Reviews (page 6 of 15)
i much prefer the first 4 metallica records to this one, but the songwriting is really strong here overall and the production brings it all together nicely. might honestly be an underrated record once you get past the songs everyone knows
Listened to while playing Mario kart. Flow state.
Metallican "musta levy" nosti bändin kertaheitolla metallimusiikin isoimmaksi nimeksi. Tällä levyllä yhtye kevensi thrash metal-soundiaan ja biisit olivat nyt entistä suoraviivaisempia. Tämä tyylimuutos suututti osan vanhoista faneista, mutta samalla valtavirta löysi bändin. Mielestäni bändi uudisti ilmaisuaan onnistuneesti ja puhtoisempi tuotanto istuu biiseihin hyvin. Vaikka useampi sinkkubiiseistä onkin kärsinyt liiallisesta radiosoitosta, tämän albumin pariin oli jälleen mukava palata. Täytyy samalla todeta, että tämä on Metallican viimeinen oikeasti todella hyvä levy.
As a metalhead this is foundational- heavy, skillful and powerful. It’s not five stars because ironically I prefer a lot of Metallica covers to actual Metallica songs; near the end all I could think about was Miley Cyrus’s ‘Nothing Else Matters’.
First album that I’ve already listened to most of it - can’t go wrong with Metallica I mean c’mon
Όταν το είχα ακούσει για πρώτη φορά δεν τρελάθηκα αλλά σήμερα grew on me. Εχει πολλά classics.
Classic. A few duds, but overall ear candy.
Ahhh hello old friend!! This was such an important album in my teens, starting to learn guitar, enter sandman… one of may favourite bands for years and intrigued to see how it lands after a long old break… Hard to separate what’s nostalgia and how I’d actually hear this fresh today, but very much enjoying the trip down memory lane! It feels a good balance between their thrash/heavy metal sound and structured/clean enough for listeners outside of this, which maybe explains its success. The Unforgiven and Nothing else Matters give nice break downs/variety and great songs in their own right too. Every song is pretty solid and memorable, not much filler at all imho. Despite that, not sure why it doesn’t get the 5* that most albums of that nature get from me. Maybe it’s the lack of depth or nuance or similar? It’s very good, and consistent, but not wowed 🤷🏻♂️ Probably 4-4.5
yo this kinda fire... holier than thou wherever i may roam
8/10
They're so lucky theyre good at playing cause the lyrics on these songs are so corny
So many bangers on this album. Enjoyed it more than I expected, and the first half is especially strong. Sad but true, holier than thou, the unforgiven and wherever I may roam are brilliant. Last few songs didn't do a lot for me but overall a really strong album.
classic rock cant go wrong
It was okay! I listen to half. Very familiar. It was very clean, instrumentation wise I'd say, not too dense. Yes lots of overdrive, but clean production.
Beautiful. I want to eat the mix. Lots of great songs but some get drowned out by the beauty of others. The God that Failed has always been a hard hitter for me. Exemplary metal album.
Amazing decision to listen to this in the morning
Jason Newsted's best work arguably (sorry to And Justice for All fans), with a fairly good mix of the heavier metal you'd expect and some of the more melodic stuff I tend to prefer. Favourites are probably Sad But True and Nothing Else Matters. Not sure if I have a least favourite but I really like how Unforgiven starts and then find the rest of the song quite nothing-y
It was good I mean i hardly listen to metal so i dont have much to measure it against but like it was very good
Classic album which probably loses a bit of oomph because it's a classic. feels a little front-loaded but again thats probably Because enter the sandman is so iconic I like the album though 👍
Es excelente.
Great. Most of the classic Metallica songs are hear, if you already know you're a fan, it plays like a greatest hits. If you're not a fan yet, it's palletteable compared to contemporary metal. A great, loud listen.
i'm sick and this is easy listening somehow
7/10
Classic early metal album. Great listen. The latter songs on the album lose steam with the energy.
I'm pretty sure I've heard this whole album, though I'm not sure if I've ever listened to it start-to-finish before. I'm a fan of metal, but generally don't really like Metallica. It's mostly because of Lars. The other guys in the band, I quite like. I bet in the alternate universe where Metallica has a better drummer (as both a musician and a person) I'd probably love Metallica. Unfortunately, this is the Metallica we have in this universe. Sad but true.
I didn't expect to like this as much!
7/10 me gusto el ritmo de las canciones, algo nuevo para mi. El rock me hace sentir empoderada, pero no se si podria escucharlo de nuevo todo seguido, llega un punto que necesito algo mas tranquilo.
I think the hype surrounding Metallica is a bit overblown. Thrash metal is a genre I don’t really get into. But the ballads, though quite simple, are very beautiful. They’re like a bourbon whiskey—sweet, vanilla-like, pleasant, and nice every now and then. But they don’t leave a lasting impression. I won’t be listening to the whole album again anytime soon, but I’ll happily listen to individual tracks. 4/5
Haven't listed to this album since school. Loved the hits then and they have endured well. Some songs I would skip but it's still a really solid offering.
This made Metallica what they are today: the biggest metal band in the world. Disputed as either the last great or the first bad Metallica album I rate this solid 4.
It doesn't match up to their thrash peak, but I'd be lying if I said this still didn't rock my ass. The songs are starting to get too long (in a bad way) with hooks repeated too much. I could go the rest of my life without ever hearing Enter Sandman again so I skipped it on this listen.
Some of Metallica's biggest and best songs that you've definitely heard before. Unfortunately dragged down a bit on the whole with not a lot else to enjoy beyond the mega hits, and the more mainstream metal sound lacks the thrashier edge that earlier Metallica brought. Still very good overall and packs a lot of headbanging fun. Top tracks: Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam, Nothing Else Matters
às vezes eu esqueço que fui um pré-adolescente que escutava muito metallica (muito por performance, mas né). às vezes eu esqueço de que não era apenas performance, era realmente bom também. um álbum com enter sandman, sad but true, the unforgiven e nothing else matters é incontornável. 4/5.
I wish Metallica were less dickheads because I actually like some of there songs. Thwn again, I'm not sure they've made anything noteworthy recently. Anyway, I like this album a lot.
Good album. Always enjoy it!
Pretty freaking cool. Sounds a lot like the old Doom and Quake games
Some really great songs, with some other repetitive ones…
Iconic.
People who say Metallica "sold out" with Load are clearly ignoring this album. An album so packed with stadium bangers, potential WWE entrance songs, and heartfelt Grammy bait you can hear their manager counting the money in the background. It's a solid album and Metallica is a goated band but it goes to show that Cliff and Mustaine were the heart of the Metallica thrash sound for better or worse.
Old Metallica is monumental for the genre and is a staple pick for any metal head. This album is an example of that. With the only drawback being that it does become a little repetitive in sound. Outside of that no complaints and that’s barely an issue since that repetitiveness is still nice to listen to.
Tava à espera de gostar, mas não estava à espera que fosse gostar tanto. Tem alguns dos maiores hits da banda e tem músicas que não conhecia mas gostei. Solos de guitarra, o tom do baixo incrível e a bateria a marcar o passo de um grande álbum.
A classic album. I am not a fan of heavy metal, but I found myself enjoying this. I did feel like the songs started to sound the same at times, but the standout tracks were really good. Nothing Else Matters is my personal favorite.
Ett album jag hört tusen gånger känns det som. Jag tycker det är bra men inte lika bra som när jag först hörde det.
Do I like metal now?????
Great album that's held up remarkably well. Favorite songs: Wherever I May Roam, My Friend Of Misery, Nothing Else Matters
couldnt listen to it all
when I was in first or second grade I heard part of my brother's cassette of this album and I just remember having a really hard time focusing in class the next day because I couldn't stop thinking about "Enter Sandman." I didn't go on to become a huge Metallica fan but I still dig "Sandman;" it's a fantastic track and a real landmark in heavy metal. overall I like this album but it does overstay a bit, with a little less variety in its 62-minute runtime than I'd prefer, so I am coming in at a 4-star rating on it. that's the same spot I ended up on "Master of Puppets" and "...And Justice For All" but I'm pretty sure this one's the best out of those 3.
I know there are many who revere this band, and I support you loving what you love. Sure. But I love me the nihilistic high-speed reptile brain of Motorhead; the swampy, stinky majesty of Black Sabbath; the operatic high theater of Iron Maiden. And Metallica just isn't fun.
Great album!
Before listening to this album, I did have high expectations as to the quality and energy of the music production. And honestly Enter Sandman was an amazing start to the album. That thrashy yet deeply emotive vibe of the song was so different and unique, and I was hoping to feel something different with their music. Later songs, like Holier than Thou, had impactful lyrics which also brought a new sentiment to the album, as well as the constant discussion of religion. But the music in a lot of the songs had similar vibe - I think if I heard it individually, I would’ve appreciated it more.
Well damn. Obviously a classic with having heard just about every track. Had no idea the album STARTED with enter sandman. What an intro, can only imagine metal heads listening to this on release. They’re the masters of putting together simplicity and making it sound heavy and hard. Sad but true is a strong follow up to sandman, holier than though a little faster and heavier, feels much more like classic baby thrash metal, most like their earlier stuff. Classic vocals. Loved the outro, bass going ham into a heavy riff. Unforgiven is such a cool slow down. An epic piece. Wherever I may roam takes its time building speed back up, then we’re back heavy. Bass drum, snare, repeat. Don’t tread on me goes a little pantera, but falls short. Through the never is more penetrating and marauding, good enough for your first mosh pit I’d imagine. Nothing else matters.. ballad, and really a beautiful song. Ups and downs, a gentle ride, feels like a passage through time in a way. Melancholy, reflective, feels like a lullaby. even though idk what the lyrics are saying. Of wolf and men, does NOT warm you back up slowly. Heavy intro, another shout out to earlier Metallica with more modern vocals. Not a great song imo. God that failed, cool intro but then feels like the most generic Metallica song you could come up with. Bass, snare, bass, snare. My friend of misery started out with so much promise, but then a little boring, vocals not doing it for me either. Went on waaaay too long as well. Album closes out with a little speed again after an awkward little marching bang intro. Man this album really is buoyed by a few bangers for me, 3.75/5.
With some of these albums I wonder if my rating would be different if I was hearing it for the first time and didn’t have such a nostalgic connection to it.
I don't normally like heavy thrash metal, normally it's not melodic enough for me. This however is great, absolutely love "Enter The Sandman" and "The Unforgiven". This could be a 5 for me, but I'll settle with 4, as I'm not a100% sure.
Metallica for the masses. Great Album, but not as good as the ones before. Fav: Wherever I may roam
Das mMn beste Metallica Album, was zwar eine sehr mainstreaminge Meinung ist aber ich bin ja auch ein sehr mainstreamiger Metallica Hörer. Was mich bbeim Hören allerdings gestört hat ist die wirklich große Menge an sehr langsamen Songs. Das hat mich immer etwas auf die Uhr schauen lassen, was kein gutes Zeichen ist.
I personally prefer the raw thrash of the early albums, but this is probably their tightest and best produced album
Enter Sandman
I've never been much of a metal guy but this rocks. Only a 4 cause I feel like the end isn't as strong
Stellenweise sowas von stark, aber wie JEDES ihrer Alben seit diesem: zu lang.
The production is super polished and the mix is crystal clear but it honestly gets a bit repetitive after a while. Some tracks definitely feel way too long and that loud snare drum can be pretty exhausting for your ears by the end.
Came out while in college and was the Metallica I really listened to.
Not a metallica fan...personal opinions aside, this is their best album. However most songs were overplayed.
Almost a perfect album The God that failed and Of wolf and man not really me thing The rest is sublime 4/5
Metallica really feel like they know what they are doing. They nailed down a specific style and specialise in it. There is enough variety to feel good, but it all slots together very well.
4/5 Ahh, Metallica. Always a joy to listen to. Their albums always feel so... complete. Well-rounded. Good album.
Not my favourite Metallica album (Ride The Lightning takes that spot and would undoubtedly get 5 stars), but this launched them into superstardom. More refined than their earlier work, it remains one of their strongest: musically varied, lyrically accomplished, and well-produced.
El álbum en general cómo un todo es muy bueno. Si noté en algunas canciones que la guitarra y la batería se pisan, lo que hace que se escuche como muy comprimido. Canción favorita: the unforgiven
Buen álbum, un poco sobrevalorado a veces pero todavía bueno 8/10
Album 115. Metallica (https://open.spotify.com/album/37lWyRxkf3wQHCOlXM5WfX?si=lVuFs19wTKq95TESJD_T5A) — Metallica (1991) I walked through gigantic snowdrifts while listening to Wherever I May Roam. It was hilarious and absurd. I may remember that moment for a long time. Classic. I want to give it the highest tier, but metal is not exactly my music. Not for every day or every mood. Today is a good match for metal. Fuck, I didn't really enjoy Don't Tread on Me. Dunno how it's possible🐍 What a disappointment. 4/5 Liked songs: — Enter Sandman — Sad But True — The Unforgiven — Wherever I May Roam — Nothing Else Matters
i’ve heard some of these songs, but never listened to the whole album at once. it’s pretty solid. can’t believe how popular this was despite every song being over 4 minutes. “Enter Sandman” always reminds me of Mariano Rivera RIP (he’s not actually dead, but is a huge MAGA supporter so he’s dead to me)
track 1 side 1 intro.....and we go ! :)
Much prefer this album to Master Of Puppets. To me it feels far more polished, complete & impactful, with standout tracks blended amongst an interesting variety of heavy, well-written hard-rock tracks. There were definitely times during this listen that I switched off from it a bit though - can’t put my finger on exactly why, but I’d probably have enjoyed it more if it were 3-4 songs shorter.
im an huge metallica fan and while its not like every song on this album is well known its still an great album for me
Хороший
This album is the beginning of the end of my interest in Metallica. I loved so much of this album when it came out, but I was also not thrilled with the move away from thrash. This is the last album of theirs that i liked. There are flashes of the Metallica I loved, but they had obviously turned a corner. "The Unforgiven" has always been iffy for me. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't my favorite on the album. and my opinion of it just ketp getting worse with each new installment of it. "Don't Tread On Me" is one of the low points on the album for me. "Through the Never" is a high point. It would have felt at home on AAJFA. The last 4 tracks of the album feel like them purging the last vestiges of AAJFA Metallica. 4 stars
Maybe 4.5? Enjoyed, but felt a bit same-y by the end. Would listen to more by them, though
This one feels like what I think of when I hear “metal.” The songs kind of all sound the same a little bit, but they’re good. I definitely played some of them on guitar hero
Glad to hear more of this iconic band - a whole album felt like a lot to me, personally, but I can recognize the mastery.
I liked Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters prior to listening to the album fully. It's not typically a genre I listen to, but it was a pretty enjoyable listen to be honest.
Has a lot of great songs. “Enter Sandman”? Energetic opening. Then followed by “Sad But True”? Hell yeah. And then “The Unforgiven” and “Wherever I May Roam” makes it calmer. Also, “Nothing Else Matters” is very calm.
Still not a group I reach for, but this album finds a way to transcend its genre without ever pretending to be anything but metal. It's quite the showcase of range and talent, and at the end of the day, it just straight up rocks.
I have no capacity to be objective about The Black Album. As soon as I press play, I immediately become 11 again. I think it's pretty good? I couldn't tell you for sure; the critical part of my brain is offline because of all the headbanging. Has a kickdrum ever sounded more ferocious? Not to an 11-year-old, I'll tell you that much.
Very nice
Riffs, Riffs and more F***ing Riffs! Too many of the songs are too long and the album seems to sit at the same tempo too much for me, but that's nit picking really, would be a 9 out of ten. The production and mixing are immaculate, as good as heavy guitars can sound really
The dads are right about this one, really good album for the gym and some really iconic songs, would listen to again even though heavy metal tends to sound samey to me
Без оценки
Sweet! I've been in a Metallica mood recently. While the Black Album is definitely not as good as their stuff from the 80s it still kicks a ton of ass. Sometimes its ok for a band to make a "sellout" album as long as its full of bangers like we have here. It definitely has some cringe moments like "Don't Thread on Me" and I've never been able to take "Sad But True" seriously for some reason. Also "Enter Sandman" is a good song but its wildly overrated, far from the band's best work. Overall though, this is a respectable addition to Metallica's catalog and I would even argue it's their last great record. Favorite track: The Unforgiven 3.5/5
A fantastic and pure metal album.
вот это круто!!! 🔥: don't tread on me, holier than you бешеная
Great album; great band. This album was full of hits from; ‘enter sandman’, ‘nothing else matters’. And my favourite is, ‘the unforgiven’. Could listen to this all the way through and enjoy every second.
Quite a few good songs on this one compared to the last one. I really liked Nothing Else Matters and My Friend Of Misery. It could be a little same-y though
I am surprised to say the least, but this is album is so well put together and thought out that i enjoyed it from start to finish. I don't love the excessively noisy solos and the incessant presence of the guitar, but damn this record knows when and how to pump energy and when to slow down with grace. Very nice experience.
Who would have expected West Side Story to pop up - camp!
Hell yeah this ruled
So close to a 5!
This was a big childhood moment for me so there's a nostalgia factor for sure. It's a massive record, full of hits, the latter half does have some relatively forgettable stuff, but the hits are so good. Lars is really playing the same 4 on the floor beat for 90 percent of this one eh? I'm more of a 'first four records' Metallica guy, but this is an amazing record.
This is the right time in my life to start listening to Matalica. I'm glad that I’d been schooled in Black Sabbath beforehand because it gave me a route into old school Heavy Metal. When I was younger I would have rolled my eyes at some of this - especially the vocals and lyrics which are at points joyfully silly. I’m now old enough to appreciate rocking out on the guitar, crunching chords, drum fills, projected vocals. There's drama, there’s shock and awe. My whole life I’ve wondered why certain grunge and heavy rock artists strain their vocals in that particular way, and now they know - they’re copying Metallica. What sounds overwrought from other singers, sounds electric when done right.
Low 4 for me on Metallica. Really enjoyed the overall vibe and have been meaning to listen to them for a long time. Not my kind of metal but lots to love for me here.
WoW.. This is greatness
Classic metallica songs. I like this but 50/50 on owning the album.
The bus should have fallen on Lars
The Black Album may not be the favorite of die-hard fans, but it's not hated either. Metallica's transition from thrash to a more MTV friendly sound made them household names. Bob Rock's production, killer hooks, and zero filler introduced the band to a whole new audience that has carried them through to this day, whether the old school thrash fans like it or not.
What an amazing vibe this album had
Nigdy nie przepadałam za Metallicą, ale po przesłuchaniu tego albumu, myślę że będę do niego wracać
Now that's what I'm talking about
Classic. It’s not my favorite metal, but this album is undeniably in the canon of the genre. Great listen, plenty of hits.
It’s hard not to listen to this with jaded 55 year old ears and not hear tinges of parody. At the time this was a serious hard rock/ metal that would have at fist had a very distinct audience. As it softened like warm butter, or the world hardened this became a mega hit. Kudos Metallica for teaching future generations how to rock.
I wasn't into Metallica when this album came out, and when I started listening to them much later in life, I didn't seek out the Black Album (and still don't). So it's crazy how familiar these songs are, particularly the first half of the album. I get why it's both their commercial peak and the beginning of their creative decline. There's plenty to like on here, but I prefer thrashier Metallica. Rounding up to 4.
New running album
No 10 minute 'where did the melody go' thrash marathons here. In fact I was 7 tracks in before I heard any of what I would call 'thrash' at all. This as an album of polished growling melodies that you can hum in the shower (I did), but still heavy enough to rattle your teeth. And it has 2 absolute classic rock tracks in Sandman and Nothing Else Matters. I think this was the best thing Metallica ever did.
Heard some songs many times; 4; Huge singles with tremendous, heavy riffs. Favorite Track: Sad But True
Good, but not great. The album is only as good as its drummer... The big songs are MASSIVE but the album tracks are just meh. I wish I liked this more and I'm surprised I didn't!
Some classic songs on here. Impressive guitar and drums.
It's metallica. Not them at their creative peak, no way. But it's good. Probably won't return to the full album, but a few songs are legendary.
4 stars - WHAT MORE CAN I SAYYY CLASSIC METALLICA DAD ROCK
Ugggh I LOVE the electric guitars! I have heard some of the songs before and wherever I may roam is one of my favorites!! So maybe you can call me a rock lover now?
The hits rip and Enter Sandman is on any reasonable short list for most kick ass song, but I was bored with the rest by the end.
Listening session: january 27th, while commuting from and to internship Listened to before: listened to some songs before Thoughts: I have to admit this is a classic and while I do like most of this, it has its repetitive moments Favourite tracks: Enter Sandman, Holier Than Thou & Wherever I May Roam
I have a couple of Metallica songs on my favorite list but I haven’t listened to a whole album. Solid rock album all the way around. A great listen.
Lots of classics on this album
Good but not great Very consistent There are 3 or 4 better Metallica albums 7.2/10
my VT heritage demands "enter sandman" by my favorite off of this album, but so many bangers , best version of "whereever i may roam" i've ever heard
Better than I expected
Yeah, this rocks. Though I still like S&M more
Metallica get bored of ruling the thrash metal scene and decide to take over the world. This is a cleaned up, shiny version of thrash. It's the metal album that even people who don't like metal know and for better or worse it changed rock music. Best Tracks: Enter Sandman; The Unforgiven; Nothing Else Matters
Surprised I’ve never properly listened before
I was pleasantly surprised that I liked this. Added “Enter Sandman” to my playlist.
Having never listened to a full Metallica album before, I thought it was pretty good. I didn't realize so many of the songs I know by them are from one album. I guess they are more accessible here than on some prior works, but I still thought they felt and sounded like their usual amount of heavy. Having more background catalog knowledge likely would have impacted my listen, I guess. I don't really love thrash, so the emphasis on slowing down appealed to me. I enjoyed the way they went with a few different styles over the course of the songs. There were quieter, acoustic-led moments on some tracks. There were orchestral string accompaniments that added nicely while not becoming too overbearing. Then, of course, there was the heavy metal riffing that makes the songs what they are. Hetfield's vocals can be a bit over the top, but it wasn't too noticeable here. The pieces came together to keep things interesting over its lengthy runtime (65+ minutes). Really, though, the runtime was too much. This didn't have to be 65 minutes long. Too many of the songs followed the same formulas to need them all on the same album. It just got tedious as it kept going. While there were a bunch of good songs on here, there were at least a few that could've been left off without losing much. Also, I kinda hate the artwork. It's Smell the Glove-esque black with a No Step on Snek-ish image slapped on. It just makes me think of all the middle age dudes with faded tribal or AmTrad tattoos, wrap-around sunglasses and leather vest/jean jacket. (I guess that kinda tracks, since I feel like I see plenty of people in that group who love Metallica.) It's probably a 90s thing that didn't age particularly well. Regardless, I thought this was a pretty good album. Aside from the length, I found it to be an enjoyable listen all the way through. I did find it a little less good than AIC's Dirt, which I got yesterday. Still, it's right around a 4 for me. Overall: 3.9/5
I grew up as a metalhead, so the accepted opinion around me was that this was the worst piece of music ever recorded, a crime against heavy metal and western civilization. This was Metallica’s selling out album, also their mainstream breakout. I mean yeah after they spent four albums making their songs more complex and longer this album does focus things. It features some of James’s best singing and they actually let us hear Jason’s playing and even let him write My Friend Of Misery which is possibly the best song in here. This is a great album, it makes Metallica’s sound somewhat simpler but very very effective and makes for some of their greatest songs. Some songs here are fillers though like The Struggle Within, something I can’t say for the previous three albums so giving only four stars.
Pretty good album. Understand why it was a classic Started off with a banger and held strong until about halfway through the album, when it kinda fell off in the middle of "Wherever I May Roam". "Of Wolf and Man" and "The Struggle Within" were two standout tracks, but everything after that just didn't do it for me. Almost feel asleep while listening to "Nothing Else Matters", don't know why that song even fits in with the album. Docking a star for the formulaic nature of the songs on this album, as well as the length of some songs. Overall, production was peak, and some songs really moved me. James Hetfield vocals were excellent, and Metallica is cohesive and talented as a band. However, this album may just be overhyped in terms of quality.
90s metal. Move away from trash metal to slower, heavier sound. Their bestselling album, contains tons of hits. Obviously very good.
4.8 too long
Some great tracks! Political things?
Had a few banger I’m familiar with like Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman. But everything else on this album is also amazing. The Unforgiven and Wherever I May Roam were both highlights for me. Excited to listen to more Metallica
Pretty bangin'
Great metal album
Ok, hear me out… this album is ridiculous, but it is also sooo nostalgic. If you were a teenage or pre-teen boy growing up in America in the 90s and you didn’t own this record and know it back to front, there was no hope for you 🤣. Metallica was to the 90s what Zeppelin was to the 70s- pure machismo butt rock that was so catchy you couldn’t help but bang your head to it. It had been something like 20 years since I’d listened to this album in its entirety. Probably not gonna go back and revisit it anytime soon, but ai appreciated this opportunity to hear it again and giggle at how much we all LOVED this band back then. Lars is still trash.
Daleko od toga da sam najveći ljubitelj Metallice i generalno thrash metala ali ovi odavde hitovi su vrhunac metala koji se probio u komercijalu. Nema nijedna loša pjesma na albumu, sve mi je barem ok a ništa nije pregenijalno. Nepopularno, meni je Wherever I May Roam najbolja pjesma.
Okay...I'm going to say something a little controversial depending on who you are...I don't love The Black Album. Don't get me wrong, some of Metallica's finest songs are on here. 'Enter Sandman' is probably their best-known song, and a classic 'first song to learn' for budding guitarists. Then you also have 'Sad But True', 'The Unforgiven', 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Wherever I May Roam'...they're all great songs; well-produced and catchy as all hell. But, I can't help but feel like The Black Album is a bit of a let-down after three straight albums of perfection in 'Ride the Lightning', 'Master of Puppets' and '...And Justice For All'. 'The Black Album' is clearly Metallica going for a more commercial sound, no ifs and buts about it, and it worked for them as it's not only their best selling album, but one of the best selling albums of all time (over 30 million sold). And the musicianship is perfect. James Hetfield's voice is ferocious as ever (as well as tender when needed for 'The Unforgiven' and 'Nothing Else Matters'), and he and Kirk Hammett's guitars crunch through the mix like wrecking balls, and they're solidly backed by tight rhythm section of Lars Ulrich and Jason Newsted. But is this album too perfect? The beauty of what came before The Black Album, at least to me anyway, is the noted imperfections to Metallica's sound. Kill 'Em All through 'Justice' are all their own distinctive beasts and have something unique and interesting to say, while also marvelling in the their raw, unpolished and chaotic sound. 'The Black Album' strips all that rawness away in favour of polished gloss and studio perfection, which to me dilutes Metallica's style and sound in a big way, and it's more or less been their style ever since, despite the obvious misfires in Load/Reload and St Anger. I don't find myself revisiting The Black Album as much as I do the three records that came before it, because to me, Metallica don't sound as inspired on it. It clearly sounds like an album they did purely for commercial success, and you can't argue with their reasoning. Bob Rock had just come off turning Mötley Crüe into megastars ('Dr Feelgood') so was the right guy to do the same with Metallica, and the success of The Black Album is the very reason Metallica merchandise is everywhere you look in society. But I like to think the greatest thing about 'The Black Album's' success is it made more people aware of the groundbreaking brilliance of Metallica's 80's output. Best songs: Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam, The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters
j'ai grave kiffé, franchement banger
quite fire prolly give it a 4
I knew some of them already unexpected. Bot a metal gal to it was a bit grating to listen to. Too much build for all the songs with too little singing. I'm not crazy on instrumental.
Não é um estilo que eu amo, mas deu pra entender quem gosta. É um ótimo album.
Es un disco que me apasiona y me satura a rachas. Debo reconocer la calidad de las canciones, pero soporto regular la voz del cantante. En cuanto a la producción, es realmente impresionante su sonido.
The first song on this album is Severance to me 😊. I can't tell how many songs I recognized from vaguely hearing them before and how many were familliar from my very late at night preliminary listen. Iconic but kinda drags.
Phenomenal album. Some very high highs on here, those being Enter Sandman, Holier than Thou, and my personal favorite Nothing Else Matters. That song gets a 10/10 from me, love the melancholic sound, then slowly building into a sort of righteousness and then in comes this epic ballad of a guitar solo later in 🤘. The one thing I really liked about this compared to other Metal of the same genre and age is that Metallica knows how to push n pull, which makes those forceful driving guitar sections drive so much harder than if they were going at it for the duration of the album. Compared to someone like Judas Priest, where it felt like there was only one speed, a 40 lb boulder taped to the gas pedal sort of speed. Juxtaposition and range adds a LOT to an album, and this album had both, although, I was still wanting just a bit more range by the end of things. I think what's holding me back from giving this 5 stars is that lack of diversity, as some of the songs did seem to follow a similar formula. But I could potentially see this album growing into a 5 with more listens. There's something about the album art and song names that I also really liked. It all had an ominous vibe to it which added to the overall packaging of the album. 8.5/10
I've heard almost all these songs before, but somehow I missed out on hearing the album as one thing. It's so good, so well crafted and diverse for the genre. Easy listening today. It's written intelligently, performed well, and despite the long songs it doesn't struggle to maintain my attention. The tones are so good. The guitars have such a dynamic range and it works so seamlessly. Everything has the space to shine in the mix as well - very well produced. There are only a couple songs that aren't total bangers, and even those are still darn good and sound as good as anything else on here. I'd never heard Through the Never before and it surprised me, I love the melody in that song. 4.4/5
Chill af album already listened alot
I'm an old metal head & love Metallica. But because of commercial overplayed I haven't listen to this album in it's entirety in 20 years. I kept my "no skip" word & listened to it. & I'm glad I did. It's a great album. It still stands on its own. I was reminded that there are some hidden gems in here you don't hear anywhere like the god that failed, my friend of misery, Of wolf and man, Through the never. Plus Kirk Hammett kicks ass all over this record!!
When this came out it was a shock to those of us that were already Metallica fans, the long, intricate arrangements were gone - which sucked, but the album sounded so good. Ultimately, I think everyone came around to the greatness of this record - much credit to Bob Rock for the production.
Metallica
they hate when i talk about how metallica is my fav band... its literally called being a victim and i suffer from it
Favorite songs: Enter Sandman, Sad But True, The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters
Enjoyable but not mind-blowing. I like rock ballads and the soothing touches of this album. The themes and lyrics are interesting. Overall good stuff.
My least favourite of Metallica’s first 5 albums because of the popyness. I don’t like how it’s slower tempo and I don’t like the vocals as much. Nevertheless great to have something heavier as that isn’t that common with the list. I quite like the opening to Sad But True
Before listening: I think the only Metallica song I've heard before was in Stranger Things season 4. The one Eddie liked. 1. "Enter Sandman" - I've heard the title countless times before, but didn't think I'd know it? Maybe it was in a commercial or something cause it is familiar. I like it pretty well tho. When the vocals first came in it wasn't my favorite but it grew on me over the course of the song. I really like the production and the lyrics are fun. 2. "Sad but True" - Eh, this one isn't hitting for me. Just kinda boring. Sorries 3. "Holier Than Thou" - This ones fun, but not top tier for me. I like the guitars a lot 4. "The Unforgiven" - Really pretty intro, wtf? I wish the whole song was sung like the chorus. Interesting song, I think I like it. 5. "Wherever I May Roam" - This one is fun 6. "Don't Tread on Me" - I'm gonna be honest, this is cringe. Slay if it's your vibe and you can have fun with it, I guess. It just feels like what ICE blares as they assault yet another U.S. citizen and pepper spray babies, in a ironic kind of way i guess. It's just cringe. 7. 'Through The Never" - Oh, I like the intro. It's fun. This one is cool overall. 8. "Nothing Else Matters" - Oh, I really like this one! 9. "Of Wolf and Man" - This is really silly, but I think It's meant to be lol. It's kinda fun. I really like the instrumentation 10. "The God That Failed" - Fuck, dude. The story behind this is awful. Luckily my parents were never into that kinda of craziness, but wow. 11. "My Friend of Misery" Really pretty intro. This one is fine overall. 12. "The Struggle Within" - I don't care for the rhythm of this one :/ If the production was gone about in a different way I'd probably like it more. Even tho I didn't hate it, I'm kinda glad the album is over. I don't think I'm gonna come back to this too often, the vocals really aren't my vibe for the most part. I think I'm gonna give this a 4 instead of a 3 cause I get why it's on the list. I like the overall production, instrumentals, and lyrics. Change the vocals and remove track 6, I think I'd love this. My favorite is probably Enter Sandman, basic I know. 3.75/5
Listened to a bit of this at a friends house, really liked it, was very good
I’m sure at the time of release it really did seem like the band had sold out, but with hindsight you can see how important this album is. Metallica may have made this album more accessible to even non-metal fans, but I don’t think they sacrificed anything in the process. An interesting array of songs and styles with a couple tracks I don’t really care for, otherwise a very enjoyable and cohesive album.
An album I’ve listened to many times already as my husband loves Metallica. It’s not my favourite genre or one I listen to much but I can appreciate it’s a great album and enjoyed it as it brings back good memories.
Enter Sandman - 5/5 Sad But True - 5/5 Holier Than Thou - 3.5/5 The Unforgiven - 4/5 Wherever I May Roam - 4/5 Don't Tread on Me - 3/5 Through the Never - 4/5 Nothing Else Matters - 5/5 Of Wolf and Man - 4/5 The God That Failed - 3.5/5 My Friend of Misery - 4/5 The Struggle Within - 3.5/5 Normally I wouldn't think of an album that somehow sounds more mainstream while being a shift towards heavy metal would work out, but this album somehow does. A perfect gateway album into anything metal. Overall - 4/5 Favorites: Enter Sandman, Sad But True, Nothing Else Matters
Definitely an album id listen to on the regular
Very solid album. My favourite new finds were Holier Than Thou and My Friend Of Misery. Enter Sandman is probably my favourite Metallica song.
metallica always fire
Fun, fast, has the hits. Nothing else matters Enter sandman Sad but true
Really nice álbum i didnt spect whose was it like that.
There was part of me that just wanted to listen to the hits & scream 5 STARS at the top of my lungs but then I listened to the whole album. Its a 4 Star album mostly for the last two forgettable tracks. It just sorta peters out & even the last track ends abruptly, somewhat jarringly. That's my criticism, other than that, it's a metal masterpiece. 4
Metallica’s Black Album is one of those records whose reputation is fully earned, even if it isn’t something I reach for all that often. The big singles (Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters, Sad But True) are undeniable. They’re massive, perfectly produced, and still hit hard decades later. Its influence on metal (and mainstream rock as a whole) is unmatched. This album didn’t just expand Metallica’s audience; it reshaped what heavy music could be on a global scale, opening doors for countless bands that followed. The songwriting is tighter, the production is immaculate, and every track sounds huge. That said, as much as I respect it, I don’t find myself wanting to listen to the album front-to-back very often. Beyond the standout tracks, it can feel a bit too polished and mid-tempo for repeat spins, especially compared to Metallica’s earlier, more ferocious work. An essential album by any objective measure, and one I’m glad exists…even if it stops just short of personal classic status for me.
Some absolute classics, and well done... but it was a little exhausting listening to the *entire* album. This music wants you to maintain an energy, or even a level of outrage that is hard to do without some sort of related provocation.
Solid album
Solid metal
Brought them to a wider audience with Bob Rock’s slightly more ‘accessible’ production, with some hit singles in there. In some top audiophiles lists of best sounding albums.
The album that brought Metallica into the mainstream and saw their popularity explode. Massive singles, more commercial production, less-complicated songwriting but still a great 'tallica album 🤘🤘
This is the first time listening to an entire Metallica album. I like this album and some of these songs are classics.
So so good, i completely forgot how much i like rock. I rate it a 9/10
Classic
This was a great album. I enjoyed rocking to it.
Not too bad aged well
Great album!! 4 and 1/2 stars
The definitive entry-level hard rock album. The best songs are incredible, the weak just blends in
YEAH!
Great album, best metal album so far. Everyone knows Enter Sandman, but the other songs are consistently great and highlight their skills as musicians. So close to giving this 5 stars
Hate to be a basic bitch but this is in fact my jam. As a teenager I listened to the first half of this album on repeat over and over until the batteries on my CD player ran out. Only 4 stars instead of 5 because, in my opinion, the second half of this album is skippable.
Great rocking album. Metal made accessible to the masses. Musicianship spot on and lyrics well thought out. Amazing. Still, a 4.4 on my scale.
a little long but an amazing album, i used to not like this kind of music but after the past couple of albums i’ve listened to i think i might be a fan, or at least be in the mood to listen to it, amazing album
its been a minute since i listened to this one!
Tää onkin sit vähän kinkkisempi arvostella. Eihän tää omissa listoissa mitenkään yllä MoPin, Justicen tai lightningin kanssa samalle sivulle, mutta on tässä oma viehätyksensä. Monia radioralleja jotka on kyllä täysin kuluneita jo, mutta eikai yleisestä liikasoitostakaan voi hirveesti pinnoja ottaa pois. Jos tätä levyä ei olis koskaan tehty niin Metallica ei varmaan olis koskaan noussut niin suureen suosioon kuin tänä päivänä (jos genre olisi pysynyt trässissä loppuun asti). Ei tälle kolmostakaan voi antaa ja ei tää vitoseen yllä.
I remember right before this came out VARA's Vuurwerk, the metal show on national radio in the Netherlands, broadcast the entire album. That's how big they already were before this album. They were already headlining in venues that were only slightly smaller than arenas. If you went into town, you were sure to meet some metalheads wearing Metallica T-shirts or patches. Still people say they sold out with this record. They didn't. It was a big risk to mellow out. They had a lot to lose. About the album itself: Contrary to a lot of 90s albums, it's not too long. It doesn't have any filler. But it's not my favorite album of theirs. It's a good gateway album to metal. It's heavier than the usual music you hear on the radio, but not all that heavy compared to modern metal. The singing is aggressive, but not over the top aggressive. To be fair, the singing is the weakest part. The singer has a range of about 3 notes. Favorite song: My Friend of Misery
I really enjoyed this album! I think this was my first time listening to a Metallica album all the way through and it was a great experience. They have a very distinct sound and vibe that automatically makes me go that’s Metallica! I don’t listen to much metal but this was a great album that I will be listening to again!
I liked the album a lot but I have to be in the mood to listen to it and I wasn’t. That being said I appreciate the complexity of the music and how it is different from their earlier work. Such good music. Oh and found out that The Unforgiven by Cage the Elephant is a cover… I like cte cover more
It's a solid listen, smooth sequencing. The only Metallica song I know and listen to often is No Leaf Clover. Never got into the band, but I enjoyed this album and ended up liking many of the tracks. My favorite is probably Sad But True.
Not my favorite, but my first.
Maybe controversial to give 4 (instead of 5), but a great album nonetheless.
I liked this more than Master of Puppets. Still a little same-y at times, but the production is spot on and the songs kick ass. Great introduction to metal to noobies like myself. This record deserves its place on the list.
It’s good… each song is just a little long.
#20 🤘🤘🤘
I've spent the greater part of my adult life chasing bands with pedal steel guitars, fiddler and banjos... sadly depriving myself of heavier music like this. Gotta listen to Metallica more often. Much more often.
One of the albums that heralded me towards my heavier proclivities. Not my favorite thrash metal band, and not my favorite album by Metallica, but there is a reason this is gateway metal music. It’s approachable and still maintains some teeth.
Great album! Though the remaster doesn’t scratch the nostalgia itch really well. Looked around for the original and enjoyed it again.
Melodic Metallica. Lyrics not based on novels or war. This was a pretty big change and the Kill ‘Em All fans didn’t see it coming.
Oh boy. I guess it’s high time, but I don’t anticipate liking much beyond the singles. I also wouldn’t be surprised if I was wrong and like a lot of this, though. — My second guess was correct. This is close-ish to rounding up to a 5, maybe a 4.3 or 4.4, but it does not round up in the end. I was somewhat surprised to discover that even today this kind of music is still considered “heavy” metal. This is like, barely one step heavier than Ghost, I’m sorry. I guess maybe I’m not as unable to enjoy the “heavier” stuff as I thought. Possibly the worst aged carelessly jingoistic song title ever, hah. But it’s also a good song. Overall a solid one and despite the ways in which modern metal has surpassed it in heaviness (if I even know what that term means, I’m not sure anymore!) the music standing alone from its genre tag hasn’t aged badly at all. Will definitely be returning, and not like my last 4-star (3+3 by The Isley Brothers) where I’d mostly put it on during sex or dinner or something. If I put this on during sex or a nice dinner party I’m a doppelgänger and you have to kill me. Thanks.
Metallica had taken as far as they could their sound, so the natural thing to do was to strip that thing down and it revealed that they have some great chops. Wish it was a bit shorter, some songs just go on for days(totally fine in some cases, others less so). The bass shines on this one, who would've thought that giving a bit of low end would work for them?
Classic.
When I saw this on the list I thought it'd be an easy 5 stars, knowing many of the songs before. And the first half sure delivers, with almost every song being a hit song. But then the second half comes. And apart from 'Nothing Else Matters', which might be one of the best metal ballads of all time, there is not much else to be excited about. 'Through The Never' sounds like a worse version of 'Master of Puppets', and the other songs just aren't interesting. Perhaps you've grown a bit too used to the formula at this point? Not sure. With that in mind, I have to say this has dropped to a 4 for me. When half of the album is really good, and the other half not, it's hard to justify it being a stellar album. PS. I just have to get it to writing that Metallica sure knows how to nail a sweet snare drum sound. Must be the juiciest snare sound I've ever heard on this record.
and another metal icon
4.0
This album is the single, clearest marker of the end of metal's 80s heyday and the beginning of its 90s decline. Still, the "Enter Sandman" video was my entry to a lifetime of metal fandom, and the black album tour was my first big concert. Young Me, however, quickly moved to the more extreme subgenres and took every chance to shit on this album and call Metallica sellouts. Now that some time has passed, I appreciate this over-produced, carefully written hard-rock monstrosity for the special entity it is.
Metal is not one of my favorite genres, but can’t deny the musical stylings of the black album. From the banger of enter sandman, to my favorite sad but true (revisiting the multiple muse of addiction for the band). The whole album, even the songs that aren’t well known are well made and are the most accessible metals ever been to me. Classic album worthy of its place in music history
Best: "Enter Sandman" Worst: "The Struggle Within"
I'm fighting against nostalgia for this one. At Virginia Tech (college I went to), the opening song for football games is the opening to Enter Sandman, and everyone in the stands literally jumps continuously during the opening. It's an exciting amount of energy (especially for such a mediocre sportsball team). Overall though, I think this is a 3/5 for me, but nostalgia is imploring me to push it to 4/5 just for the opening song.
This is one of my favorite albums. I would argue that it is THE thrash metal album. Many hits that are so iconic that they're still frequently used today. It's also a pretty complete album in terms of flow between tracks and distinct sound.
This is the soundtrack to my childhood. My 30 or 40 something parents are working out in the basement on Saturday and I’m trolling around lifting one pound weights like I’m Arnold S. Good stuff. Nothing else matters.
Actually enjoyed this one. Enough interesting music and lyrics
Another album I've listened to a bunch when I was younger, not as good as the first four albums in my opinion because I much prefer the thrashiness of those, but it's still really solid and has some great tracks, especially in the first half.
Listened to this lifting weights after a breakup
Metalheads criticize this album because it is too accessible. Fuck that. Punk is the appropriate genre for music is about attitude. This is a hill I'm willing to die on. This is just seriously great hard rock. It is a perfect pick for this genre and this project.
Fascinating. Been meaning to listen for a while but not sure it would’ve hit the same.
Nothing Else Matters ist genial. Ansonsten auch ziemlich gute Songs.
Ah hell yes here we go! Good to finally get to something heavy! Although their best albums were before this one, this is a pretty important piece of the puzzle regarding this band’s history. There’s no denying how fucking awesome this album sounds! Huge props to Bob Rock and his team for recording and mixing some of the greatest tones in heavy music history. The slower tempos really fit this new style and recording. It basically shows you how important Black Sabbath is to heavy music! It’s still a little disconcerting to hear how much they simplified thei riffs and songs but they knew what they were doing because this is the beginning of them becoming one of the greatest and most popular heavy metal bands ever. Although a bit long, because of the age of cds at this point in time, they really do a good job with each and every song on this album. They really learned from the last album how to throw in some good arrangement tricks in their songs and there’s definitely some good ones here to keep things interesting. The only thing preventing this from a perfect score is the fact that their best albums were before this, in a different style, so I hope those albums come up at some point on this journey. Otherwise, yes, this album is essential listening for anyone who considers themselves a music fan. And those who don’t know this band should absolutely check out all of their previous albums!
*Solid rock/metal album with some bangers- Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, etc.
Good but not their best
Wonderful, good all the way through.
Like Abbey Road for Black Metal enthusiasts
Solid album
Haven't really been a big Metallica fan, but this looks like a good one. Enter Sandman - 10/10. Iconic guitar intro. I'll try to ignore the flashbacks to Mariano Rivera walking in to this intro throughout the 90's. Exactly the hard, uncompromising sound I expect from Metallica. Nice guitar solo in the bridge. Not my taste in music, but it is almost perfect. Sad But True - 8/10. Again, the hard, uncompromising, simple sound of Metallica, but with some interesting rhythmic refinements at places. Holier Than Thou - 6/10. Feels very generic hair metal. Well done, but generic. The Unforgiven - 10/10. A very different feel in the intro, and I like it. This has always been one of the Metallica songs I liked. Great musicianship. No notes. Wherever I May Roam - 6/10. Generic Metallica song about touring. Not bad, but not great, either. Don't Tread on Me - 7/10. I like the West Side Story callout in the intro. Little things like showing that the band is more than just knuckle-dragging hard metal players makes songs better. Through the Never - 6/10. Generic Metallica. Nothing Else Matters - 10/10. Great tune. Somehow Metallica doesn't feel out of place playing a slow, waltz-time Power Ballad. This, more than the thrashing of other songs, showcases how good the musicians are in this band. Of Wolf and Man - 7/10. More variety than the generic thrash metal of the worse tracks on this album. The God that Failed - 8/10. Good. I can hear some deep pain in the lyrics. I don't know what happened, but it elevates the song. My Friend of Misery - 6/10. Generic. The Struggle Within - 6/10. Generic. Overall Rating 3.75/5 (7.50/10). Nothing really bad on this album. Couple of real greats, but it was spotty (probably because thrash/hair metal isn't really my preference).
Great album of aggressive but melodic rock! Apart from the classic songs, all the other tracks were good.
I loved metal back in 2021, now its okay, one of my favorites songs of all time is enter sandman 4/5
Je préfère ça à Master of Puppets… ce qui est surement une hérésie à affirmer dans le monde des métalleux. Mais j’aime beaucoup leur riffs vraiment lours ici, plus que le trash metal super rapide. Juste me suis même surpris à faire un « devil » avec ma main et à headbanger pendant Enter Sandman!
Pretty damn good metal, very accessible music in general. I couldn't say I'd listen to most of this again, as metal isn't really my vibe, but it's still admittedly great.
Classic
top 3: - enter sandman - the unforgiven - nothing else matters
Sandman never gets old. Very polished and even has a bass player. Would I listen to again? Definitely.
I still enjoy it, though not as much as 30+ years ago. 4.5*
Pretty good all round not quite as good as master of puppets, ride the lightning or justice
Good metal album; really have to be doing the right thing to be listening to metal
4- Stars (10/15)
Some great songs coupled with some classic Metallica heavy metal. A bit more melodic than previous albums.
Wow! I really enjoyed that, what I blast! I knew Enter Sandman obs but I didn’t think I would get into the whole album, but I did. I shall be playing this again and maybe even attempting to drum along!
This album felt long, but there’s plenty of crucial Metallica in there.
I have a hard time choosing between this album and Master of Puppets as my favorite Metallica album. Stylistically they're quite different, as the Black album isn't thrash at all, but has a ton of great tracks that are timeless.
4 de 5
9/1001 I played the crap out of this when it came out. Probably would rate it five stars then. Honestly hasn’t gotten a lot of plays in the 2000’s though. Still sounds great.
Interesting cultural influence with some experimental instruments often used throughout, although almost always joined by a familiar chug guitar. Overall a good album from a solid band. Nothing else matters an epic that must be listened to.
Classic tracks, and although more commercial than their earlier thrash days brought metal to a whole new audience so due some kudos for that. Sounds polished, feels a little long towards the end but a good listen to a band I don’t stick on often. Chugs galore.
Disclaimer: this band gave me life and ears when I was a kid, and still makes me shake like a mfer. So this one is personal. Probably the band that influenced me the most, and my taste. With that, I can NOT give it 5 stars, at least ehis album. Yeah, it's probably the most known. Yeah, it has some singles and Enter Sandman. But it lacks bite and irreverence. And comparing it to their earlier works only makes it worse. TLDR: 4 stars, and waiting for Master of Puppets to be sugested.
Really good. A bit long and a few songs didn't hit for me, but there are 3 or 4 amazing songs and another 3 or 4 really good songs. A bit of nostalgia for me too as I definitely listened to this album when I was a kid.
The sell-out album. The metal album for plebeians. I feel as though I can only say this as someone born after this album was released but I think expecting any kind of band to only release the same kind of music for their entire duration as a band is... a little grim. While I can sympathise with disappointed fans with the direction of Metallica (especially with the releases after this album!), I think there's a definitely place for digestible heavy metal albums like this - especially in the 90s. And I think Metallica achieved that incredibly well with this album. Honestly, I think Metallica will be one of those bands that people will listen to for years to come... both for this album and their previous thrash metal work. As for my own enjoyment of this album, I initially rated this a 4/5 but I really not sure I get the same enjoyment of it in 2025. It's a little bit too slow, maybe? or predictable? or, dare I say, pop-centric? Thinking about it a little more, I think it's because this is more like a hard rock album masquerading as a heavy metal album. Hard rock is the kind of sound that Metallica would focus on in their next two albums, and which haters would probably argue is exactly the kind of radio-friendly sound that sell-outs would go for. I think Enter Sandman is undeniably a good song, albeit cursed by the radio and dads forever. My favourites from this release are: The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam, and Nothing Else Matters. I think I'm going to downgrade this to a 3.5 but it remains an album, similar to Nirvana's Nevermind that I'm not going to judge someone for enjoying.
Альбом четко выверенный и сделанный по всем правилам, звучит хорошо! Не моя любимая музыка, но сделано все в целом круто и добротно
Acabo de escuchar el black album. Para alguien quien no está acostumbrado al Metal, es un disco amigable. Muchos clasicos, temas heavy pero no taaaan heavy. Riffs que son faciles de escuchar, sin solos virtuosos tipicos del metal que te ponen a dormir, la bateria siempre basica y simple de Lars. Buena musica en general. 4 por los mega clasicos
Excellent level of production. This is a very well-polished metal album, which is great because… it doesn’t always sound like metal. There’s melodies and ballads, and those are the highlights that made this an all-time classic.
This might be the finest heavy metal album out there. This self-titled album is longer than I traditionally like, but Metallica kept the bangers coming, one after another, so much that I didn't notice the length. I also usually enjoy albums with more of a variety; Metallica is very good at what they do, but their hits especially sound similar, but again I didn't mind it. The guitar and drums went so hard, and the arrangement was well done.
This is SUCH a great metal album. This album is chock full of Metallica bangers, so many of them with delicious guitar riffs that many know and love. This is a lot less thrashy then a lot of their work, and just leans into a heavier sound in general. Suffice to say that this strategy works well for them here, because this may very well be Metallica's magnum opus, and no doubt one of the magnum opuses of the entire metal genre.
Better than ...And Justice For All by a long way.
Undeniable classic with so many bangers! It starts so strong and then falls a way a bit I feel and loses my interest slightly but on the whole, great album. Favourite track: Sad but true
So many great songs
Lacks the ornate musicianship of previous but still absolutely slaps, and Nothing Else Matters is a beautiful song
While I think this is a good album with some absolute Metallica classics, I believe that RtL,MoP and AJFA are just better overall.
Good ablum. amazing few smash hits. Can compare to likes of Thriller but half songs are not that memorable and can not say that it was that influential comparing to the previous work of theirs.
This album slaps so fucking hard it makes me wanna go 50 mph in a residential area
frickin awesome
For a self titled album this certainly hits all the marks. Distinctive sound the set up a future of politically/historically charged metal. This is the Metallica people know and love, and it has good reason to be remembered the way it is.
Very great album Has the best Metallica songs on it
9,0
likeee . no se cuando lo escucharia pero me gusta, buen sonido y ritmos
Pretty good. I think Metallica might be my first rock band I am getting into. Some of the songs sounded a little samey, though.
Didn't have much time yesterday, so I listened to it on Tuesday. A fine album in my opinion. "Self-Titled" has some really cool songs. The first two tracks are the best ones. Imagine if the other songs were as good as these two. 4 stars for "Self-Titled".
God, Enter Sandman is still one of my favorite rock ballads of all time. It’s such a fun song and completely turns a left field from your expectations. Rest of the album is great but that one is definitely my personal favorite a highlight.
Metallica are a band I came to later than what most people would call their classic albums so I probably didn't hear this in full until the 2000s although would have been aware of the popular tracks from it. I probably don't need to hear _Enter Sandman_ again! I know that this has many purist fans divided as it was a lean away from their thrash roots into a more popular stadium rock area but tbh, it's those tracks, the Morricone inspired_The Unforgiven_, the eastern sounding_Wherever I May Roam_, and power ballad_Nothing Else Matters_ that are my highlights of this album. There’s no denying that this was a landmark album in the genre and full deserves its place here.
Good, not as epic as my childhood self remembers tho
Good, didn't finish.
Hard rock/metal isn’t really my thing, but this album kicks so much ass.
The point at which Metallica shift from a metal band to a stadium rock band? Some great songs (that have been overplayed to death) and some filler. Metallica lyrics are always pretty stupid but here it seems like they're trying to be deep but failing massively.
2 songs are absolute bangers, and the others fall just behind in quality, then a couple more are "meh". I didn't find the songs as a whole produced a 5/5, but its a solid 4.5/5 - 4/5 for me.
I finally got around to seeing these guys in my twenties while they were touring this album with Suicidal Tendencies and Dokken. Seemed like they’d been touring this forever by then, but it was still damn good!
"Enter Sandman" was the riff we all learned in our highschool "I'm gonna learn guitar phase!" and then became the song blasting out of every dorm room freshman year of college. This was the last hurrah for hair and thrash metal's broad popularity before Nirvana jumped in. It was a fun time. I don't know if I love this album. But I am having some fun listening to the forgotten tracks on here. I think they held up way better than the singles did.
Enter sandman: 5 Sad but true: 4 Holier than thou: 3.5 The unforgiven: 5 Wherever I may roam: 4.5 Don’t tread on me: 4 Through the never: 4 Nothing else matters: 5 Of wolf and man: 4 The god that failed: 4 My friend of misery: 3.5 the end saves it The struggle within: 3.5 same as last
The Black Album is a landmark record for Metallica, and for good reason. About half this album comprises of very well known songs amongst their catalogue; most notably, of course, the first track on the album: Enter Sandman. I won't say this album's perfect, as some songs just kinda didn't feel like they had a notable individual impact compared to others like Unforgiven or Nothing Else Matters. However, I think this album is worth your time to experience why it pushed Metallica into the limelight.
Great listen, falls off a bit towards the end
listened to this hundreds of times, don't need to listen to it again
Plenty to love and hate here. Kind of impossible to think about objectively with all the after-the-fact knowledge of what this album represented & led to. Sad but True is still an absolute monster.
Saved Enter sandman and Through the never. The rest of the album sounds very same-y sadly. But at least it's a good kind of same-y so the album is actually fun to listen through!
Classic. Certainly a bit less thrashy and more radio-friendly than their previous albums but still goes pretty hard. Monster riffs and ripping solos on pretty much every track.
I bought Metallica the day it came out. I still have the cd. I played it a lot and it was an important album to me. Sonically it was a monster. However this record has steadily faded over time. It was supposed to sound more live, but I don’t hear that. Never have. The lyrics are terrible, and Hetfield continues to write self help songs with weird grammar today. Unforgiven stands out as kinda dumb. But, the musicianship here is great. I actually like the two elements that tend to get the most criticism by metal heads, namely the drums and lead guitar. I don’t understand why they get so discussed. Lars’ parts are integral to every song. More than just a groove. Kirk’s solos are so melodic and full of fire. Overall a flawed album but a rocker nonetheless.
The first time I’ve listened to this whole album, I really liked the songs they liked while the other stuff was just good.
I may not like Metallica, but I gotta give props to this album from their long-haired past. It's some solid rock from beginning to end.
Obviously a slapper
Yeah this rocks pretty damn hard
It's a difficult one to rate as nothing else matters, enter sandman and friend of misery are some of the best songs they've ever recorded. Unfortunately though quite some of the other songs really mesh together and don't stand out as much. I can see myself regularly returning to songs from this album, and I enjoyed my time with it, but I don't see myself wanting to listen to the whole album again.
Much maligned “sell out” album. I feel like if this was released by a different band, it would be better perceived. I have to admit that I miss the thrashier sound of their older albums but there are undeniable songs here.
Listen to get pumped
good record, some absolutely bangers on, strong opening and it doesn’t get bad at all, awesome stuff
7.5/10 Highlights: The Unforgiven Wherever I May Roam Enter Sandman Sad But True My Friend of Misery
Æ trodde kanskje ikke æ likte Metallica, men æ tror det e riktigere å si at æ ikke bryr mæ om Metallica? Det va på ingen måte fornærmanes, og det fikk mæ til å lese mæ litt opp på det teite «don’t tread on me»-flagget, men det va alt.
On second listen I did really enjoy this, it still feels really formulaic though.
Yes boy! Big, proper riffs are in. Riffs to rock you. Riffs to shake you! Riffs to pick you up off your feet and slap you round the chops. There's lots of big tunes in here. Enter Sandman. Sad But True. The Unforgiven. Nothing Else Matters - My God! It's such an accomplished album. Even if you took away all the big big hitters, the rest of the songs are, at worst, still good. 4.5 rounded down.
🗯 Sometimes selling out means levelling up. And who cares when it’s a monster like this? After a decade of thrash dominance, Metallica stripped things back, slowed things down, and made an album designed to conquer arenas — and it worked. Enter Sandman, Sad But True, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam, Nothing Else Matters — these are songs so woven into the fabric of rock radio that even people who don’t know Metallica know Metallica. That’s an achievement! It’s divisive for diehards: too polished, too mainstream, too much Bob Rock gloss. But in hindsight, it’s the record that made them the biggest metal band on earth. The riffs are still heavy, the grooves punishing, and James Hetfield’s bark had never sounded bigger. Driving with this cranked still feels dangerous in the best way. Love it or loathe it, The Black Album is the moment Metallica bent metal to their will and dragged the genre into the mainstream. For this guy, it meant a little dude behind big drums trying to master these songs, thinking Lars was the consummate drummer. That was then….. 🤣 Verdict: Essential (not just for metal, but for rock as a whole) For fans of: Megadeth, Pantera, Guns N’ Roses, shouting “YEAH!” in a Hetfield growl
I am not particularly into metal because I often find it overwrought, self-important, gibberish. Any day of the week, give me punk. But this was better than most, which is usually somewhere in the middling range. I will listen to this again.
I understand all the true believers' arguments as to why this album was such a sellout/disappointment. I like RTL/MOP era Metallica better too. But damn...it is pretty hard to argue that this album is anything other than a hard rock masterpiece. There are only a few clunkers scattered among a lineup of absolute bangers (including the criminally overlooked The God That Failed). I first bought this on cassette tape and I vividly remember riding the school bus and listening to it on my Sony Walkman, just rocking out inside my head.
This is instantly better than And Justice For All. This music has way more variety, and I’m surprised to say I liked it.
78/100 my introduction to metallica, very good, still ill asf and cant write a proper review to save my life