I strongly disagree with your vocal comment... I think this is the only album James really tried to sing on. His old vocal performances are terribly untalented and his voice is ridiculously annoying on them imo. It's just not a metal album any more, really... more rock and roll.
I downloaded CC's version too. I thought the riffs sounded way better (was it downtuned or something?) but the vocals were pathetic as always. I just can't take a style like that seriously, he sounds like a Disney villain or something... oh well his voice is ruined now so I guess he learned his lesson.