Revisiting the Black Album

[CJWall]

ahhh, i hadn't listened to this record since becoming obsessed with everything audio, so I popped it in the other day and I haven't stop listening since. absolutely STUNNING sounding. i was blown away. totally auditory rape.

the drums are out of this world, that snare/kick combo is soo slamming! same with the guitars. amazing.

to anyone that hasn't heard it in a while, pop it in and listen in awe

i never really took a proper listen to this album just because of me not being the biggest metallica fan, but damn.

i can only imagine the buzz around this record when it was released.

 

[Matt Smith]

Yup, production school starts and ends with that record for me.

 

[TheStoryteller]

One of my all time favourite productions.

If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend the studio documentary "A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica part 1". Get it here cheap.

 

[nwright]

Man, I thought I was the only one! Hetfield's tone on that album is still my gold standard in rhythm guitar tone, and the production as a whole just crushes.

 

[PhilR]

Here's a vid of Metallica discussing the techniques used for recording the drums on the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJRyY5cyLts

 

[Jevil]

Just a couple of days ago, me and band mates were talking about it. It's 16 years since it was released and it still sounds great. Take any other album from that year and you'll notice the difference.

 

[Glenn Fricker]

+1 for the "Year & a Half" documentary. I've stolen so many ideas from that movie.................

 

[unsilpauly]

vh1 classic has a series called classic albums and there is an episode on the black album. it has pretty good footage on it. the album sounds great still.

 

[Ice_T's_Bobblehat]

The black album is the reason why St Anger pisses me off even more than the fact that it's total pap musically. Sonically perfect for me. Little would I know 11/12 years later, Lars would have ditched his fat snare in favour of a rusty old bin lid.

I remember the first time I watched that "year and a half" video and I just kept rewinding over and over the bit where Hetfield's double (probably decatracking) the Wherever I May Roam bridge riff.

If there were such thing as God, it would be James Hetfield's guitar tone 1988-1993.

 

[JoshSylosis]

Here's a vid of Metallica discussing the techniques used for recording the drums on the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJRyY5cyLts

Is that from the classic albums dvd?
It was on tv a few years ago and I recorded it but none of that footage was shown so maybe I need to buy the dvd if what i've got is cut down

 

[metalkingdom]

I hate the Black album. It sounds really nice, and Bob Rock is great...but the songs suck compared to MOP and RTL - at least from a true metal standpoint. The was the end for me and Metallica. Someone stole my cassette back in '91 and I never replaced it. But my wife owns it on CD...

When non-metal chicks dig it, I'm out.

 

[Matt Crooks]

I hate the Black album. It sounds really nice, and Bob Rock is great...but the songs suck compared to MOP and RTL - at least from a true metal standpoint. The was the end for me and Metallica. Someone stole my cassette back in '91 and I never replaced it. But my wife owns it on CD...

When non-metal chicks dig it, I'm out.

I'm with you. I remember using by CD to block the pocket of a pool table, and smashing it over and over.

My wife has it, so I could listen to it if I wanted, but why?

 

[TheStoryteller]

You guys are too "true" for your own good.

 

[metalkingdom]

I'm with you. I remember using by CD to block the pocket of a pool table, and smashing it over and over.

My wife has it, so I could listen to it if I wanted, but why?

I like to be in America
Okay by me in America
Everything free in America
For a small fee in America

'Nuff said.

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

I've been on both sides of this fence.

 

[Radd]

It sounds really nice, and Bob Rock is great...but the songs suck compared to MOP and RTL - at least from a true metal standpoint.

When non-metal chicks dig it, I'm out.

Yeah, I liked it when it came out but was disappointed that they went the more commercial rock route. Crap compared to everything before it. Still though I accepted it and got into it. Then right afterwards they exploded and became a household name and everyone and their mother was into it. That's when I said, "ok, I'm done".
I admit I do like the rock side of them but there's this resentment that comes with it for me for letting their thrash fans down. Been waiting for the next RTL or MOP since. Still waiting...
To bad it's not gonna happen.
I can't picture James going back to that vocal style ever again.

 

[Jaymz]

Black album commertial? I thought they went commertial AFTER the Black album, everything after that has gone downhill IMO. I prefer the creative songs and the production of the Black album. Too me it wins over Master of Puppets and Ill be dammned if somebody agrees with me

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Be damned then

 

[Jaymz]

 

[Ermz]

I feel like slapping a compressor over the entire album to bring those damn drums down in level. All I can hear is *click* *SNAP!* *click* *SNAP!* with possibly some slight hint of dull rectifier on both sides.

Aside from that, I agree. It's a great production and seems to have set the standard for a lot of modern metal material. I suppose given 9 months in one of the best studios around, you'd expect something landmark.