The old Metallica is back?

[Chryst Krispies]

Lemmy, Halford, Chuck Billy.

"Old" guys, that sound perfect.

Because they have a passion for music, not for money. Granted, Lemmy's voice sounds more gravely than a busted up broken highway. But I hold pretty much any singer to the Halford standard.

I know that, I'm just saying not everyone can have the liver of Lemmy, Chuck's balls and Halford's shreiks.

So cut the guy a break,
I'm sure he must still love it because as everyone has said ten thousand times he has a ton of cash and he could pretty much disappear and live happily ever after but he WANTS to keep playing because he must enjoy it.

 

[MetalWorks]

I just think back to the days when they started and it seems that no one else is really having problems doing what they used to do.

James is 44 years old.

Chuck Billy does sound great on the new album by the way. (45 years old)

Tom Araya does the same old thing. (46 years old)

Max Cavalera (38)

Hell, Glen from Deicide sounds even better to me. (40 years old)

Chris Barnes from Cannibal to Six Feet Under (41 years old)

So I cant think of age as being an excuse as some mentioned previously.

Sure some of these bands started a few years later, but most of these guys sing much more brutal than James and still do it.

 

[MetalWorks]

I don't know if its because James is supposed to be sober or what, but any time I see him on camera he just looks like a different person that doesnt know what he is doing anymore. Its almost sad. Oh well, they have already done their part in molding metal.

Keep on movin on.

 

[Chryst Krispies]

I just think back to the days when they started and it seems that no one else is really having problems doing what they used to do.

James is 44 years old.

Chuck Billy does sound great on the new album by the way. (45 years old)

Tom Araya does the same old thing. (46 years old)

Max Cavalera (38)

Hell, Glen from Deicide sounds even better to me. (40 years old)

Chris Barnes from Cannibal to Six Feet Under (41 years old)

So I cant think of age as being an excuse as some mentioned previously.

Sure some of these bands started a few years later, but most of these guys sing much more brutal than James and still do it.

Dude none of these guys are really good vocalists. Billy being the exception.
At least in my mind.

Actually, now that I think of it.
King Diamond was born in 56 and he's still pretty killer vocally.
Maybe "Jaymz" just needs a swift kick to the nads.

 

[Radd]

Yeah, there's always something to be pissed off about even if you have it made in the shade.

They've shown that they can write kick ass METAL songs. I think they still could but find it harder to now and choose not too mainly for financial reasons.

Here's my theory:

I think it started with the black album that they just chose to lean more on the rock side in hopes of at least some commercial success and a bit more money. I'm guessing that they did slightly better than just getting by, which is still not nearly enough and were probably sick of the living poor lifestyle (who wouldn't be?).

So when they saw the massive success and money from the black album they needed to continue along that road going even more commercial rock oriented to (hope to) assure more of that good income (and to prove to themselves that they can do it) and they've continued to do so in order to maintain the lifestyle that anyone would want to have.
Otherwise they may have to sell a house and sports car.

Plus there are probably other factors involved like James's voice naturally changing from age and maybe hurting all the time from that vocal style and possibly getting bored with everything and wanting to prove that he can actually sing with melody and write classic heavy rock songs like he probably grew up on.

They obviously enjoy playing that rock style so it seems to be a win win situation for them and as for the hardcore fans of the old school Metallica... well, thats where I feel let down but what are going to do? They're not living their lives for us. Looking back, I can't blame them. With age comes maturity and responsibility. The brain chemistry changes, the fire may not remain as strong as it used to be (especially if you've accomplished everything that you set out to), the body changes (possible lack of energy, physical problems like back pain) and money is essential. Be poor your entire life or be set for life?

I wish they would go back to their thrash sound but if my theory above is true then I don't see that ever happening. Not seriously anyway.

Then again I look at Dave Mustaine who seems to be living rather well and still writes kick ass songs imo so I guess I just shot down that theory.

That's how I view Metallica though.

I shouldn't post this but I spent a lot of time on it so screw it. :Smug:

Someone should photoshop metallica to look like old men and post it to compliment the thread title.

 

[MetalWorks]

Dude none of these guys are really good vocalists. Billy being the exception.
At least in my mind.

Actually, now that I think of it.
King Diamond was born in 56 and he's still pretty killer vocally.
Maybe "Jaymz" just needs a swift kick to the nads.

It wasnt about being good vocalists.

It was about being able to do what they have been doing since day one.

And all of those guys do extremely aggressive vocals compared to James.

Im not bagging on James.

I just want to know what his deal is and would rather he come out and say, "We dont want to sound anything like the Old Metallica so don't ever expect that from us."

But it seems more like the latest albums are being built up like "Its heavy again" or "It sounds like Old School Metallica."

I keep thinking I have given up or dont care anymore and then someone makes that comment and it draws my attention again just to be dissappointed once more.

I'm always anxious to see if an old dog has new tricks.

 

[Chryst Krispies]

Yeah I hear that.

I fall for the "It's cool again" everytime.

 

[Josh Burgess]

Honestly, I started listening to Metallica in 8th grade (2000-2001) coming off the nu-metal thing and having just started playing guitar. They were my favorite band back then, but by the beginning of sophmore year in HS, I had discovered so much more music that just blew it out of the water (at that point I was just getting addicted to In Flames, for example) that I think of them as just such a dull band, even the older stuff. But then again, I find most thrash, especially from the 80s, to be really immature and boring sounding anyway (with a few exceptions, of course). I guess what I'm saying is that Metallica will always be the "just getting into metal when you don't know any better" band to me, and now that I've grown out of them long ago, I really couldn't care less what they do, and neither should all of you people arguing.

I think pretty much the same. I especially hate the vocals. Hate their style, their delivery, and their lyrics. Ridiculously cheesy sounding.

Heavy music has gone so far beyond that shit that there are hundreds upon hundreds of bands that blow them out of the water.

I can appreciate certain songs, but most of it just bores me. Maybe we're just too young to have any interest in it? Growing up around more modern and more extreme music (both technically and aurally lol) kinda makes us uninterested, I think...

 

[Exocaster]

I also liked load and re load but I think it got spread too thin, they could have had an album of black album quality had things been refined (and left the country channel off during the sessions)

I agree with this. Load especially is a solid '90s hard rock album. It's not Dirt or Superunknown- it's too uneven- but the best tracks from both of those would have made a hell of an album. And the mix is phenomenal. I think Reload's comparatively weak, especially lyrically, but I keep it around for the tones and production alone. (And the arrangements are pretty good. That's something they've always excelled at, I think, with St. Anger being the glaring exception to this rule. They always had well-crafted songs.)

 

[HatewerK]

I tell you what makes a huge difference tho and thats James doing the rhythms....

That has always been a trademark in old Metallica, and letting go of it made it all so loose and out of focus - thus the decay of the "thrashy" feel to their songs I guess..

Metallica have moved through musical styles, but always kept their trademarks into each and every one of them (before St.Anger and the Load/Reload duo), such as Jaymz doing all the rhythms, Lars's off-beat crash accents, hell even the lack of ride during the AJFA-Black Album times was a trademark (I remember the comeback of the ride cymbal being the first thing I noticed when the "Until it sleeps" single came out - that and a somewhat reminiscent feeling of Megadeth's "Angry Again" guitar work, backing vocals and general mood).

Should these things be back, that would be a subtle (compared to songwriting, I mean) but still important part of a good album.

 

[abyssofdreams]

From Kill 'em All to the Black Album, I have yet to find a band in ANY genre that wrote soo many quality classics in a row. Genesis comes close, Michael Jackson too(!) but in metal, that's the only band I will always look up to songwriting-wise. Regardless of what crap they might output today. Metallica for me IS metal, they don't just play it if that makes sense. Their music had some extra ingredient other bands lack (most of the time). For me James' vocals are extraordinary, you don't have to like 'em, I can see that but they fit the music soo well and it's one of those voices you'll recognize instantly, same with their music in general. First time I listened to Metallica sooooo many years ago I was completely blown away, it was like someone opened my eyes about how beautiful and exciting something could sound.

Also, I don't expect them to record one quality record after another, in fact, on that high standard it's fairly impossible, be it age, lack of creativity/writes strike whatever.
They did sooo much for me and the experience will last my lifetime.

And back OT, old Metallica will never come back but instead of whining all the time I just put some Master of Puppets into my player and get some kicks out of it.
They've put some magic into their records and that magic doesn't expire, at least not for me.

 

[neverpurify]

I'm with you there. Just treasure the old stuff. And maybe who knows, they will put out something that will interest me again.

One thing that I think makes a big difference is when a band hits it big and stops writing material, thrashing it out in rehearsal and a few shows and THEN going into the studio to record the songs that they are now familar with. It just feels different to me to listen to a metal album that is written among the band and rehearsed rather than written in the studio. This being said, I look forward to seeing how Rick Rubin helps shape things up in contrast to Bob Rock.

 

[axeman720]

Am I the only person that actually likes the way Lars plays? I actually think hes good because hes the whole groove to metallica. OK, he may not be the flashiest player but at least he's on the backbeat. I was chatting to an inside person the otherday who been down to their studio and listened in, said it was sounding very old school but like all you guys say, that hungers got to be there, and lets face it, if we'd sold 100 million albums, the whole concept of life is going to seem a tad different, nevermind that thing called down picking.

I agree with you, i was just having this conversation the other day actually. I was pondering if metallica would have been as successful had they had a drummer as good as Lombardo, or especially charlie benante was at the time. I think the lars' arrangement chops and ability to stay out of the way really propelled the band to a higher stratosphere because people were focusing on the songs, not one particular instrument (besides vocals) as much as other bands.

I think lars' was sloppy and awful, but perfect for metallica. They are certainly a band that is greater than the sum of their parts. By themselves the only truly impressive one was james, but together... unstoppable.

 

[Savo]

For the people saying they sold out and lost their hunger and agression from the black album on - whos to say they weren't just bored after playing 10 years or so of thrash practically every night for 10 years and wanted to try something else.

I dont think, they sold out. I think they just fancied a change, a change of tempo etc... I think for them, sticking to the thrash thing when their hearts werent in it just because their fans wanted them to would be selling out.

Maybe after not doing the thrash, faster stuff for 10-20 years they just genuinely feel like doing it again - just for a change and a new challenge. Maybe theres no more to it than it. It doesnt all have to be concious decisions about making money. Maybe they just really wanted a change for themselves.

We listen to Metallica albums maybe once a month or two, they have to play them EVERY night, year after year on tour. Imagine how boring that would get after a while. Of course youd want to record something totally different just to keep you interested.

As for St Anger. I think watching the DVD is obvious that sucked because they couldn't be bothered arguing. Not becuase they "lost it". The band was on the verge of breaking up. When you see the Year and half in the life of video you saw them argue over every little decision trying to make sure everything was as good as it could possibly be. By St Anger they were sick of arguing, sick of each other and rather than disagree with someone and cause another row and maybe break up the band they maybe had the "Yea whatever, leave it there so....." attitude. Especially with the lyrics where everybody wrote them and maybe sometimes James thought they sucked but in the whole spirit of what they were doing at the time decided to give other people a say, give others some input into the songwriting etc...

It obviously didnt work though so i hope James is back taking no crap on this one and doing the majority of the stuff himself

 

[Descent]

I agree with you, i was just having this conversation the other day actually. I was pondering if metallica would have been as successful had they had a drummer as good as Lombardo, or especially charlie benante was at the time. I think the lars' arrangement chops and ability to stay out of the way really propelled the band to a higher stratosphere because people were focusing on the songs, not one particular instrument (besides vocals) as much as other bands.

I think lars' was sloppy and awful, but perfect for metallica. They are certainly a band that is greater than the sum of their parts. By themselves the only truly impressive one was james, but together... unstoppable.

spot on. lars is and always was technically crap but his playing is part of metallica and because of his lack of ability/understanding of drumming he actually comes up with pretty original stuff and creates good energy in the songs (well he used to).

And i think those new tunes sound cool. yeah its a bit wierd hearing tallica sound like that now after trivium, bullet etc have ripped off that sound, but i dont like the latest albums by either of those bands so i dont really care. A good metallica album is all any of us want, i dont care what style it is as long as it is good, if they make a good old school thrash album, fine by me.

And people who point out that is 'conveniant' that they have gone back to old school thrash now that it is popular again and brought back solos now they are popular again etc are probably spot on, but unfortunately thats the hollywood/mtv type mentality. Most yank bands do it, machine head started rapping, dream theatre had scratching, a7x ditched aggressive vocals, that marc rizzo guy never solo'd in soulfly despite the fact he is an awesome shredder etc. its a follow the leader mentality, just do whatever sells. Not all bands of course but i do think it happens more in the states. Just my opinion.

 

[wishtheend]

I found as I got older, I really had a larger appreciation for the music I grew up with (dylan, the doors, cream, etc) compared to what I listened to on my own as a teenager. I think Metallica's direction for Load/Reload is perfectly natural for their age and I love some of the songs. King Nothing still kicks my ass everytime.

As for Lars, call it as you see it - but he's one of the few drummers that I would only need to hear the drumbeat to know what song it is. He may not be the fastest, or most technical, but his beats are just as signature to a song as the vocals or guitar licks. Hell, Metallica is that one band where I can whistle every solo (air guitar in hand), tap out every beat - pretty much just play in my head. That's a lot more than I can say about Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth etc.

 

[zakky]

sounds good to me too it has that black album vibe to it metallica is metallica thats their style

 

[scorpio01169]

I am surprised that no one mentioned a big reason none of the newer Metallica albums sound like the great kill,em or RTL, or MOP....Cliff Burton (my hero)(the reason i play metal bass).....he wrote most of or a lot of those songs. yeah Metallica isnt what they used to be, and it's disappointing for old school guys like me. but you also have to look at this, most of the bands we are listining to today are spawned off Metallica and went just a little more extreme so they wouldnt come off trying to be metallica.

 

[Fabbio]

Seriously, I'm the only one that thinks that having such amounts of money brings a lot of worries about managing them?

Metallica are a corporation that gives work to a lot of people and surely they have the right professionals to take care of a lot but they have an eye on the commercial. Always since the success of the black album.
I get very sidetracked sometimes even managing my minimum wage of 1100 euros monthly, imagine to manage an income with many zeroes...

And James seems indeed a little lost but he's stopped drinking for good so that's the 2008's James. No turning back, I'm afraid.
They have the chug back, though, by having him doing all the the rhythms again.

As for the statement that there are a lot of better and technical bands around...
For the guys that are born after the mid eighties: when the black album made its breakthrough the internet didn't exist. The iPod was a crazy man thought. In a sea of U2s and Simple Minds, the heaviest and most exciting sounds and songs were from Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. The underground was... ..underground really.
The Black album has been the missing link from the classic radio rock and the METAL. A lot of bands still recording and touring today would have been disbanded years ago if it wasn't for the success of the black album.
Discovering Metallica back then was discovering the Alliance Ark. Discovering their back catalogue was opening it.
Then it was impossible to stop and you would begin to search and appreciate metal in its many nuances.
Nowadays you can check all sorts of technical crazy stuff that back then was impossible to because it wouldn't have a distribution anywhere.

And as for Lars being 'sloppy'... ...maybe live due to factors as age, tiring lenghty shows, touring (no matter the luxury in which you travel, being on tour for months IS grueling), substances assimilated....

...but in the studio he's never been sloppy! John Densmore from the Doors was sloppy in studio. Ringo Starr was. Not Lars, please!

 

[Andy Sneap]

yup, no denying Mr Burton, met him way back on the puppets tour, seemed very chilled out down to earth chap. Real shame.