Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Not my speed but it was fine.
Yeah! Fine in a certain mood. Couldn't make it through it while working though.
First metallica listen I had a few standouts most of the same stuff I expected from a later metallica album. Need to listen to the other albums to judge.
Might be a grower but liked Master of Puppets better
Album had incredible sound and production for being made in the early 90s. Some great tracks but overall not my vibe
Catching up. Fun but a bit samey.
Enter Sandman aside I do always feel Metallica brought the riffs but not the songs
The sandman has entered, he was a charming guest. Next to that, wherever I may roam was a standout. Pretty awesome headbangin rhythms as to be expected 🤘
Pretty fine hard rock, basic heavy metal. The singles are overplayed, and the deep cuts are a mixed bag, but I can’t argue with its essential status. C
Thought it was well done but I’m just not a fan of the music really
Ubiquitous album when it came out, that shit was on the radio. About when teenage me had turned his back on not only Metallica but leather and rivets metal in general. Those songs are all very familiar still and for a brief moment, between Sad But True and The Unforgiven, I had a good time with them - a better time even, possibly, than today me had while going into ...And Justice For All (#262) just a week ago. But pfffft. Typing this as I go along and I just paused Of Wolf And Men - I'm past bored already. I think I'm gonna stick with my expectations of how I'd rate these. This may be the objectively better=more rounded album out of the two, but I - just like at 17 - simply don't care for it. It's great for a bout of Kirk Hammett appreciation, I'll give it that.
Can appreciate it's good but just not really my thing
The last listenable Metallica. Still, I'd sooner put on / recommend Ride the lightning or Masters of Puppets
Enter sandman can't fault it. And ofcourse Nothing Else Matters. Other tracks didnt grab me but pretty much all of them had cool solos. 2nd last track was very Satriani-esque.
I like the earlier stuff better but this this at my 90’s heart strings.
Hadn’t given this album a listen in 15+ years. Starts off really strong but the last few songs are the weakest on the album and so it fizzles out with four rather samey tracks. Dare I say that the spoke. Word style in the middle of ‘Of Wolf and Man’ is quite Mustaine-esq…
Not bad some good songs but pretty samey
OHH I REMEMBER THIS ONE. It was AGES ago so I’ll be a coward and rate it three. The world knows you deserve better. Sos
Going from Nothing Else Matters to Of Wolf and Men is like the juxtaposition of my two moods. I usually don’t like this kind of music but this shit bangs… 3.5/5
2nd time listening 6/10
Heavy Metal not my bag but these are better than most and couple of excellent tracks on here
probably *the* classic of its genre and so influential
This was pretty good. Not really my jam, but good for what it is.
They only did two good albums and this isn't one of them. Having made those two great albums, they decided they should make a popular album... and that undeniably worked. I was just the right age for this when it came out (17) and having discovered Metallica in my teen years was keenly looking forward to the new album, and yeah I liked it at the time, it got a lot of plays. Listening to it now I really don't like much of it, seems a real retrograde step for the band. It's just soft and easy, and the longer tougher songs are a bit boring and aimless, and what's with all the redneck shit on 'Don't tread on me'? The production is horrible, sounds like an old cassette. This signalled the beginning of Metallica's decay into irrelevance and global success. Which seems to have gone just fine, but I never bought or listened to another thing of theirs after this really. I grew up I suppose. Saw them live at Reading in 2003. They were shit. Shout out to Kirk though, flawless widdly-woo guitar on this.
Not my cup of tea but I get it
mane ion wanna listen to this shit this album is making realize how awesome nu-metal is i wish this was nu-metal. if linkin park made this album would be eating it up do not want to meet the person who favorite track on this album is don't tread on me. NO FUCKING WAY THIS IS THE ORIGIN FOR THE GADSEN WTF LMAOOOO. they created a monster thats so bad holy shit i feel so bad for them (after more research they became the anthem for the gadsen and it was just a coincidence, crazy)
Dentro del metal son buenos, pero no encuentro el momento de escucharlos.
A lot of filler for a classic album, but the hits are essential
Lard best drumma HYEAYEAAAAH
Not a metallica fan. However, good rock with some classics mixed in. Got a bit repetitive but didnt lose me. Kids reckon this is 5/5 😂
It's not one of the best albums from Metallica but still decent 3.5
Wanted to get into this one but I just don’t think I’m ever going to be a Metallica fan. Enter Sandman is a hall of fame opener to an album though and is worth an extra star.
The point where Metallica started to transition from the pre-eminent heavy metal/thrash metal band of the 80’s (and possibly of all time), to a bunch of washed-up country rockers. There’s a lot of filler here, but there’s also plenty of flashes of the old magic. ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘Sad But True’, ‘Holier Than Thou’, ‘The Unforgiven’ and Wherever I May Roam’ are all big, anthemic hard rockers, while ‘Nothing Else Matters’ is a power metal ballad up there with their best one, ‘Fade To Black’. While Metallica’s change of direction to a more mainstream hard rock sound generally works here, for me, this album is just not as cohesive or satisfying as their previous records, even if it is their most commercially successful.
Il live album interminabile di qualche mese fa era meglio
volevo davvero che mi piacesse più di così, ma il live me l'ha rovinato.
Boh avevo bassime aspettative ma mi è piaciuto Ringrazio Michi per averlo messo nella ruota
Fav: The Unforgiven Least Fav: Don’t Tread On Me
Okei...
Not a huge Metallica fan. A lot of the songs sound the same to me. Favorites were The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam, and Nothing Else Matters.
I'm not really a Metallica fan, but I enjoyed this album. The singles are the standout tracks, I also enjoyed Sad but True.
A lot of the songs sound the same. But Enter Sandman goes crazy hard and so do most of the riffs. Good workout album, definitely well put together, requires a little love of the band. Also what's up with the America riff from West Side Story in Don't Tread on Me lol.
listened to this bc im studying and its not as metally as I wanted it to be and also im so fkn grumpy because I forgot to turn in a homework that I know I did good on because I literally sat in OH doing it and double checked my answers. thats besides the point but I wasn't in the mood to enjoy this. the hold school has on me is so stupid and dumb and whoever said no late homework is a poopy head. grrrrr
It's Back in Black for the 90s. It's the beginning of METALLICA--not the Diamond Head cribbing beer mooks roughly becoming becomingThrash Kings--but authentic Cocaine Jet Set stadium draws. Outside of a select few, the work always suffers, and the suffering starts here. Basically, I recognize this is a lot of people's face, so good on that . Me, I didn't give a fuck then, don't give a fuck now. I mean, it's not like they're Anthrax.
starts out strong, gotta give it up for Enter Sandman, despite its overplayedness, then Sad But True is good and later on Wherever I May Roam kinda goes... besides those you're left with 45 minutes of forgettable to serviceable music
There are some good songs
So much better than my expectations
I preferred the dynamic of S&M over this studio recording, but it’s still alright.
'Enter Sandman' is a blast, the rest is ok. Plenty of people in the world seem to love Metallica. I'm not that fussed about it.
The one song is pretty cool for that alone 3 stars the rest pah.
Couple of crowd pleasers, couple of generic tracks, couple of duff ones.
I have a new respect for the solo in Unforgiven”. This album was listened to a lot in the high school football weight room
My opinion of Metallica hasn't changed much in 30+ years. Meh. But I will give this one point each for Sandman, Unforgiven, and Nothing Else. Mostly for Sandman and the Mariano.
It’s enjoyable enough. It’s kind of worse as an album than if you were to listen to any of the songs alone, though, since most of the songs are in the same key and the instrumentation generally shifts between one type of heavy and the occasional soft. Still fine, though.
The singles are super familiar to me from rock radio, but I had never heard this entire album. The album is extremely consistent, but personally I don't need such a large dose of those riffs and that singing. I can hear in it some qualities that later music I really liked would pick up and play off. Lyrically .... laughably obvious rhymes and clunky constructions abound. If I gave it a 4 it would be for Enter Sandman ... I think I'm giving it a 3 though.
Я как будет работать Napster при Металлике? 7/10
A band getting their big breakthrough is always great. But when they have to sacrifice the part of themselves that made them desirable in the first place in order to achieve that level of fame, it’s unfortunate. Metallica’s entrance into the 90s after leading the charge of the growing movement of thrash metal during the 80s isn’t their best effort. Not by any means. Any die hard fan would agree with that. And this album marked the fall of the band. It’s basically only been downhill from here on out. But this isn’t completely worthless. There are still some redeeming qualities about these songs that make them worth coming back to. From a production standpoint, this is one of their best efforts ever. They probably had a bigger budget than ever before backing them up, and they put it to good use. The biggest change is that, yes, you can in fact hear Jason’s bass. But the guitars and drums also sound very punchy and full. And this is still a Metallica album. So you still have the same songwriters behind it. And these are people who know how to write very catchy hooks and choruses. Songs like Sad but True, or the massive hit Enter Sandman, are instantly recognizable, and could probably be considered classics at this point. Although I could probably go the rest of my life without ever hearing the latter song again and be fine with it. Where the issues with this album arise is when you get into the actual meat and potatoes. When you look at it from a songwriting perspective, and you compare it to the rest of their catalog up until this point, these are some of the least interesting songs they ever made. And not nearly as ambitious and creative. Basically all of the powerful and speedy heaviness that made them an icon of thrash is absent. Even the heaviest songs on this album don’t come close to some of the highlights of their early career, like Battery or the second half of One. Those last 3 songs alone is probably some of the most generic music I’ve ever heard from these guys. There is also some silly lyrics here and there. Like, saying “You are holier than thou” doesn’t make much sense. Because he’s basically just saying you are holier than you. Is he talking to more than one person? I don’t know, I found it silly. The way that I see it is that they were already like one of, if not the biggest metal band in the world at this time. Did they really need to go any more commercial? But clearly it worked, so who am I to judge? And this is purely my opinion. Because people love this album for what it is, which is great. But when I want to listen to Metallica, this is probably the last of their first five big records that I would go to. Rating: 6/10
Definitive Metallica -Enter Sandman -Of Wolf and Man
The beginning of the end for Metallica...? An exaggeration to some and a spiteful declaration to many. This is the record where Metallica opt for trying to make radio hits because they were either bored of their sound and wanted to head in a new direction or they wanted money and mainstream success, or perhaps a bit of both. With that being said, they definitely ended up succeeding. The songwriting overall is solid and the tracks are all expertly produced, the hits here really are worthy of their renown. The divisiveness that this record is (in)famous for seems to arise mostly from the divergence of their original sound (and the deluge of mediocrity that followed). This 'divergence' is certainly felt at times, the album is on the whole less creative and much safer than what came before. On its own however, the record still manages to stand on its own two feet. Sure, It's definitely not mind-blowing. It certainly lacks some depth and can be basic at times, but it accomplishes what it set out to do; make bangers that'll enter the mainstream, much to the chagrin of those who would bestow upon them the title of sell-out.
Don’t usually like metal but this one is decently mainstream and accessible. Helps that it has a couple recognizable hits.
A great moment in time for music. Not to my ears but deserving of appreciation.
Klassikkoralleja ja ei-omaan-makuun-istuvia muista kappaleita
some storming tracks, but some dull bluster too.
People tell you about darkness. This will occur. Music will try to do the same. Sometimes. This album walks the line of both of these occurrences. It is somehow a black album and also not at all dark. Nothing this popular could ever be dark really, not the way really moving music might be. The songs might be quasi great, I really have no idea, but the album blows. Because look at it. Look at it in the 21st century. Metallica is lawn mower music.
This album was a letdown to me when it first came out. It's since grown on me a little but hard to compare it to the feeling of listening to Master of Puppets or Kill 'Em All for the first time.
Iconic instrumental work. Songwriting and vocal work leaves something to be desired honestly. I’d find myself dreading when the solos ended.
Took a while to sink into but started to like it by the end. Trying to get more into metal. One thing about the genre is a lot of songs sound the same.
Well-composed with ripping guitar, bass, and drums. Add strong vocals and semi-biblical lyricism and you have the black album. Iconic to be sure. Not my cup of tea, but iconic.
Obviously a banger, but I've just never liked Metallica.
probably the best metal album i’ve tried
Metallica is never really going to be my favorite, but you can't quit on an album that has 'Enter Sandman' and 'Nothing Else Matters'. both are ICONIC songs, and just incredible listens all around. i think this album as a whole is a fine listen.i think the Wikipedia description sums it up perfectly, they they moved away from thrash metal, and went for a refined, melodic style. i dig that more than thrash metal as a whole, so all in all it was an enjoyable album
If Metallicas earlier albums were a solids 4 or 5, this one’s a solid 3.
Great album, but not really my type. I did like the song wherever I may roam, I got stuck in my head
Pretty bood
Qué hace Ennio Morricone en este album? Escuche la versión en vivo en Moscow. Niceeee, I like it! 🌼 estuve leyendo para Políticas Públicas, Territorio y Cultural de la Universidad mientras escuchaba. Nada mal para levantar el tiempo de estudio.
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a Metallica album from beginning to end, but I guess this was the one to start with. Of the songs I know, a bunch of them were on this album. The pacing was solid with a good mixture of songs that absolutely rocked and slowed ballads. I’ll obviously listen to songs like Enter Sandman, Sad But True, and Nothing Else Matters again, I just don’t know if I’d go all the way back through again.
There are some big hit on here and I feel like I need to give it a 4, but if I'm honest with myself it's a 3.
3.5/5
Solid, still not a Metallica head
Some strong material among some filler. Breaking up the monotony are good instrumental sections and tasteful, thought out drum work. I feel It goes on longer than it needs to.
Like
A polarizing band so I need to start with a disclaimer, I am not a Metallica fan and I am not a Metallica hater. I never seek them out (except Whiskey in a Jar, there version slaps) but I don't change the radio if they come on. Critically listening...same cords and beats over and over and the lyrics are just cliché one liners over and over. But maybe that is part of the appeal and why they are mainstream? Overall we as humans are not as deep as we want to believe and we like something we can understand and connect with quickly. But does that make them exceptional musicians? Nope. Does that make them popular in a genre that wants to be different and go against the grain? Nope. But the psychology behind creating hit after hit (like pop music) in a genre where other bands can't do that, that is a talent.
oh this album. I saw Metallica at the Civic Center for this tour. I was pretty close to the front. It was rock'n. There is some music that I still like from when I was a teenager. There is some music that I just do not. Partly because I listened to it so much I'm kinda done with it. And that's okay for that to happen. I like the guitar work and the music but as a 50 year old adult the lyrics don't really grab me, nor take me back to fond memories. Mostly teenage angst and misplaced outrage. But hey, James Hetfield spit beer on us at that concert and I was pretty stoked about that at the time for whatever reason.
Not a big fan of metal but I quite enjoyed this one!
Good but not my jam
Their last good album. Tinged with nostalgia as I was a huge fan until Nevermind came out at the same time as this.
Good album, like most people I prefer others on theirs, but there are definitely some quality songs on here.
I hadn’t listened to this album in a very long time. It still stands up as a very approachable metal album. I prefer And justice for all as a complete album but there are certainly a few kickers on their eponymous album.
It’s not bad necessarily, there’s some good songs in it, the problem is that so many of the songs on the album are nearly the same song. If you’d only ever heard the highlights of it (which I had) you’d probably be surprised that it’s not a more well loved album but after listening to it in its entirety it does come across as uninspired. It’s the first album I’ve rated where I think the average song quality is pretty high but the album quality I’d say is fairly low, I’d be tempted to give it a 2 honestly, sad, but true.
Maybe it’s just that Enter Sandman is overplayed, but on this listen I felt strongly that Nothing Else Matters is the best song here. I’d cut 3-4 songs, or I’d make all the songs about a minute shorter. Not sure how many songs need two or three guitar solos. Not sure how many 7-minute epics I need on one album, especially when a song has only minor shifts in dynamics (looking at you, uh, every song except NEM). I didn’t hate anything, and in fact saved several songs to my playlist, but it’s doubtful I’m going to seek out this album in whole again. It’s a collection of songs I like that somehow doesn’t work for me as an album. So, like a 3.5?
It was okay! I am a fan of some of the tracks but there's filler there. Have tried to get into Metallica a few times but it doesn't seem to stick for me. Fave tune: Sad But True
I guess Metallica is the logical musical extension of Black Sabbath. Driving music , that doesn't really appeal to me in my old age. It is tight and well produced, I recognize that. The drumming is relentless.
Two songs make this record and the rest are not that different from each other.
Kinda good.
The Unforgiven is Ennio Morricone with a distortion pedal. Lars Ulrich is a pretty pedestrian drummer and overall holds them back. Kirk Hammet plays very nice melodic solos. When comes in at the end of Nothing Else Matters is a highlight moment here. Don't Tread on Me and Of Wolf and Man are low points here. I still dig it, but not like I did in middle school are early high school.
Another album that I listened to non-stop when it was released, but that maybe hasn't aged that well. The first half of the album is incredibly strong, but it runs out of steam.
It didn’t convince me of anything I didn’t already know about Metallica (I’m still not a huge fan of Hetfield as a vocalist), but it is a good metal album with good pacing.
Ancestors of Metal.
I like the music but the singer not much…
Not something I’ll listen to again. Metallica has better hits and better deep cuts on multiple different albums. I want to give it a 4, but the truth is I’ll never listen to any of these songs by choice.
More like MIDtallica 🤣🤣🤣
Classic
I knew all the singles on this, and that’s pretty much all I needed. It lacks the edge to be considered really great, I tend to agree with most hardcore Metallica fans that their earlier stuff is better, this does feel like an attempt to please everyone, and it worked as more people probably know Enter Sandman than most songs you’ll come across on this list. It’s overall fine, nothing terrible and a few real standouts but nothing beyond that.
Didn’t realize so many hits were on one album. I don't love all of their jams, and fuck them for their RIAA bullshit in the 00s, so can't give it more than 3.
I really should get back into this Metal gear. Solid.
"The troubled production coincided with Ulrich, Hammett, and Newsted divorcing their wives" - You can't convince me this isn't divorced man music.
I don't really like metal, so can't rate this too high. The Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters are classic songs that I love very much, but I don't really like the rest. His voice is good though, but musically it's nothing great.
Not horrible.
There are for sure some moments of musical transcendence on here. The drum intro to Sad But True. Even the plucky guitar ending Nothing Else Matters. I remember picking away at these tracks when I was 15. Ultimately this album feels stuck in that time. I know it moved the genre forward but lots of rhyming by numbers and kinda juvenile lyrics. Good but not great, IMHO.
Cool
2.5/5 I just don’t like metal my bad
Okay. Just okay.
Starting with this album I don’t think Metallica should call themselves Metallica anymore. They kind of stopped being a metal band and veered into hard rock on this album. But Hard Rockica just doesn’t have the same ring to it as Metallica. With their transition to hard rock, Metallica made a decent album. Honestly for a lot of bands this would be a great album, but Metallica was coming off an amazing three album run. This album doesn’t come close to those. It has a few good songs but most are just ok to forgettable. All I’m saying is they better have ride the lightning, master of puppets, and …and justice for all on this list if this album is gonna be on it. I get that this is Metallica’s mainstream success album, but it’s not their best.
It's a good album but a bit soft for my regular Metallica taste
Not my favourite Metallica record but it definitely bangs. A bit bloated but obviously has some of their biggest hits. Fav songs: - Enter Sandman - Nothing Else Matters
This was one of those albums where you don't really realize the songs are progressing.
Heavy metal. Knew some from Guitar Hero. A bit too much for all at once but 2-3 are good.
Decent. Good working music. Never knew I could like metal
honestly loved a couple songs, but the rest were not really my vibe
No jaa onhan tämä tällainen siirtymä hevanderista valtavirran suuntaan. Ymmärrän miksi on listalla mutta eipä tää mikään kummonen juttu itselle enää ole. Pentuna kyllä tykkäsin enemmänkin. Omistan tästä vinyylinä jenkkiorkkiksen mikä taitaakin olla kokoelmani arvokkain levy. Sattumalta sain sen haltuuni. Vois vaikka myydä. Kai tän voi parin vuoden välein kuunnella, erityisesti nyt kun meen kesällä katsomaan Metallicaa... Koska en oo koskaan nähnyt ennen. 3/5
"The Black Album" by Metallica is the sonic equivalent of ordering a medium steak at a gourmet restaurant—reliable, satisfying, but not exactly a culinary adventure. Released in 1991, it's the album where Metallica decided to slow dance with the mainstream, leaving some fans staring longingly at the mosh pit of their thrash metal roots. Tracks like "Enter Sandman" and "Nothing Else Matters" are so ubiquitous, they've become the background music to everything from road trips to grocery store aisles. It's an album that doesn't so much demand your attention as politely request it, offering up a platter of well-crafted, heavy rock tunes that are hard to hate but easy to hum. James Hetfield's voice has never sounded more polished, and the production quality is as sharp as a new set of steak knives—clean, precise, and engineered to a T. The band's shift to a slower, more radio-friendly sound was a gamble that paid off, making them household names but leaving a portion of their fanbase feeling a bit like they just watched their favorite dive bar turn into a Starbucks. 3.5 stars for "The Black Album." It's the musical equivalent of a blockbuster movie—big, bold, and full of special effects, but not likely to change the way you see the world. Still, like that medium steak, it's undeniably good, even if part of you wishes you'd ordered something a bit more daring.
Some stellar songs. Most are pretty mid. 3.41 per track.
Ça bouge, c'est pas mal.
Sad but true.
Garth Brooks of Metal
5/10 Modem Metallica is meh.
A few great songs...many other middle of the road tunes.
On ne muutamat hyvät biisit ja sitten on Metallica-biisit, jotka ovat kaikki samanlaisia ja siksi niputettavissa paitsi Sad but true joka on todella hyvä. Mut siis sinänsä pidän siitä kuinka tavallaan tosissaan nämä ovat ja kuinka ovat tällä levyllä mestareita omassa soundissaan.
Metallica at their absolute peak. 2.75 stars
Not into metal - but found it pretty good.
favourite: enter sandman, the unforgiven + some other ones least favourite: holier than thou it's metallica
Pretty solid throughout. Only throw away track is "Nothing Else Matters". It feels like the boring brother to "One".
In meiner kleinen Sammlung befindet sich auch ein Album von Metallica, Master of Puppets von 1986. Nachdem ich das "Black Album" jetzt gehört habe, muss ich sagen, dass es dagegen abfällt. Ja, jede Menge Smash Hits, einige auch tauglich fürs Formatradio. Aber die maschinenhafte Energie des 86er Albums fehlt mir.
Objectively the intro hard rock and metal album for many individuals. It was mine for a time too. Many of my peers cited this as their foyer in metal. For me my tastes have grown but subjectively this album is a good started for those who crave more than just rock and roll. It is a blended hard rock/metal album though. Its not the heaviest thing, but sonically and track wise its a good start.
i thought metallica was way harder than this aha
Alright, Sandman and Nothing else matters are easily the best two tracks, the rest sounds like filler
Good
Did not dislike it as much as I expected to, but probably also wouldn't come back to it for a re-listen.
Not my type of music but it's cool anyway
Not as good as I remember it.
Metalnumre man kender, god energi hvis det endelig skal være
A solid album, I liked Enter Sandman and Wherever I May Roam the most.
I very rhythmic and influential album. The lyrics sometimes compliment the grittiness of the songs. Some of the songs drag on a little, as if you would be banging your head and knocking into people during the repetition. "Enter Sandman" is such an iconic song, and "Struggle Within" is a great closer. 3.5 stars
Feels like listening to one long song instead of an album. Only exception is the Song "Nothing Else Matters". In my Opinion it lacks in variation
This album is listenable which is something the prior Metallica album isn't. This isn't the obnoxious yeah metal machine gun drum stuff. It's slower and the songs have a more traditional song structure. At times it's seems less metal and not hard rock. Those are the times I considered actually listening to this again but the end of the album was back to what I don't like about metal.
A real heart banger
More like Midtallica.
Enter Sandman is a classic, nothing else on the album stuck out to me
It's probably a 4 star album but I just don't love Metallica...
They're competent musicians, certainly, but I can't remove their public selves from their work. Self-important blowhards who acted like they invented heavy metal, this album was massively overplayed when I was younger, and it's not gotten better with age for me.
I get it, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to it.
I went in with an open mind, I'm certainly no metal head. "Enter Sandman" will always make me think of the great Mariano Rivera. I dug the production, one of the best sounding metal records I've heard. Some good head bangers. But at the end of the day, I was not blown away, and did not do much to change my general opinion of Metallica.
Probably very good but I really don’t value it.
It's tough because overall Metallica sucks but they do have gems. Nothing Else Matters is a good song, Enter Sandman has a killer build and Wherever I May Roam is very tight. This album has some chaff but some very solid songs.
Enter Sand Man I give a 3 out of 5. Nothing Else Matters I like. The rest is kind of corny and a bit 2 dimensional sounding.
I understand the importance of this album but it is definitely not my thing. Enter Sandman is a great song but this just isn't for me.
It had two of my favorite Metallica songs on it.
Big sound like army Marching toward death and darkness Heart beats in time. Rock.
Never really got into Metallica. They have some good stuff but overall they are kind of hit and miss with me. That being said, the black album has many of the ones I was previously familiar with.
Lo mismo que el anterior.
Yeah baby, accessible metal. I had this beast when I was at Uni - loved the edge to a couple of the billion stream bangers, but honestly couldnt remember any of the filler tracks. Still - worth a few stars for some epic riffery
Excellent overall with a couple outstanding tracks.
•Not owned: Streaming •Meticulous production and great use of tempo and riffs. •3.5/5
Not really my cup of tea
It's fine, I get why it's a classic because it was different then but now it just sounds pretty generic to me.
Grrrrrr rughhhh.
Lots of talent on here, makes even metal listenable. A couple of songs that are part of American culture.
A few bangers
The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters ...aún así ...
Fetter Rocksound. Klassiker. Nicht alles mein Stil. Stereogitarren.
Parts of the music are interesting, and lyrics are catching, but I find the general tone to be harsh. The hard beats wear on me before too long. No surprise that I like the softer songs better.
forgot how many metallica hits are from this album.
not my typical genre but was still an enjoyable listen
Highlights: Enter Sandman* The Unforgiven Wherever I May Roam Nothing Else Matters Don't Tread on My sampling the music from "America" in the musical West Side Story is great music writing. This album was great at its peak and forgettable for a lot of it. Songs like Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters are metal music at its peak but many of the other tracks were mostly forgettable and slightly repetitive. This seems like a great album to listen to if you want background noise that involves heavy drums and guitars. I will definitely continue to listen to the good songs on the album but I dont plan on re-listening to the whole thing anytime soon.
Not much to say about this one. Main stream metal album that I didn't find to be all that unique. Solid quality but nothing that really sets it apart these days. Fav songs: wherever I may roam, nothing else matters.
Heavy metal has never been my genre. However, it wasn't a bad listening experience. Not sure if I would listen again but I understand it's importance.
This is probably where my opinions of Metallica become confusing for even me. I know this is one of those game changer albums. The kind of album that makes an industry pivot and creates generations upon generations of musicians. I also don't really care for about half of this album. The songs that are memorable are very much so but everything else is especially forgettable. I don't know what to say about this album that hasn't been said. It's not my favorite Metallicka album but it does have some of my favorite singles. I like that I can hear a creative evolution. I can respect a band doing something different and it's cool when it works out. Anyway, not a bad album. 3.5
3.5 I used to not be able to stand Metallica, but they’re a group I’ve learned to appreciate in the more recent years of my life (see: my review of S&M). They really do have a lot of great songs that I used to write off before, and a lot of them are here on this album - Nothing Else Matters, The Unforgiven, Sad But True, and of course, Enter Sandman. As a less cynical (or maybe more seasoned) music fan now, I really appreciated their inclusion here. As for the rest of the album, there’s nothing unenjoyable, but it’s a lot of the same kind of thing in a less remarkable form, making this whole thing feel kind of one-note, especially for its duration. I found myself really enjoying the album at the gym as it kicked off, but around the time Nothing Else Matters concluded, I was ready for it to start wrapping up - especially being that the four songs that follow it are probably the least remarkable stretch of songs on the album. A handful of great songs here that I’ll be revisiting, but I’m not sure how often I’ll be giving this thing a full listen - really wish this just would have ended with Nothing Else Matters. Still, much higher than I probably would have rated any Metallica album five or so years ago, so for better or for worse, my musical taste is broadening a bit.
Though many will accuse them of selling out with this album, I'd argue it was more of a gradual decline, not an overnight drop. Fortunately, on Black Album they were still able to give us a decent few classics. Enjoyable, but hardly essential. Three bells out of five tolling for you 🔔🔔🔔
We know all the hits around here, but it has been a long time since I listened to the whole thing start to finish. It's a good record but it doesn't rank among my favorites for them. It hurts to say it's 3.5 stars rounded down, but I'm having a hard time giving it 4 stars today.
without the symphony orchestra it's pretty meh, I like his voice but not much more than that nothing else matters is really good tho
trash and boring but made a point
I know it's a classic but just seems like generic metal nowadays.
Bit plodding
I can definitely see why a lot of people love this album. Very well crafted with moving lyrics. Just not for me.
1. enter zandman - 4 2. zad but true - 2 3. holier than thou - 1.5 4. the unforgiven - 2 5. i may roam - 1.5 6. dont tread on me - 1 7. through the never - 2 8. nothing elze matterz - 3.5 9. of uuolf and man - 1 10. the god that failed - 1 11. my friend of mizery - 1 12. the ztruggle uuithin - 1
3 out of 5
After listening to this album, I remembered why I don't like metal. Giving a high rating only for Nothing Else Matters
Fed hegn! Klart den værste Metallica plade indtil videre i 1991
Forgot about Sad But True \../ Metal ballads are silly Not my genre, but still good
I listened to this 10,000 times.. good album for someone who hates metallica... Other than that.. Not so good
Radio hits aren't bad, but songs are too long. Huge for the time. 3.6
For the consistency of their sound, a surprisingly diverse range on the album. The final song is a very modern sounding banger
First Metallica album I bought, and I remember quickly getting bored of it. Luckily I went back through their catalogue after and fell in love, rather than forward. This album is terribly overrated. So many more misses rather than hits. And Justice... wasn't amazing admittedly, but this album marked a slight but distinctive change from their earlier stuff that was definitely for the worse rather than the better. Probably sneaks a 3* due to a few of the decent tunes on here
How is this over 30 years old! I get why it's on the list, but not really my thing
I like Metallica's music much more than I like Metallica. This album in particular stands out.
Noteworthy for its slow, deep style of heavy metal. I'm very familiar with all of the singles on this album and liked them alright when I was younger, although I never owned anything by Metallica or listened to a full album. They feel a bit overplayed now but they definitely stood out back in the 90s.
Damn the guitar is good. Not what I would usually listen to. Solid album. 3.5?
It was an enjoyable album, but only a few songs really stood out and I can’t say I’m the biggest Enter Sandman fan.
I've never been a metal fan, but I don't mind listening through this album every few years. Some absolute classics.
I’ve always disliked them but I gave it a fair listen. It’s musically sound but still feels as douchey as ever. Made me drive aggressively.
It's Metallica. Never been a huge fan or anything, but this isn't one of their bad albums at least. Solid 3.5 at least.
Lots of catchy songs, unique sound
This feels like a guilty pleasure. Is it cheesy and low-brow? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Also yes. Gives me a hit of that middle school-era nostalgia - both the good and bad.
Like REM but hard Rock.
Not a fan of heavy metal but I did like Enter Sandman, Unforgiven, and Nothing Else Matters
Was ok
As a hard rock album, it's fine. More hard rock bands in the '90s could have used Kirk Hammett. But knowing what they'd done and where they were going, hard not to resent almost everything about this album.
Of their core albums before they helped numetal gain a strong hold, this is their weakest. It is also the most popular. It certainly catches a couple of zeitgeist type topics and has become anthemic for various reasons.
The beginning of the end? Decent hard rock album, it's nice they slowed things down so Lars could keep up. It's all very pedestrian though, isn't it? Oh, I don't know! It's not terrible, a bit too long and bands evolve etc. 2.5 / 5 stars.
Repetitive and formulaic, but I think their hits are enjoyable enough.
Много пафоса, видимо я говнарь. В принципе норм, можно привыкнуть, с каждым прослушиванием по ощущениям лучше.
It was good but isn’t smth that i would listen everyday
In the end, just decent
10/24/23 2:30 S Tier————————— Enter Sandman Nothing Else Matters A Tier————————— Through The Never Holier Than Thou My Friend of Misery B Tier————————— The Struggle Within Sad But True The Unforgiven Wherever I may roam Don't tread on me The god that failed me
Man komme ikkje utenom
Heilt greit. Et par sterke riff
Came out the year I left the Army. Lived in the California Apartments in Colorado Springs, CO. Roommate was John, a childhood friend of 3rd cousin Devin. Ashley moved from Montana and we shared an 1 room spot and had a demon kitten. About the time I got into White Zombie. Enjoyed riding my Yamaha Verago 750 up past Monument to solo fish, hike and camp off the South Platt in the Rocky Mountains. Mild child days, no worries, no fucks.
Metal becoming pop is always seen as a tragedy, and maybe it is. Although we can't deny how it skyrocketed Metallica's fame, as well as the popularity of metal itself. The overplayed classics in this album are among the songs that got me into metal. But of course, it is a tragedy because of how bland it can sound. It's unlike hair metal, which covered the genre in so much synth and sparkles that its nauseating. Metallica's approach here was to take their masculine riffs and angsty lyrics and execute them in a basic, predictable way. It worked. It didn't work. Depends on who you ask.
It rocks. It’s not their best, Cliff Burton isn’t on it. But it’s good and it rocks.
YEAHHHHH!!!! METALLICA!!!! *Enter Sandman : 10/10 *Sad But True : 8/10 *Holier Than Thou : 7/10 *The Unforgiven : 8/10 *Wherever I May Roam : 8/10 *Don't Tread On me : 7/10 *Through The Never : 7/10 *Nothing Else Matters : *Of Wolf And Man : *The God That Failed : *My Friend Of Misery : *The Struggle Within : An hour album, a bit long for me, Didn't like it as much as I thought I would be but still a very good album, Not liking the vocal that much DECENT 7
The first Metallica album I didn't hate, but apart from the hits it is just too much of the same.
This album has most of the songs by Metallica that I like, it is just 20 minutes too long
Has some absolute classics. Has some absolute shit.
Rock metal
Now that I have 30 years of perspective, I can see why the hardcore fans said they sold out with this album. Also, you can clearly see the beginnings of James Hetfield, world’s hardest lounge singer.
Yes this is regarded as an iconic metal album but apart from Enter sandman it sounds very cliched to me. I’ll round up to a 3 because I’m feeling strangely generous today
I mean it's Metallica, that notwithstanding I'd never actually listened to their "band named album" before. Thoughts while listening: It's a good listen so far, however, their prolific tracks in Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters seem to be the only standouts so far. Closing thoughts: My Friend of Misery and The Struggle Within were pretty strong closers, especially the instrumentals. Overall, a solid listen.
I have had an aversion to Metallica since Napster. First album I listened to entirely. It isn't bad, of course, but it isn't for me.
It’s 2005 I just learn how to jerk off and this was when this band made music of kids like me think this was hardcore shit, now it make me feel like an old man and this is now just grilling out door with the boyz kind of music as when complain about micro-injuries just by sneezing. Decent Gateway metal album, (3.5/5)
Initial thoughts: Wow, what a throwback. I will confess I've never listened to the album front to back though, excited for this one. Final thoughts: They say that structure of metal is similar to classical music. Listening to this album, I found it fascinating to how true that saying was. However, this album took that saying way too literally. More than half of the album had the same basic structure. So much so, that I even found myself wanting to skip songs because it really felt like I already heard it. Now, the iconic songs truly cannot be beat. Throw in some nostalgia glasses of me and Zack playing guitar hero until 1am while trying not to wake his parents, and these songs really are so good. Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Nothing Else Matters, these are songs that even people who don't listen to this genre will recognize, and for good reason too, they are fantastic pieces of music. Sadly can't say the same for the rest of the album. Some songs were just so... boring...? On my second listen I listened through my hi-fi set up and the mastering was excellent, so I guess they got that going for them. But still so... weak...? Does this album deserve 2? No. Does this album reach a 3? Barely. I would probably rate it 2.8, so rounded up we have:
Only 2 good songs.
Obviously a milestone album for them. The lyrics are consistently impressive. Many songs are classics, some are strong and passionate, about a third are unmemorable.
I didn't really need to listen to this one. I've heard it a bunch. It's a classic metal album, but not among my favorites from Metallica. They're a band who informed and influenced my early appreciation for metal, but a band that I moved past pretty quickly. This was a turning point in their career and sound. A few too many ballads and downtempo songs for me. Not a lot on this album that I feel really holds up or has the staying power to make it worth revisiting in 2023. Of Wolf And Man, for as corny as the lyrics are, is probably the only song that I think has anything to say today. Musically, it has some complexity and some interesting turns. The rest of the album is a bit too safe, especially the few hits/singles. At this point, Metallica were clearly aiming for rock radio. You can hear the watering down of any of the elements that made them different in the albums before this one.
Enter Sandman might be one of the best album openings ever but apart from that - and maybe Unforgiven - this album is not very exciting.
The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters ...aún así ...
Enter Sandman is an all-timer, and The Unforgiven is pretty good. The rest is kind of boring.
Reminds me of my favorite roomie who had one CD... this one. I've still heard it enough.
Neutral, closer to a 3 than a 2 though. I’m positive I had a favourite song from the album but I didn’t write it down and now I can’t figure out which it was… Overall I prefer the first half of the album though. Already knew Enter Sandman.
Torn. Two amazing songs that I love, but I don't like the genre so much so would never choose to listen to the rest.
I liked this way more than I was expecting. Some really solid songs and nowhere near as annoying as I thought it was going to be. 3.5 stars
Metallica used to be pretty sweet, but it's tough to take them all that seriously now because they are so ridiculous. This album is a bit hit or miss from me, but ultimately it's pretty good, I definitely prefer the earlier stuff from them.
My first ever album recommendation from this website was AC/DC’s “black album”, which I found to be a very ear-piercing and gut wrenching experience! Fortunately, my second album recommendation was a far superior “black album” in Metallica’s self titled. I listened to this album for the first time a few months ago while on a walk, and I found it to be respectable but not mind blowing. When I listened to this album this time, however, a few tracks that did not stick with me the first time around clicked better in this listen! While I still prefer their more trash-centered works such as KTA and MOP, this album is absolutely no slouch by any means, and I can see why it is arguably their most popular release to date. I would give this about a 7/10, which translates to a 3.5/5 on my rating scale.
14 year old James would have loved this album. 33 year old James... meh. The last half was pretty bad.
Everyone figured the death of original bassist Cliff Burton would hit Metallica hard, but no one could've guessed that they would pivot away from thrash metal to make simple heavy metal and, dare I say, bland hard rock. Sick riffs were traded in for grooves and even ballads. While Master of Puppets was their landmark album, this self-titled album (sometimes called the black album) is certainly their most commercial album. This sold over 17 million units and none of their albums have come close since. Everyone knows Enter Sandman, Sad but True, the Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters. It's the only Metallica that your classic rock radio station will play, because their other stuff is either too heavy or too sucky. For all the good that this album was, it was also the album where Metallica distinctly sold their soul. Now you can play these songs on Guitar Hero Metallica.
I wish I was pirating this album out of spite. They're an ok band but man if they aren't annoying with who can and can't play their music. This album enters with enter sandman which is a great song, but I remember my shitty high school football team coming out to this song thinking they were hot shit only to lose every game but like 2 or 3 during my entire time there
60% elemental and classic and 40% questionable in a Spinal Tap sense. Overall I enjoyed it
all very similar
this is obviously a landmark album but just doesn't speak to me
I was familiar with most of the songs on this album. The problem with it and it is a problem with most Metallica songs is that they are all too long. The album is over an hour long. Each song, even the good ones, could be cut by a minute at least. Tighten the songs up and it is a better album.
to everyone hating on this album…. calm the fuck down and grow up. yes, it’s metal for dummies. there’s no denying that. it’s perfectly palatable for the lowest common denominators of our society who think they’re hard. but come on, it’s still good? the song are catchy, production is slick with epic heavy riffage all throughout. it’s radio metal so ya it’s not overly clever,,,,….. but it’s fine for what it is. it’s listenable. a lot of lyrics are honestly kinda boring. and obviously it’s way too long. it definitely should’ve ended at Nothing Else Matters; the four after that were completely unnecessary.
El disco es buenísimo. Tiene tremenda calidad, pero esa voz satánica nunca va a ser lo mío.
I'm not a Metallica fan so my opinion is moot in these matters, but this isn't a classic for me the way it is for so many others. It's clear that this is their effort to hit the mainstream; and it worked! Good on them, but I almost cringe at the sound of James' aggressive vocals over some of the softest music I've ever heard. That said, the songwriting is solid on a lot of these songs -- not many metal albums have as high a hit ratio as this tracklist does -- and the production from Canadian legend Bob Rock sounds pretty good for the most part. The string sections on certain songs really add to their instrumentation too. But the whole affair goes on a little long for my tastes. This is probably a 3.5 for me, but in the absence of half stars, I'm going to lower it to a 3, because Metallica are sorta uncool sellouts.
As a yankee fan I will always have fond memories of Mariano Rivera walking to the mound with Enter Sandman playing. Plus it’s a great song. The rest of this album, especially the second half, does not live up to it. So many of the songs sounded identical and the lyrics were trying too hard imo. Not much interest in hearing this again front to back.
50% of this album is phenomenal, shame the quality dips down for the rest. 3.5 stars.
A classic really.
Love the band. Love the album. Lars sucks.
One of those albums that it feels like 1 long song and I don't know how I feel about that
Enter Sandman is one of those songs you don't seek out but can't help but bop along to. Nothing Else Matters is a total slog for. And the rest? I guess Nothing Else Matters. Sounds good for 91
Three big radio hits: Enter Sandman and The Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters.
No thoughts
Actual MASSIVE album from a band that played a MASSIVE part in my childhood. lets get it. ..SAD BUT TRUUUAAAHH the melody in ''unforgiven'' sounds like 311 if you really concentrate. (listen #3) im finding myself like waiting for it to be over, i did not expect this reaction. "follow the god that failed" is so edgy like boy im really bout to get you lol this album was sadly disappointing
Has moments of life, but overall drags
Dynamically snore inducing. But the riffs are often great, and it's delivered with conviction
I wanted to dive into this album, but 3 tracks in, all I was able to get out of it was, "yup, that's metallica". I think I don't have the background in metal to appreciate the nuance here, or maybe it's just a vibe-based album that doesn't click with me.
Far from their great records in the 80s, bloated and uninspired songwriting and compositions.
Herrje. Bis auf die offensichtlichen Knüller gar nicht mal so gut gealtert. Gerade so drei Sterne, aber wirklich gerade so.
I like Enter Sandman. Listening to the album through though, it all starts to sound a bit samey to me.
This was Metallica’s “comeback” album. They traded in their thrash style for a more slower, heavier style. It was no coincidence that they had to stay relevant with the grunge movement that was exploding at the time. This was probably their last good album.
Les libertariens on souffle
j'ai écouté de loin
Дико захейтили альбик...ну кнч не сравнится с тремя первыми, да че мелочиться...со всей дискографией группы (даже гараж инк с каверами лучше сука). Каждый хоть раз играл хоть одну песню отсуда на батиной гитаре. 7/10 продались чуток...
26/04/23. Suena bien, pero me aburrió un poco
goofy. a light 3 stars
I didn't hate this as much as I thought I would. In fact I some of the songs are kind of catchy. What I don't like is that it's like chugging a can of testosterone, the vocals, the guitars, the drums, everything is just so aggressive. I first heard this, probably when I was 12, and I didn't like it, I thought it was frightening. I am no longer scared by it, and I like it slightly more than I did back then, but I will not be putting this on voluntarily.
Peak Metallica.
"The Black Album" is pretty widely loved by fans as well as influential on many heavy metal bands. In terms of music... it's alright. It's a bit straight forward and and kind of too clean for my tastes, but none of it is "bad". It's kind of like a persons best intro to metal, and they can get into this... then move on to other stuff. I guess Metallica never quite gelled with me a ton except in middle school.
This was actually really decent, some absolute bangers!
it was fine. Can definitely see why people love them, but was the first album we established a #dnf tag
Anybody who has listened to the radio in the past 30 years has heard a majority of these songs already. I don't dislike Metallica at all, however I don't really consider myself a fan either. Despite their legendary status, that still doesn't sway my opinion of their music. I've enjoyed these songs throughout the years, but due to hearing them so much, I just don't care to hear them anymore.
It has great sound and some huge bangers, but it’s overstated by about half an hour. Was gonna give it four stars but fuck those “don’t tread on me” assholes
This isn't a short album but it never seemed to drag on to a point it annoyed me. The peak for me is unfortunately the opening track and so it all went downhill from there but it never lost it's power and momentum which was nice. I'll possibly revisit this one if I need something to chug along to.
Metallica's Black Album is metal for people who don't really like metal. It' loud, sure, with big catchy riffs and lots of angry yelling, but I find it hard to really ascertain what I think about it. Bob Rock (still unforgiven by many old school Metallica fans) helped the band slow down, simplify, increase the melodic content , turn up the bass and embiggen the sound to polish a commercial monster that sold a bajillion copies and turned Metallica into one of the biggest bands in the world. What I still don't understand is where the band (and record label) got the idea that a thrash band could become a blockbuster mainstream success. And yet they did, invested a year and million dollars in this perfectly honed unit-shifter., And shift units it did! In some ways, this fits into the same cultural space as AC/DCs Back in Black; it's a highly polished hard rock album from veteran road warriors, that sells to the point of ubiquity. But it lacks the humour and cheeky charm, and most of all, the swing of AC/DC. Paying out on Lars Ulrich is a cliché these days, but I swear I can hear him counting the beat while he plays. The slower, simpler beats highlight his limitations (no swing), and this is rare example of a hugely successful band that doesn't have a great drummer. There's nothing wrong with having a drummer with limitations (see Mo Tucker or Meg White) if it adds to the musicality of the band. You have to wonder what how much better this record could sound like with a great drummer. AC/DC are a good comparison, as they are also working in the simple, hard rock genre, but they play with swing. The songs are catchy (especially the singles), though I find the length exhausting. I own a copy of this album, but honestly never play it. It's an important album, as probably the biggest unapologetically and unambiguously metal album to sell this many copies. But it is overplayed and over-polished for me to the point where I am a little sick of it, although I can admire the achievement,. I begrudgingly give three stars for having the ambition to turn metal into a mainstream genre, and actually achieving it.. But that means it really is just (louder) pop music. If I want to listen to metal (which I sometimes do), this is not the album I would choose to play.
3/5. A solid metal album but a little too long with not much variety throughout. I’d pick about 5 I’d listen to often and the rest not necessary.
Had this when it came out. It's a decent pop-metal album. Mostly amused remembering that a high school friend misheard 'Sad But True' as "Sex Patrol". More likely to listen to Master of Puppets if I'm in a 'Tallica mood tbh.
As a Metallica fan, the self-titled 'Black Album' signals the decline of Metallica in my humble opinion. Sure, the pop-rock-thrash-metal album was a charting success and probably what James & Lars wanted, but something is missing. Since it came out, it was one of the fewer listened albums and I'm at a point t in my life where this and future albums are rarely played until we get to 2008's Death Magnetic. This is my first spin of this album in maybe 20 years and it still strikes as a duller Metallica album, although I do grant why its on a 'Must-Listen' list like this and think at 3.5 stars it still warrants its place here. 3.5/5
My expectations for this coming into it were higher than Snoop Dog on 4/20. A legendary album, legendary songs, selling millions of copies? Has to be mind blowing, right? Unfortunately, as the album continued on, my appreciation for it got lower than Shawty when Flo Rida sings. It felt like there was too much dead space in the songs in between guitar riffs and singing/growling. It just never really tickled my tummy in the way I hoped. It was still very good, but I don't know, this feels a bit sad.
I never bought or streamed a Metallica album, for some reason I knew almost every lyric.
I listened to this 1000 times in my teens and dont really fancy it again tbh. That said, its crammed with legendary tracks, and if it’s not the standout metal album of its generation, I don’t know what is. When I was 16, I’d have given this a 5*, and it’s definitely a 5* for its genre, but I don’t like the genre anymore.
Best Metallica album I'd say, lot of tunes on there. Recognised a lot of album tracks as well, probably from various rock clubs over the years. Even so, have no interest in listening again really.
Never heard this before but apparently considered their best album by a lot of people..... Wouldn't call myself a Metallica fan, but thought master of puppets was a good album, way better than this! I apparently like the more thrash metal sound better than their slower sound. Enter sandman and nothing else matters are great songs though. The struggle within was good too.
Death of thrash metal That’s why it’s good and these tracks are listenable Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven and My friend of misery are absolute highlights
It's pretty good. The best Metallica album, even with the school shooter mope anthem Nothing Else Matters on there. The most and silliest fun they were and ever will be.
Up until this one, the only people that listened to Metallica were the sport-os, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads, they all thought these guys were righteous dudes. But then this album was released and the radio stations around the country wore this out and everyone listens to them. Now the original fans see Lars Ulrich as a total ass and James Hetfield, a lil bitch.
It has those three iconic tracks, that introduced lots of people to heavy metal genre (although two are slower). Can't really compare with other of their albums or other albums from that genre, there are better fans and experts for that, but I can see why this has timeless appeal.
There’s some monster riffs on this one. Sounds like one of the origin albums of Kyle rock. Pretty enjoyable, one of my first intros to metal growing up.
I'm aware its one of their best and I really listened to it but its an endless tedious array of one dimensional power chords with that machismo directed vocals. Yeah, Sandman is a tune.
The album which transformed Metallica from trailblazing pioneers into the U2 of heavy metal, the rock establishment if you will. There’s some great testosterone-addled head banging to be enjoyed here (Enter Sandman is the group’s calling card for a reason), and Bob Rock’s iconic production ultimately aids the band’s more lethargic tendencies. But the lumbering slow numbers are turgid and frankly silly. In fairness, the allusions to West Side Story, Spaghetti Westerns and so on show that the band were at least somewhat aware of their trivial image. But it’s not enough of a nod/wink when they go into the soppiest territory imaginable on tracks like “Unforgiven”. If you’ve seen the documentary, “Some Kind of Monster”, you know that this band are not the sort to posit nuanced philosophical observations - but even still their ideas on this record range from the goofy (“Nothing Else Matters”) to the reactionary (“Don’t Tread on Me”). Overall, it’s a perplexing listen. On the one hand, it distances the band so much from their unique aural assault by streamlining their more rambling tendencies, ensuring they could sell out arenas for the foreseeable. Yet in some respects this IS the Metallica sound, and for better or for worse it brought the band into the mainstream forever.
Ouch, his throat.
Still haven’t forgiven Lars for Napster, sorry but that dude sucks. While I understand the impact this album had, and did enjoy this more than I thought, the idea of a poppier metal is kind of cringy and reminds me of where this took us (i.e. Nickelback, Creed, Puddle of Mudd, etc.). Would give it 3.5 if we could do half’s but I’m rounding down cause fuck Lars.
1/20/23: Not as good as some of Metallica’s earlier stuff IMO (i.e. And Justice For All, Master of Puppets, Kill Them All). Nothing Else Matters is a beautiful song though.