Let's start subtly... possibly the worst metallica album ever!! They wanted to make a "lo-fi/raw" album to go against the grain of overly produced nu-metal fad, yet they have no problem copying the musical style it self!!! Since when do metallica copy other bands?? and when they do they even copy bands that have copied bands that have copied bands that copied early metallica!! Talk about a tragic full circle! Even though load and re-load sucked, I can't honestly say I've heard any other band that did the same thing as them.
I have pretty much disliked everything metallica has done after "justice", but don't get me wrong... through the 90's I had faith that metallica would come around with an album that would please old fans like myself. Even through Lars' tango with napster I supported them in all the "metallica have sold out" arguments that I could. I had high hopes for this album, but not unrealistically high hopes; we are after all dealing with a band that hasn't produced anything but hard-core-country music in the last 7-8 years! I won't go as far as to say that this would be a "make or break" album for me, but I was fairly certain that my continuing respect for metallica would ride on this album... I got on, took a ride, and was severely bucked off!! I feel that metallica are further from their roots than they have ever been. Their dark imagery and demonic presence of old has been, permanently I fear, lost and replaced by misplaced anger, and the disgustingly sweet remorse that is a trip to a Californian celebrity re-hab clinic
Im glad youre better James, but damn! you need some cynicism back in your life!!
I would just like to sum up with the fact that I am completely in favor of a bands right to do what ever the hell it wants to with all aspects of its music and image
. I just dont have to like it.