Reviews (page 8 of 15)
Not my favorite Metallica album
Take the band names and about 5 of the songs that have been played 4.8 billion times out, and it’s a solid hard rock album. Rack the name on, it’s divisive as hell. ‘Holier than Thou’ though is an underrated banger
Never had anything for Metallica. I don't think that will change anymore
the first two songs made me feel a bit meh as you hear them so many times. but then Holier than thou and the unforgiven kick in and you remember how good they can be
'Exit light / Enter night.' Except that this night has little of the color or the confusion that makes night an exciting, unpredictable part of our lives. I've seen interviews w/ Metallica, and James Hetfield in particular always struck me as a kindhearted individual, but Metallica's formulas don't do it for me. While I find myself nodding my head occasionally, their riffs are heavy but they aren't bluesy, i.e., they don't approach Sabbath's soulful metal. Kirk is clearly a gifted guitarist, but his solos are perfunctory, and Ulrich's a dense and uninteresting drummer. Most damningly, Hetfield is a corny lyricist, no matter how sincere: 'Never free, never me / So I dub thee unforgiven.' I do, however, appreciate the nod to West Side Story on 'Don't Tread on Me.'
own
I mean yeah it’s great but we knew this
2.5/5
Some absolute classics on here but it’s quite bloated and their older stuff is better.
I think best metal album of all time
This is not a hard one to write. When this album came out, it created a seismic shift is rock/metal because, for the first time, metal went mainstream. The reason is Metallica actually put Jason’s Newsted’s bass on the track as opposed to leaving it turned down to ‘haze’ him into the band after Cliff Burton’s death (dick move, Mr. Ulrich). In truth, the album slowed down the temp and used a heavier drop-D tuning, and in doing so created the groove metal era. This can be attributed more to producer Bob Rock than to the band. Metal purists say this was the end of metal but for most it became the Golden Era for the genre as established bands like Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Testament, Suicidal Tendencies, Motley Crue and new bands like Pantera, Sepultura and Machine Head (now all legends) all followed suit. There are some great songs, such as the radio/video king Enter Sandman, and the ballads Unforgiven (the original the only good one of the three they did) and second intro-guitar players dream Nothing Else Matters (no cords, just four open strings), the heavy Sad But True and God Who Failed, and Newstead's immortal bass-riff contribution My Friend of Misery. I am biased: I was one of millions of 14 year olds who waited in line for this album. In retrospect, Metallica had better albums earlier, but this one set the entire genre ablaze. It’s an accessible must listen.
Random Thoughts: * I remember either owning this album on cassette tape or borrowing it from someone for an extended period of time in 1991-1992. I was 14/15 years old at the time. * I really liked this album when it came out and re-listening to this album brought back a ton of nostalgia. * Of course, "Enter Sandman" is a classic and still rocks out today but several of my other favorite tracks were fun to revisit: "Sad But True", "Wherever I May Roam", and "Nothing Else Matters". * I'm interested to see how my metalhead friend rates this one. * I don't want to really get into the whole Metallica sold out thing. * This album is still a fun listen and has some great songs. You should definitely listen without prejudice. My guess is that you will also find this album fun and rocking!
Ok, but I found myself frequently zoning out. It was quite silly at times-- eg. some song about how cool it is to be a wolf, and a USSR diss track.
As classic rock as it gets... the heaviest music I can stand, even feel like headbanging
Love this album. All the big tracks are still great. Standout track: My Friend of Misery. Weak tracks: Holier Than Thou, Through the Never, Of Wolf and Man, The Struggle Within. These 4 really drag the album down.
Makes me wanna punch my neighbour’s baby through my bedroom wall
I mean. It was certainly Metallica by Metallica. I can see where GGST got its inspiration! But its not super my thibg.
I had heard Enter Sandman before, so I was curious how the rest of the album would compare. Great stuff!
The hits are still hits. Some of the lesser known songs (to me). Are meh.
I don't know how long I can listen to this kind of stuff, but it kinda slapped ngl.
Classic. Many memorable and singable songs that are iconic and ageless. Can replayed over and over and over again. They say this was the last good Metallica album. It's the one with the hits on it.
1. Enter Sandman - 7.5/10 2. Sad But True - 9/10 3. Holier Than Thou - 8.5/10 4. The Unforgiven - 10/10 5. Wherever I May Roam - 10/10 6. Don’t Tread On Me - 8/10 7. Through the Never - 8/10 8. Nothing Else Matters - 10/10 9. Of Wolf and Man - 8.8/10 10. The God That Failed - 9/10 11. My Friend of Misery - 9.5/10 12. The Struggle Within - 8.5/10 9/10
While I tend to disagree with this list about the inclusion of most of the albums that are on this list from the 1990s, this is easily one of the most influential metal albums and one of the most influential albums in general of the 1990s.
Such a solid classic band. Like the beginning of a tough sound that paved the way for sound garden, RATM, and others.
Pretty good. Could probably lose 2 songs and be even better
I like the first song slaying Sad but true- so true Forth song intro my ear likey Nr 8 is very soothing and me is loving it i enjoyed the album very mucho, guddo, greato
Man, what a hot mess of an album, in both good ways and bad. This album marked the band moving away from thrash metal, and towards a notably more marketable, streamlined, and simplified metal sound. While die hard metalheads will likely never forgive this transition, history will likely view this evolution as a good thing - all one has to do is to look at how much of a juggernaut Metallica continues to be in the realm of public consciousness all these years later. That likely never would have happened if they had continued to stick with their 80s thrash sound... just look at Megadeth (no disrespect!) On the one hand, this album produced arguably the most iconic and popular heavy metal song ever made ("Enter Sandman"). On the other hand, "Sad But True" is without a doubt the cheesiest and laziest song on the album (that they ever wrote??) and is a rather unpleasant monument to the band's decision to shift away from their heavy/thrash roots.
Prefer Metallica's thrash-ier stuff but a lot of great riffs on here. 6.5/10. Lot of same sounding songs but not a bad way to spend an hour
\THIS IS TRUE MUSIC/ so there's finally something almost proper for my 202nd album. im not sure wether i should listening to this before taking a nap. enter sandman will probably give me a nightmare. it's a 4.
When I bought this CD, I listened for two weeks every time I drove, and loved it more each time. But it's a bit of an acquired taste. I grew up in Philly, which loves Metallica. You will need to tolerate some abrasiveness, since this is metal. The vocals transition so well, from normal speaking and singing, to subtle growling, to shouting and screaming. Every song will have, in addition to the song itself, at least one complex solo or instrumental passage which is also worth hearing.
Crisp production. Heard some before. “Sandman” overexposed by now.
Metal music is cool, but Metallica in this album focuses so much on power chords, it's like they're brute forcing everything. I prefer more riffs and melodic phrases with the heavier driving force in metal/ heavy rock. 2.6
Massive album. I dig the first half but got tired with the very polished production.
It sounds too rock for me, that’s not my glass of whisky… but I don’t agree with « nothing else matters », as the metal sound rock is not for me and I do matter about it. 2 stars thanks for the tube otherwise I would have ranked only 1 star
Clearly not my favorite one from the band … but yet. It’s one of the landmark rock albums of the ’90s, which helped bring metal into the mainstream by taking Metallica to an unprecedented level. Saw them twice on that tour: unforgettable live memories with my buddy Jerou in 91, …and 1,6 million Russians awakened to freedom with this album when Metallica played live in Moscou. Wherever I may roam is a personal favorite and Nothing else matters is one of the best song ever written according to Elton John. Not trash anymore, but quite a rough rock gem.
Refused to listen.
What a crazy start with enter the sandman, nothing else gets close to that level but relatively solid album.
This album is so good. And was so seminal in my music discovery as a kid. But now all I head is "wahhh Napster, waaahhhh". So a 4 instead of a probably deserving 5. But damn this album still slaps.
Enter Sandman is the goat of this album, and really carries the whole gig. The rest of the songs aren’t offensive to listen to, but they don’t stack up - they play all of their cards on this one right from the start.
5/5. 5 legit bangers on this. And the rest of the album isn't much of a let up. Now excuse me as I take advantage of this adrenaline rush to run through a brick wall and destroy my enemies...
It's got a couple good songs and a very refined production, but it's a far cry from the energy of their first few albums. It's been a while since I've listened to this, but it reinforces for me that And Justice For All was the beginning of the end for Metallica, and this is just further along down that decline.
not what I expected lot of variation interesting, even though I wouldn't call it my genre
Dope
When this came out, heavy metal was about as popular as it has been, and probably ever will be. As a consequence of (or, perhaps, part of the reason for) this is that "the black album" is their most poppy and accessible collection of songs. Fans can argue about whether that makes it their "best" album, but to me it is the most melodic and chart-friendly collection of songs regardless. The simple truth is, my music taste has evolved since 1991 - while I have fond memories of this era, 30-plus years on it is all delivered with such earnest, with such a lack of wit and irony, it just makes me cringe. I mean, I get anger is an energy and all that, but singing about monsters under your bed and shit as if you really, REALLY mean it - come on, give us a break. It's all just a bit silly, isn't it?
- i think i thought metallica was more metal than rock. a wonderful discovery for me personally. they are critically acclaimed for a reason! - such a solid album. love that it’s referred to as ‘the black album’. funny to contrast metallica with the beatles. - would love to see them live. that would be pretty crazy
Listened mostly in the truck and then the last two tracks on the phone via YouTube Music. Half of the tracks are classics and ubiquitous with being alive in America. The other half are still very solid jams. Enjoyed the lesser known tracks Of Wolf and Man, The God That Failed, My Friend Of Misery, and The Struggle Within that closed out the album. Don’t step on snek.
Pretty good but couldve been <50 minutes
Not everybody's favourite style but undeniable gem of hard rock.
songs are a little long, other than that its not bad
Megadeth is better
The first of the post 80s Metallica albums, and arguably the transition to a more mainstream metal sound. The weakest of their first 5 records IMO. A few classics (Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters) none of the rest of the album cracks my personal Metallica top 20
awesome sauce
One of the definitive albums of that year and influenced so many bands. Not my cup of tea but, ehhh… fun listen.
Cranked it. Windows down. Excellent. Hell yes!
Riffs for days. It’s good, but not one I’d listen too all the way through.
Fine
Metallica doing Metallica things. Which are: taking a genre of music im not a usual fan of and injecting enough tune, musicality, light and shade and production quality to make it enjoyable.
One of the best of all time.
Amazing
May just be their best start to finish.
Masterpiece classic
Off to never streaming land.
I was somewhat divorced from heavy music in the 1980s so I missed all the thrash bands and this was probably the first Metallica album I ever heard. Even then, with the exception of "Enter Sandman" and "Nothing Else Matters", I didn't properly listen to this until the turn of the century. It is good. The production is excellent and it is commercial without sacrificing power. There are a lot of excellent songs on here with only a slight dip in quality around the middle. I'm never going to be a Metallica fan, and when I listen to them it will probably be Master of Puppets, but this stands up.
More annoying the longer it went on. I do not like Lars's voice, especially when he tries to shout
Is it metal? Is it Metallica selling out? Is it Metallica's best album? Doesn't matter, it's simply a great listen. 4.5/5
Love this album, always have!
Better than that other Metallica Album.
Couldn’t wait for this to be over! But they made me wait a longgggg time
There is a reason it sold so many copies. It’s more approachable than their earlier work but still hard edged enough for most of their fans to get behind. Never mind the dickheads who say anything after “..and Justice For All” is crap. They are just butt hurt that they now have to share their favorite band with others.
I tried.... I really tried... I just couldn't get in to it. There a were a handful of good songs, but the rest was just repetitive and dull
Perfect for Monday mornings
I didn’t have a single song that I even thought to skip on this album. One of my favorites on this journey.
4.5/10 This was a vast improvement on the first album by Metallica that I got on this list. It was at least listenable, and had some songs I actually liked. Much more straight heavy metal Good production, throwing a lot at it. The bass and drums in particular stood out. Too long. Like 33% too long. But boy do they take themselves seriously. This is not infused with any fun, it is serious music that can’t help but come across as a little pompous. Nothing Else Matters isn’t far off being a parody. Best: Enter Sandman
A solid album through out, numerous hits, the one where they sell out
Pues ok
Що ж, писати про Metallica можна багато, особливо якщо хочеться охопити усі аспекти їх творчості до цього відомого "чорного альбому". До нього гурт вже встиг отримати культовий статус та вважався одним з найуспішніших метал гуртів. Щодо треш металу, то Metallica справді були новаторами та завдяки своїм першим 3 альбомам додали в нього складність та епічність. Усі ці багатошарові вивірені аранжування які при цьому не втрачали у важкості та драйві вирізняли Metallica серед усіх інших треш метал гуртів та зрештою абсолютно заслуговано підняли їх на "металічний олімп". Натомість ...And Justice for All (1988) вже був настільки замороченим, ламаним та технічним, що частково вже торкався прогресів металу. Хоча цей альбом і був сприйнятий здебільшого доволі тепло, дуже багато людей його просто не зрозуміло та пройшли повз. Тому гурт, який ось-ось забрався на верхівку ризикував доволі швидко з неї злетіти та посісти місце "нішевого" гурту, як це відбулось з іншими гуртами "великої четвірки" треш металу. І хоча ніша ця була доволі великою, Metallica такий розклад не влаштовував і вони почали шукати як цього запобігти. Зрештою, так і з'явився знаменитий "Чорний Альбом", що не просто втримав гурт на п'єдесталі, а запустив їх кар'єру у стратосферу. Досягнуто це було тим, що гурт вирішив остаточно відкинути усі натяки на екстремальність яка була у них на початку карʼєри та почали орієнтуватись на більш популярний формат. Пісні стали хуковішими, а вокал Хетфілда «мʼякішим». Разом з тим спростилася структура та ритм. Ритмічно - це вже були здебільшого поп пісні у дусі якогось Бон Джові, але з нижчими гітарами. Остаточною крапкою стала акустична балада Nothing Else Matters, що була просто приречена на успіх. З усього вищенаписаного, можна зробити висновок, ніби я вважаю альбом поганим. Але насправді це не так. Він дійсно не є моїм улюбленим, адже якщо я захочу послухати «рок гімни», то наряд це буде Metallica. Для мене це гурт перших 4-х альбомів де дебютний є найулюбленішим (так, я знаю що він майже повністю складається з каверів). Але сказати, що гурт вчинив помилку почавши робити таку музику, я не можу. Технічно це бездоганний альбом, він ідеально структурований, де кожен елемент просто працює та бʼє в «яблучко». Він вміло грається з настроєм, витримуючи темп між піснями, а кожна фраза «розкачує» композицію та постійно тримає вашу увагу. Що казати, якщо він «вривається» ледь з не найкращого опенеру у світі - Enter Sandman, та завершується ціпким гітарним рифом в The Struggle Within. Окрім цього, його просто неймовірно приємно переслухувати, не тому, що він відкриває кожен раз щось нове, а тому, що кожен раз він дарує захопливий «вау ефект». Він як перші «Месники» чи «Назад у Майбутнє» - просто знає як правильно маніпулювати почуттям радості. Ви можете не бути гіком чи фанатом коміксів, але ці фільми все одно «спіймають вас на гачок». Так само і з «чорним альбомом»: неважливо любите ви метал чи ні, але відчуття «атракціону» вам гарантоване. І насправді не одні Metallica мають такий альбом. Те саме можна сказати про Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses від Slipknot, Come Clarity від In Flames чи Sempiternal від Bring Me The Horizon. Але мінусом є те, що після цього «зсуву» Metallica фактично перестали випускати справді гарні альбоми й кожна наступна їх робота буде ставати тільки гірше і гірше…
No one was more surprised than me to find out I didn’t hate this.
top songs: enter sandman, the unforgiven, nothing else matters would have given it a three if i could tell the difference between half of the songs
Meh, it’s good and I understand the praise, but there’s a reason why their earlier thrash stuff is more acclaimed
I think it's pretty funny that I'm getting this album today since I'm seeing them in concert tonight. Anyways, lots of "real" metal heads complain about this album but there's a reason why this is one of the best selling albums of all time. It's a fantastic album and probably the perfect introduction to Metallica and therefore the genre of metal as a whole.
89/100. Metallica's self-titled album, often called the "Black Album," is one of their most iconic records. While some might debate whether it's their best work, there's no denying that it features some of their most memorable tracks. For me, listening to this album brings back a lot of nostalgia. Songs like "Nothing Else Matters," "The Unforgiven," and "Enter Sandman" were staples of my younger days, and they still resonate today. The album delivers a strong heavy metal sound and maintains a consistent energy throughout. Its mix of powerful riffs, catchy melodies, and introspective lyrics has made it a classic in the genre.
Álbum clássico do Metallica. O de maior sucesso comercial. Furou a bolha. Letshuoer D-13.
Starting with Enter Sandman is a bold move. I love that song, so everything after that felt a bit like diminishing returns. (My ears pricked up a bit at Don't Tread On Me though - I wasn't expecting the lyrical flag waving or the musical nod to West Side Story.)
Who knew I liked Metallica?
Already reviewed, listened again for the umpteenth time because it's a mammoth of an album. 6 stars all day. Original review: "Bored of the haters. I love MetallicA and I love this album. Everyone should own it and worship it, whether you like metal or not. Less than 5? PAH, I think not, Metal up your ass!!"
Balls to the wall from the first chord of "Enter Sandman" to the last note of "The Struggle Within." This came out while I was in college and was the standard bearer by which all future metal albums was measured against. This blew my socks off then....and it still does.
Metallica's most radio friendly record. While you can't argue that the songwriting is still exceedingly strong, and the hits from here are more popular than their other albums, I still can't help but lament the "smooth-around-the-edges" hard rock sound this record took in comparison to the exciting, bold thrash from their beginning. If I'm listening to a Metallica album, it's not for the acoustic slow ballads, as good as they are on this record. Best Tracks: - Enter Sandman - Holier Than Thou - The Unforgiven Worst Tracks: - Of Wolf And Man - The Struggle Within Rating: 7/10
ts so lame bruh 2.5
Metallica is actually the perfect name for this band and this album because it represents the pinnacle of what metal should be. They go beyond just screaming and shredding to create something musical and melodic while still keeping the aesthetic of metal. Favorite Track: The Unforgiven
Lät som man trodde, inte min grej
Obviously I have already given Metallica the coveted "canon" title for metal. They are either the go to metal band or sit at the head table with a couple of others, and have earned that place in music history. I personally am not a big fan of either metal nor Metallica (it is to do with their specific underlying beat and groove (non-technically speaking).) Their "riff" if you will. So it is hard for me to be objective with bands like this. Yet I am both impressed with this bands dedication to their fans and the musical craft itself, so I will not put my own bias out there and go with what may reflect a more universal truth to Metallica's level of musicianship.
a Classic album !!
I haven't listened to this album in over 25 years. My ex-wife loved this, and it was in heavy rotation back then. We saw the band for this tour, and they put on a good show, but fast-forward to now, and I just find it boring and repetitive. I think another 25 years is plenty before I listen to this again. Yawn!
Absolute classic
Enter sandman : ★★★★★ Sad but true : ★★☆☆☆ Holier than thou : ★★★☆☆ The unforgiven : ★★★☆☆ Wherever i may roam : ★★★★★ Don't tread on me : ★★★★☆ Through the never : ★★★★☆ Nothing else matters : ★★★★★ Of wolf and man : ★★☆☆☆ The god that failed : ★★☆☆☆ My friend of misery : ★★☆☆☆ The struggle within : ★★★☆☆ Overall score : ★★★☆☆
Masterpiece! Perfect album. Every track is super!
não sei se é pra mim
magnificent metal - play it loud !
Still don't have a clue what the video for "The Unforgiven" was about.
Good background music while working on mindless spreadsheets.
Good to listen to this consciously, opens really strongly but does dry out towards the end. Nothing else matters felt almost country to me on this listen.
YES
Great driving music, love the front half
Peak Metallica, no skips, such fun.
A great album, possibly their best for being the most rounded of their better known albums. Kicking off with Enter Sandman, it’s undeniably good and elevates thrash metal to a higher form than it usually reaches, emblematic of the rest of this album. The ‘cleanness’ of much of this and great use of pauses/silence creates more of an edginess compared to some albums in the genre (including their own work). Beyond that, further highlights included Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam and The Unforgiven. All in all great.
As much as I can't stand Lars for being both a shit drummer AND human...I can't give this album less than a 5....
More polished and less aggressive than their earlier albums and has some of their best songs. An all time great.
Metallica (The Black album) is certainly a beast of an album. I already had some high expectations for these guys after hearing both ...And Justice For All and Master Of Puppets but even this album managed to surpass those two in just about every way. The songs here are fast, heavy and melodic in all the right spots and they can put more effort into being one of those things whenever they need to and it is always handled incredibly well. The production here is also really great with the bass not being pushed back as much as it was in their last album. There isn't a single issue i can even think of with this album so it's getting full marks. Best Song: Enter Sandman Worst Song: The Unforgiven
It's an odd choice to include as honestly its an okay album compared to some of their others.
The small town where I grew up didn't have a record store. It had a photo store that also sold records, CD's and cassettes. When The Black Album was released in the summer of 1991 I was the first person in town to own it. I was waiting at the photo shop when it arrived, and the woman who owned the place handed it to me right out of the box. CD AND cassette. My friend Bill was doing carpentry work on a house around the corner and when I gave him the news as I headed back to my car, he literally dropped his hammer in mid swing and took off down the sidewalk, tool belt and all. He was probably the second person to own it. But as excited as I was to hear the new album from my favorite band, I'd seen MTV's world premier video for Enter Sandman weeks before and I new what I was in for. Metallica was no longer my band. They were everybody's. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has been known to say, "yeah we sellout. Every place we play". Respect. But this avoids answering the question. And the answer is yes. The Black Album is, not unlike U2's Achtung Baby, a deliberate effort to change the sound of their music in order to appeal to a larger, more mainstream audience. This point is not debatable. If you want proof, just watch A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica. Concerning the new direction Metallica took with The Black Album, I will just say this. They didn't need to change their sound. They still would have been the biggest band in the world. And if The Black Album had been produced by Flemming Rasmussen instead of Bob Rock and if Cliff Burton hadn't died, today's world would be a very different place. But, like Def Leppard's Hysteria, Red Hot Chili Pepper's Blood Sugar Sex Magic, and the above mentioned U2 situation, The Black Album is not just a sellout, it is also a GREAT album. It's influence on 90's metal cannot be overstated, and the fact that Metallica was pretty much single handedly responsible for thrash metal's eventual mainstream acceptance is a gargantuan achievement, and one that should be honored. Despite the manufactured appeal, and the fact that I just don't think My Friend of Misery measures up to the rest of the album, I'm giving this a five. Honestly, I think every pre-load Metallica album deserves a five. 5
No words. Just rock.
It's metalica - it has no business being only one song and still an hour...wait, it's multiple songs!? Listenable incel anthems. Not awful, not spectacular. 3/5
A slightly less 'thrash' album which l find a bit more accessible than Master of Puppets, as a non-metal fan. As with the other Metallica albums I've heard on this list, I did find it a bit samey after a while. The riffs are good, solos rock, the vocals are strong and the songs have a great energy. I found this better than MOP as there are some gentle moments to break it up (like the classic Nothing Else Matters) Still don't think I'd listen to this repeatedly though as I was ready for the end around the time of 'The God That Failed'. Capped at 3 as it's too much Metallica for me
This is an all-time great album. This is one of the first metal albums I listened to. The guitar, the drums, the tunes. Nothing else matters. 'Enter Sandman', 'Sad but true', 'Nothing else matters', 'The unforgiven'. All of these songs are amazing. I've always enjoyed their more rock type songs.
Au seuil des années 1990, Metallica n'était déjà plus une promesse mais une certitude sismique de la scène metal. Forts d'une ascension fulgurante depuis leur formation en 1981, les Californiens s'étaient imposés comme les architectes incontestés du thrash metal, un genre qu'ils avaient largement contribué à définir et à populariser avec des albums comme "Master of Puppets" (1986) et le techniquement complexe "...And Justice for All" (1988). C'est dans ce contexte qu'émerge an 1991, leur cinquième album studio, sobrement intitulé Metallica. Rapidement et universellement surnommé "The Black Album" en raison de sa pochette d'un noir quasi intégral, ornée seulement du logo du groupe et d'un serpent discrètement embossés, cet opus allait marquer une rupture radicale avec leur passé et s'imposer comme un véritable phénomène culturel. Le "Black Album" marque une inflexion stylistique majeure dans la discographie de Metallica. Le thrash metal rapide, aux structures labyrinthiques et aux riffs frénétiques qui caractérisaient leurs quatre premiers opus, cède la place à un son résolument plus lent, d'une lourdeur tellurique, et axé sur le groove. Les compositions gagnent en concision et en immédiateté, abandonnant les longs développements instrumentaux au profit de structures couplet-refrain plus traditionnelles, mais non moins efficaces. Parallèlement à la révolution sonore, le "Black Album" témoigne d'une évolution significative dans l'écriture de James Hetfield. Les thématiques sociales, politiques ou inspirées par la littérature et la mythologie, qui dominaient les albums précédents, laissent place à une exploration plus personnelle, introspective, centrée sur des émotions et des expériences universelles. Ce virage vers l'intime a paradoxalement conféré aux textes une portée plus universelle, permettant à un public plus large de s'identifier aux questionnements et aux sentiments exprimés. Le paysage sonore du "Black Album" quant à lui, est dominé par une clarté et une puissance sonore inédites pour le groupe, où chaque instrument trouve sa place avec précision. Cette production léchée, fut un facteur indéniable de l'accessibilité et du succès phénoménal de l'album. La place du "Black Album" dans le paysage musical des années 1990 est particulièrement intéressante. Sa sortie coïncide avec l'explosion du mouvement grunge, venu de Seattle, qui balayait alors une grande partie du hard rock et du metal des années 1980, jugés excessifs ou superficiels. Pourtant, Metallica, avec cet album, n'a pas seulement survécu à la vague grunge ; il a prospéré, coexistant avec des groupes comme Nirvana ou Pearl Jam. Alors que le grunge était souvent perçu comme une réaction anti-metal des années 80, le "Black Album", tout en restant fondamentalement metal, partageait avec ce mouvement une certaine forme de "retour à l'essentiel" et une introspection lyrique marquée. Au final, l'album éponyme de Metallica, par sa production révolutionnaire pour l'époque, son orientation musicale audacieuse et ses thèmes à portée plus universelle, n'a pas seulement propulsé le quatuor au rang de superstars planétaires. Il a profondément redéfini les contours du heavy metal pour le grand public, l'extirpant de sa niche pour l'exposer à une audience mondiale, tout en suscitant, paradoxalement, un débat passionné et durable au sein même de sa fanbase originelle, débat qui continue d'animer les discussions plus de trois décennies après sa sortie. Un 4 sur 5 pour un Monolithe Noir qui a changé la face du Metal.
Some songs that I enjoy, but I tend to find a lot of metal a bit boring? I think it's just not my thing, but it tends to feel a bit long and tiring at times. The heavy guitar in particular stands out as something I wish were different. I just don't get the same emotions from it that some others do. That being said, my favorites were Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters (not exactly original on my end lol)
thought i wouldn't like it but wasn't bad at all
Enter Sandman 4 Sad but True 4.1 Holier than Thou 3.5 The Unforgiven 3.6 Wherever I May Roam 4.1 Don't Tread on Me 3 Through the Never 3.3 Nothing Else Matters 3.6 Of Wolf and Man 3.3 The God That Failed 3.4 My Friend of Misery 3 The Struggle Within 3 Score: 3.491666667
This album has some all time bangers on it. Worth re listening to.
This band always misaligned with me. This is their first album that I became aware of them so to start to hear all the sellout accusations then seems goofy. Looking back i think they were probably just too stupid to understand that whole thing. I think this album would be full blown comedy the likes of spinal tap but I also think they don't understand humor or irony or much of anything. But because of that this is almost a perfect album. It's so straight and so stupid but man they get away with it because they are 100% serious about it. Which is even more stupid.
Been a long time since I've listened to this album but it's timeless. All great songs. Production sounds so good.
Dated corporate rock
I'm gonna be real, this isn't bad at all, but all of these songs are very very contextual. As I sit here at my desk and listen to these tracks, I fully realize I'm supposed to be riding a motorcycle really fast to this or slam dancing in a mosh pit. But since I'm not, I don't feel it.
Not for me
It's alright, 200% energy all way through. For loud noises
3,2
This is like the easy listening of metal. I'm certain it was innovative in some way. Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman are iconic metal songs but the album is just kinda meh in overall feel. I think this feeling has to do with the fact that there has been 3 decades of development within this genre with increasing popularity since this album was released. Overall enjoyable, but feels a bit simple for for the genre overall.
I admit it, I couldn't finish this one.
#476 : 08/05/2025 : Metallic (the Black Album) Finally I'm into something good, I actually have this album too. Enter sandman was my happy place back in the early 90's loved it then and still crank up the volume when I play it today. The rest of the piece is quite ordinary, but with this they've done a pretty decent job. 235 Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Enter Sandman is my favourite track obvs.
5/5 its brilliant
metal. metal that feels like a solid color (here it's black, even if grey is more appropriate). metal everyone knows. metal that is perfectly adequate at what it does -- whatever that is -- and never strives for anything further. metal that took blood sweat and tears to produce. metal that proves you can bleed, sweat, and cry as much as you want and it won't automatically create a gesamtkunstwerk. metal your mom doesn't switch off when the radio plays it. metal the radio plays. metal that you could feasibly cover with your local indie folk band that uses mandocello. metal that fills stadiums. metal that could be considered a "safe aux choice". metal with a bit of thrash and a bit of groove and a bit of alt but really none of those things all at once. metal, stainless steel used for a butter knife made in Hoboken -- durable, polished, dull. metal you would presume is made by a band named "metallic-a".
Metallica. 5/5
Great stuff, absolute classic. Could be a little shorter and more condensed.
Tight. Accurate. Controlled. Creative. Occasionally melodic. It can feel a bit robotic/relentless. There are tiny touches that inject a bit of humanity … the odd string bend, a little bit of blues influenced guitar in a solo. I think it’s a little long. It’s not something I’d choose to listen to, but I can appreciate it as an accomplishment.
This is an easy 5. This album plays so strong out of the gate and has at least a half dozen songs that are staples to their setlist ever since its release. A couple at the end could have been cut but I’m not going to hold that against them in this case since the album as a whole is one of the undeniable Mike markers in rock and roll.
Normally I’d be rating a record down due to its length. But even though the back end of this gets a bit repetitive, this gets top billing. Its influence, accessibility, popularity, legacy and overall level of game-changing rockness can’t be denied. To quote lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap: “How much more black could it be? And the answer is none…none more black.” A sure fire banger across the board.
Fairly classic album, with an all time track one. I guess I remember this album going a little harder sonically than it actually does, but still great.
Easy 5 and for me, one of the greatest of all time in my book. I think every song hits. Sad But True is a great example of something that is so freaking heavy and not even that fast. Sandman riff is timeless. Shit, every song has a great riff. Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters are an incredible heavy ballads. Greatness.
If you were to ask middle school/high school me to rate this album it would be 10/10 and likely the greatest album of all time. My tastes have changed but hard to deny this album and the impact it had on metal/hard rock. Metalheads and soccer moms both agreed this album ripped ass (in a good way). I listened objectively and at the end had favorited the first 10(!) tracks! Cut the last two songs and it’d be perfect. 4.5/5
I'm going in with an open mind. And you know what? It wasn't bad. I might actually listen to more of their stuff eventually.
A solid banger
Not a Metallica fan but can't deny this album has some classics
6/5 No nyt! Albumi kokonaisuutena kivenkova timantti, josta ei heikkoa kohtaa löydy. "The Unforgiven" on omalla top20 parhaat biisit maailmassa listalla. "Wherever I May Roam" ja "My Friend Of Misery" suosikkeja levyltä. Ja kaikki loputkin.
Olihan hieno. En kovin paljoa tätä genreä itsekseni kuuntele, mutta melkein kaikki kappaleet silti tunnistin. Ja onhan Nothing Else Matters vaan upea!
Metallican ensimmäinen pehmeämpi levy, vaikka rokkaakin jykevästi. Levyltä löytyy ne singlet, jotka kaikki on joskus kuullut. Levyllä on paljon muutakin hyvää, mutta ajoittain kappaleet tuntuvat pitkästyttäviltä. Muutamien kitarariffien varassa viisi minuuttiakin voi tuntua pitkältä. Hyvät puolet lyriikoista lähtien jättävät kuitenkin huonot puolet varjoonsa. 4
Onhan se hyvä....
Helpoin 5 ⭐️ tähän mennessä. Kulutan kyseistä genreä ja erityisesti juuri tämän aikakauden. Yksi neljästä suurimmasta trash metal bändeistä, kahta olemmekin jo ehtineet kuulla mutta mahdammeko päästä nauttimaan niistä kahdesta muustakin. Kovia riffejä ja biisi toisensa jälkeen vie levyä eteenpäin junan lailla. Levylle ei huonoa kappaletta ole eksynyt. Platta on täyttä 💎
En oo ikinä lämmennyt itseään toistavalle trashmolotukselle mutta täytyy myöntää että tällä levyllä on kyllä paljon helmiä ja hyviä riffejä.
I havent listened to this album in its entirety since it came out. It will be another 34 years before I do it again. What a MAJOR disappointment it still is. Overproduced Boring/Unexciting Sell Out Metallica going from pioneers of Thrash Metal to radio friendly hard rock has got to be one of the biggest betrayals of rock history. What this listen did for me though was make me realize that even if this album came out by a different band, I still wouldn't like it.
Nothing Else Matters was the first Metallica song I ever heard. I remember that in high school, they sometimes played it during the graduation ceremony. 😅 Anyway, so many hits. My personal favorite is Enter Sandman because I heard it live in Munich in 2024 while standing in the Golden Circle. It was an unforgettable experience to sing this song in front of James! (I was only about three meters away from him.) A totally incredible way to close the show!
It has "the song" on it but also loads of other bangers, I remember first getting hold of this album in 1999 I reckon. It's a beast. Mid 5.
Apart from the 2 good songs, I truly don't see the appeal. Everyone in my hick town loved this shit. Not me.
I don't think I've listened to this album very intensely often. It's quite a good album, it's got a number of strong songs. Most of them are very well known, but my absolute favourite is the very strong 'Wherever I may roam'. But there are also quite some pretty mediocre songs. Nothing's really bad, it's just not happening in for example 'Holler than them', The struggle within'' and a couple of others. Oh, and, well: it's not really the Metallica from the eighties, is it? But that's their choice, it isn't forbidden to change your style. It's just not as good.
They say if you listen to this album while watching the first FACES OF DEATH on VHS and rolling your eyes back like the Undertaker that your dad finally comes back from the store with cigarettes and milk.
Quite average to be honest, not off putting but not great either. The cover version of John Lennon’s ‘Working Class Hero’ fits nicely as it doesn’t really know what it’s about, and neither does this album.
Amazing but kinda boring
Som en vänlig manspread
Solid album. Wears on you by the end but has some all time classics! Great listen.
Pretty good album. I get why it is so famous. Enter Sandman is the best track but Wherever I may roam is my second favourite. I liked the energy of the album.
I really dig the first 4 Metallica albums. This one not at all. I was taking the bus back home after teaching, fell asleep during Enter Sandman actually, woke up rudely to Nothing Else Matter, no wonder I never listened to this album all the way through, it fucking sucks.
This isn't bad, I just don't like it. Or maybe it is bad, but I've grown up skipping past this stuff on the radio so I'm just used to it. His singing/screaming just sounds so cheesy. Metal sucks.
adore this record, need to listen to it more and let it stick
Somehow have never listened to this album, it was really good
This is the epitome of "all killer, no filler". Possibly the best rock album I've ever heard. I can't fathom how they followed up on this album. Great songs, cool chord progressions, the way they utilize silence to create emphasis. Really astounding.
Pretty pop centric metal album but to create the energy of Metal in an accessible package and not only that creating an album of a consistently high quality through the tracks is impressive. That aside have been a fan of Metallica since being hooked on their S&M album so have bias built in. I can see why this might divide opinion, but they can’t be horrendous to become one of the biggest bands ever and that’s before the fact they are a metal band.
Listening to this is a good reminder that sometimes you need to revisit old assumptions. I have always identified as someone who doesn't like Metallica but now I actually listen to a whole album, I'm unsure where I picked up that opinion. This album rocks! Kicking off with 'Enter the Sandman' which is an absolute banger and a classic of the genre, the album has a good balance of heavy guitar riffs, solos, and also some more melodic motifs and softer tracks like 'Nothing else matters'. I sometimes found the vocals came across as a bit overly stylised, but I think some of that is the American accent which he can't reasonably be criticised for. Highlight of the album was 'The Unforgiven' which contains the variety of the whole album in one track. So yeah... It turns out I'm a Metallica fan and this will be added to my collection.
Bored of the haters. I love MetallicA and I love this album. Everyone should own it and worship it, whether you like metal or not. Less than 5? PAH, I think not, Metal up your ass!!
JAAA
I get it. Huge band. Big, heavy sound but honestly it leaves me cold. Maybe everyone copied them, but they sound formulaic and staid.
Bit dull - unlikely to revisit.
Probably one of the best opening tracks to an album?!
Crap
A classic. Song after song of catchy hits with insanely good guitar riffs and solos. Lars reigns it in on drums, great songwriting across the board.
9.5/10
I remember this being one of the more approachable/gateway albums. I Spotify-liked 6 of 12 songs, which is really solid: Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam, Don’t Tread On Me, Nothing Else Matters. Basically the front half of the album.
I think it's a tribute to Metallica's earnest commitment to rocking the fuck out that in 1991, when grunge broke and pretty much destroyed the careers of 90% of the hard rock and metal bands that had been playing before then, Metallica released this monster of an album that would go on to be the most successful of their career. It looses my interest a bit in the final third but comes out of the gates swinging.
Black Sabbath and Metallica remain the only metal bands I can fuck with. Recognizing for the fans this was when the band went mainstream/sold out, there are undeniable bangers on here (Enter Sandman, Sad but True, the Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters.) I can easily hear the through line/adjacency to bands like Rage and Queens and even At the Drive In. Kind of hilarious tho that the singer must feel beholden to singing in that growly voice, and only gives it a rest on ballad/sad songs like Nothing Else Matters and The Unforgiven.
Metallica are unstoppable when they get it right but over the course of this album I found my attention waning towards the end. Always have.
Well I’ll be damned
Metallica
I own this album...
Not really my genre but I get the appeal
I get why they’re on the list and enter sandman is a jam, but outside of that I just don’t like Metallica
The only people who unironically listen to this are angry millenial dads
through the course of their first four albums, metallica’s popularity was climbing. the band’s fourth album “…and justice for all” brought the band their first video for mtv (the iconic anti-war song “one”), and things looked bright for the bay area thrash quartet. enter producer bob rock. rock brought a different outlook to the band, challenging them to expand their sound and lyrical approach. the approach paid off well, as this album pushed them even further into the mainstream, gave them their first number one album on the billboard 200 and ultimately paving the way for the album to become one of the greatest selling albums of all time. largely because of this album, today metallica is probably the biggest metal band in the world. while it’s not my favourite album in their canon (“…and justice for all” still holds a special place in my heart), it’s hard to deny this album’s impact. it has undeniably heavy songs, as well as more radio friendly songs. i still remember someone from high school referring to “enter sandman” as “the song the whole world knows”… and when i was in high school in the early 90’s, that was a pretty accurate statement. highlights: “sad but true” “wherever i may roam” “nothing else matters” “the god that failed”
I mean, it’s a classic.
So much fun!
Its a classic, but I am looking for new things
Brr brr exit line
Ok. It's got Enter Sandman...know this. Rest is new to me. Just wasn't in to Metal back in the day, but got to say there is quite a depth to this. It's good. Still struggling with an entire albums worth at once, but can see why people are into this now
...very metallica like
When I was in middle school and this album first came out, I vividly recall dancing away to Enter Sandman at the school dances. While I enjoyed them back then, I find them incredibly annoying now.
Lots of really great tunes on this album that even a non-metalhead can appreciate. Love the guitar work and drumming. Standouts: enter sandman, sad but true, nothing else matters
I don’t love this type of music, but this was quite ok to listen to once. There was maybe one or two songs I could listen to more and a few tracks had words or ideas that I liked.
This landmark record caused waves when it was released, a change of sound in Metallica's discography, and an introduction of what was to come over the 90s. But this album is an outlier, it sounded heavier from the rest of the 90s albums, it was slower than previous records and still managed to gather a reception that inspired generations. The songs are cool and, from my personal experience, one of the top records from their catalog. Always a joy to listen to, recommended always as an introduction to the band.
I dunno, man. If I'm being so totally honest, Metallica just doesn't really do it for me. Enter Sandman reminds me of soccer practice and my soccer coaches and the rest just got super old. I'm definitely hearing influence of Metallica riffs on KG thrash metal which is fun but I think I want my thrash to be more like "acid thrash". It makes it feel less... conservative.
I'm certain that I'm missing something here, but its so hard for me to get into Metallica. I used to really like ...And Justice For All, but I don't even know if I would anymore. A lot of the composition here is pretty cool. Big drums, cool guitar solos. James Hetfield's voice kind of sounds like a meme to me though, and that's probably because its been parodied so many times. And the chugging thrash guitars also sound kind of like a meme to me. So its hard for me to totally get into this.
Classic just not my type of music
Everything about it was good
Mid as hell ngl. Couple of bangers but they all sound the same. Maybe it’s just cuz I’m not a metal head.
Great metal album. Basic but tah5s because it's the metal album
it’s a good album, very consistent all around, but metallic just doesn’t hit as hard for me as other bands do 3/5
Production makes songs too samey
It's a classic metal album, but it did nowt for me.
It was fine. Pretty corny and self-indulgent but I can't deny there are some bangers on here. I still think Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters are the best songs on it which are the only two I knew before I listened so was it worth it? I guess it was nice to hear, but yeah I doubt I'm coming back to ever listen to this in full.
Such a bad turn from the first 4 albums. There are still good songs but you can pretty much ignore this band from this album onward. Will I listen to again: 25%
This was the first time I'd ever consciously listened to anything by Metallica, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. I was sort of ideologically opposed to some of the songs (The God That Failed in particular,) and I found some to be a bit boring (Nothing Else Matters,) but those are just personal opinions and in general, I really enjoyed the album.
Kirk Hammett talks about how they were going for a ZZ Top or AC/DC groove with this one, and they didn’t care if it was metal or hard rock. Nor do I. My favorite from Metallica and my all time favorite groove album.
Some really good tracks here but still leans a bit too far into the loud roaring to be a 4, I think. A high 3.
Yes this is the record where Metallica first “sold out” and many of its tunes are way overplayed. But any metal fan who denies that this is a great record is fooling themselves. Metallica masterpiece the art of writing equally heavy and catchy songs on this album in a way which has never been duplicated. “Sad But True” has one of the coolest, heaviest riffs ever. “Unforgiven” and “Nothing Else Matters” are both gorgeous ballads. “Wherever I May Roam” is epic. Most of the album tracks are also really strong. “Through The Never” and “The God That Failed” are ones I hadn’t remembered that are excellent. Even “Enter Sandman” has its charm despite having taught the world that Metallica was now for children.
Another previously familiar album was good fun today! Bit of a rock out. Some excellent tracks on here that deserve their fame
This album always has a soft spot in my heart, even if half the songs sound like Bowser boss music.
Definitely an album I had heard before and a solid one. It’s been a very long time since I have heard this one in full. The guitar solos took a little while to get used to. I liked reading the making of the album information. It was cool have that insight before this listen to get a better sense for the mix of the classic Metallica songs with the newer more evolved sounds. Song stand outs for me would be Nothing Else Matters and The Unforgiven.
Loved it more than expected. The hits were only the beginning., Some okay fast, thrash songs, too.
At face value, The Black Album is Metallica’s clean break from their thrash roots—a sleek, mid-tempo monster built for arenas rather than underground acclaim. With its punchy production (courtesy of Bob Rock) and stadium-sized hooks, it’s no wonder tracks like “Enter Sandman” and “Sad But True” became metal radio staples. But for all its polish, the album often feels front-loaded and creatively restrained—until its final act. And this is my love letter to the last three tracks—“My Friend of Misery,” “The Struggle Within,” and the seething “The God That Failed”—where the album begins to shine with real depth. These songs pull back the curtain on something darker, more introspective. There’s more texture here. More space. Less of the lurching, mid-tempo groove that dominates the album’s first half. These songs feel like the band is allowing itself to explore again, not just simplify. “My Friend of Misery” builds from that haunting bass intro into existential bitterness. “The Struggle Within” is a rare return to internal chaos, driven by speed and snarl. “The God That Failed,” meanwhile, delivers one of James Hetfield’s most personal performances, grappling with loss and betrayal in devastating clarity. These final moments hint at the album that could have been—one less focused on mainstream dominance, and more invested in emotional complexity and sonic exploration. Rather than just streamlining their sound, Metallica seemed, briefly, to be cracking open their core and letting something raw leak through. For a lot of you here, The Black Album starts with a bang. But for me, it’s the final third that saves it—from mediocrity, from predictability, and perhaps even from itself.
Not a die hard fan but i heard them since i can remember. Some of the track are so overplayed for me that i tune them out. But it was a chance for me to listen to some of the other tracks on the album i rarely hear. Personally i feel like this album is well written, easy listened and part of Metal history. The hits kinda overshadows the weaker tracks on the album (the three last tracks in my opinion) For me this is not the best Metallica album and is a bit more Safe and pop oriented, but when you can wake most people in the middle of the night and and ask them to sing some of the songs on this album you are writing something right in my book(if you like it or not). This is one of those albums that are "must include" in a must listen list (like "dark side of the moon" or "Thriller")
Zwar nicht das Beste aber ein solides Metallica Album!
this is my favorite band, but my least favorite album of em (5 star anyway [my friend of misery is amazing]) I dont really know why its my least favorite thou, I guess I could say I dont like the stillness of the guitar sounds on it? even though there are standouts for me, like mfom, nem and the unforgiven, the rest of the tracks or feel extremely overplayed, or are just too ,still, or I just dont realy vibe with them, of course, compared to the rest of metallicas discography
#555. Metallica made four of the best metal albums out there in a row, so it's kinda disappointing that they so abruptly changed direction like this. They've made some truly awful music over the years, but this first foray into radio rock is certainly the least terrible. One could argue that this could be a four star album, but I'm going to subtract one because I hate Lars Ulrich so much. 3/5: sellouts
Not a metallica fan but I guess this had been quintessential material
more metallica? ok, i'll take it. HEEEERE COME THE LITTLE CYCLOOOOOOOOONESSSSSSSSS!!!!
I wasn't able to listen to this in it's entirety. It was just too heavy for me.
Commercially it was outstanding. Sonically, it was like yacht rock for the longhairs!! Some good songs, but give me any of their earlier albums over this one!
Металика
Of Wolf and Man, Through the Never, The God That Failed, The Struggle Within are all underrated.
I did not use a private spotify session as my algorithm could use some more metal. Mixed with the head-banging metal is some classic metal crossovers, crossovers so ubiquitous they can be made into the theme song for a Disney movie. Lots of love for some of the songs of the album, but some of it goes to hard for me.
Les tengo manía desde que fueron a por Napster, y eso que nunca fui usuario de ese programa ya que soy de una generación que aún compraba e intercambiaba discos. En su momento me gustó, el heavy metal que vino después del grunge me parece más interesante que todo lo que había antes. Me he guardado las más conocidas «Enter Sandman», «The Unforgiven» y «Nothing Else Matters».
A classic Metallica album, the one that changed the band forever.
Much better than the previous record I listened to: Justice for all. I liked the rougher themes, the guitarwork was sharper and more well rounded. Overall very impressed for a metal record, and the opener... good lord, listening this made me feel cool(I'm not). Favorite track: Enter Sandman. Overall score: 8.2/10.
Another album I played to death as a teen. Does it hold up? Kinda?...ish?... Brilliantly mixed - the album still sounds huge. Some classic riffs, memorable solos, and when it works it really works. I don't think any of the tracks are 'bad'. And yet, if I want to listen to Metallica I'd go for almost any of their other albums over this. Partly because I overplayed it, and partly because it just feels quite teenage. Compare it to MOP or AJFA and you can see the influence of Pantera and southern rock on their playing - and frankly, I prefer their thrashier stuff. A very high 4, but only a 4.
I thoroughly enjoy this metal album, every song is fire. The songs all do sound kind of similar though, a bit one-dimensional in that way.
Mariano Rivera's entrance music....I don't love Metallica, but this song kicks ass. Half of their greatest hits are on this album. I never really got all the love The Unforgiven got....there are a number of better Metallica songs so far on this album. This album is impressing me more than I thought it would. Don't Tread on Me borrows a phrase from America from West Side Story...musicians are all musical dorks. Nothing Else Matters is the best song on the album. A lot of long songs on this for a metal album.
A metal classic 5*
Doesn't have all of my favorite Metallica songs, but is definitely a heavy-hitter and highly influential imo
The m in \m/ stands for Metallica.
Most metal heads agree that this is when things started to go wrong for Metallica. Sacrificing their progressive thrash attack for a much more radio-friendly, much more straight-forward hard rock / groove metal sound, guided by Mr. Bob Rock himself. The loss of Cliff Burton screams loud and clear here, as it is well-established that he was the one who introduced a neo-classical bent to the band which gave them the musicality edge over their competitors. There are some classic hard rock tunes on the Black album, but this is not golden age Metallica. 3.8/5
A VERY STRONG guitar
Not Metallica again....
The final straw. This album marked the complete metamorphosis of a metal band into a pop band. Time proved me correct...this album is soulless trash, not even music.
This change of pace was a nice addition. I get why Metallica is one of the greatest bands in the world, it was a fun album to listen to. 4/5
I’m something of a Metallica apologist. But this one has slipped for me over the years. I have a ton of burnout factor going against the hits, and a number of the album cuts aren’t all that strong. What’s more is that this is one of the few key albums you can trace back to as a direct forefather over 2+ generations of the shittiest mainstream heavy rock imaginable. This is a solid enough album.
god i could barely get through this lol
Not my vibe
jäjä, stahsch am morge uf und wetsch gmüetlich dur de irchelpark laufe am ne früsche sunnige frühligsmorge. Was denn dur de kopf lauft isch: was isch echt hüt für es album ready? Was mir bi dere Situation denn nöd chan isch in Metallica drilose. Eich schad, weil grosse Lücke, hed mi na nie ahgmacht. Un dhas denn de ganz Tag verschwitzt. D.h. gleiches problem neuer Tag. Han mir 10 min Ziit gna. Mäh, isch halt nöd mis. Nothing else matters aber wunderschön. Süsch zu hardrockig. Muss glaub uf 2 Sternlis abrunde, sorry metallica ** Und peeps, ich wag mich namal zunere Prognose: Alli gänd zwei sternlis o.O
han am morge eigentli beschlosse dasi‘s nöd wird lose (us offesichtliche gründ) aber han mi denn doch zämmegrisse und de grossteil devo glost – paar tracks hani gskippt to be fair nothing else matters beinhaltet en grosse nostalgiefaktor ih mir und isch es eidütigs 10i, enter sandman obvious banger & gsehni absolut de reiz dra… bim rest hört denn de gspass bi mir aber au scho uf das heisst: liebi 3 metallic lackierti BMWs
1. Nothing Else Matters 2. The Unforgiven 3. Sad But True 4. The God That Failed 5. Wherever I May Roam 6. Enter Sandman 7. Holier Than Thou 8. My Friend of Misery 9. Don't Tread on Me 10. Of Wolf and Man 11. Through the Never 12. The Struggle Within
great one, loved that the album is 12h long
Listened Before? Y One of the best hard rock/metal albums of all time and it's not particularly close. One of the most prolific metal bands of all time - in their prime with all players at the top of their games, and an awesome producer on top of that. Historically good. Added to Library? Already There Songs added to playlist: Enter Sandman
Some outstanding songs, the genre isn’t really for me but I can appreciate it nonetheless.
Never before has an album been the cause of so many early 2000s teens getting sued by their favorite band. Typically known as the "Black Album" by fans, this is a classic from the most prominent of the "Big 4" of metal, home to several headbanger classics like "Enter Sandman" and "The Unforgiven". I'm 100% sure this is a favorite album of many far-right idiots, due to its use of the Gadsden flag snake and the track "Don't Tread on Me", despite core members of the band publicly denouncing Trump's politics. In the last third of the album, we get a break from the standard heavy riffs and growly vocals, taking us to an almost pensive place with "Nothing Else Matters". While a classic, this album does suffer somewhat from too many songs sounding too similar--indeed, 2/3 (or more, depending on source) of the album is in E- or A-minor and a similar bpm. Favorite track: Nothing Else Matters Hidden gem: Wherever I May Roam 3.5/5 stars
Some of Metallica's best-known songs like The Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters hold up. The slow and measured sound on this album is a good match for Hetfield's lyrics. They might be "edgy," but they get the point across. The instrumental breaks and guitar solos are unique and well-executed; the composition of this album is its biggest strength, lacking only from its reliance on repetitive structures that become apparent when listening to the album in its entirety. I found that The God That Failed is a favorite of mine upon a full listening, and listening with headphones in stereo brings out some nice touches. I'm not usually interested in heavy metal, but Metallica made this album easy to listen to with their new, streamlined sound.
First half better than expect. 2nd half a bit samey and heavier after nothing else matters. “Too American” says C
Metallica being Metallica. Great listen. Had forgotten what this album did for metal.
I remember when I was a kid and loving this album how all the older Metallica heads at that time hated it and I didn’t understand why. Now that line has blurred and less people hate it and I understand the hate that it got. It’s an incredible hard rock album that completely isolated the fans who came to Metallica for thrash. This isn’t the best Metallica album but it’s the most accessible followed by if you make Load and Reload a 10 song album with the best of both. But for me and many others the best albums by them are Master Of Puppets and Ride The Lightening. But this is still a strong to quite strong album for sure especially when you dive into how hard the band and Bob worked at achieving the writing and recording of it.
This one got much play back in the day. My brother had the cassette. It was never really my favorite from them (I like their first 3 albums better), but I played the hell out of this. This is definitely a metal album made for mass adoption. It's an easily digestible album, and it won't blow anyone's head off, like their first couple albums. I always liked My Friend of Misery. This album still gets a 4 from me.
I remember my cousin having this album when it first came out (we were ten); that was the first time I had ever heard of Metallica. A bunch of classic bangers on this album.
This one takes me back to sitting in my room and trying to learn bass parts as a youngster. I always thought Metallica was an interesting band with all the guitar virtuoso stuff. As a teen I listened to all the early stuff and was fascinated with all the aggression and wildness in the music. The black album in a way is a bit of a departure from the early sound and a bit more straightening out and slowing down of the songs. All the instrument tones sound a bit bigger and bolder than previous albums. What's interesting is that with all the angst and aggressive sounds on this album I don't think James Hetfield uses profanity once. In fact I don't remember profanity being used on the previous albums either. Somehow that just crossed my mind today after all these years. I think this is probably their landmark album that they will be remembered by.
As much as I agree with the sentiment that this album marked the beginning of the downfall of Metallica's songwriting and a shift towards a more soft, "mainstream" sound, I wouldn't count this album as a part of that downfall as it is, not unlike their previous ventures, great. Despite the fact that the Black Album, in my opinion, has nothing on Master of Puppets or Ride the Lightning, it is still filled with incredibly catchy, groovy riffs and Hetfield's satisfying vocals. Nothing here is revolutionary or boundary pushing, but it's not meant to be. Similar to something like Painkiller (although, in my opinion, not quite as powerful), it goes for this simple, catchy, headbanging metal fun and achieves it with great success. Although something tells me that the thing that had prompted Metallica to drop thrash was how hard they got mogged by Megadeth's Rust in Peace in that department. But who knows. Also, why one of the tracks called Don't Tread on Me and the libertarian snake is on the cover? I'm not gonna google it just in case in means what I think it means... Rebellion is when you advocate for a system where corporations abuse people and the government can't do anything to stop them...
I can't give this less than 5 stars - so crisp and clean while being so raw and full of emotion. This brings metal into the art scene and I love that.
Классика!
you know, it’s sad, but true
A standard
Pass.
10/10 great album!
I can appreciate this, but I don’t want to have to.
Dark, warm, and crunchy. Maybe I shoulda been a metalhead all along.
If I'm having some heavy metal, then give me Metallica every time.
The only Metallica song I had listened before today was Enter Sandman, so I suppose this is as good an introduction as any. The music is about 4/5-- although I found it somewhat monotonous by the 11th song; by that point it was all blurring together to me-- and the lyrics are about 2/5, so 3/5 evens it out. I will say though that while Hetfield is not a particularly skilled lyricist, when he's working with more direct emotional expressions instead of trying to make metaphors etc I actually think the lyrics are alright-to-good, such as in Nothing Else Matters and The Unforgiven.
Can’t go wrong with classic Metallica when the situation is right (and when isn’t it?)
Not for me
I'd give this a 4 if we were just comparing to better Metallica albums, but this album was so influential on my own musical taste and an inspiration to learn guitar back in high school I'll have to give it a 5 just for its influence on my personal life.
sorry but a banger
It does nothing for me, but I get it. It's like eating caprese. I get it, it's just never actually exciting or groundbreaking.
I was rockin 4.5 -> 5
Can an album feel potato? I gave it a clean shot, and some of it still hits some, but overall the album just feels dated, old, played out, it doesn’t hold up. Better bands doing it at the time, bands blowing them out the water in sounds to this day.
Alright, I’m glad to finally knock this one off the list and put it behind me. I’ve been avoiding it forever because I’m absolutely sick of it. Yes, I know Metallica is talented, and yes, this was a groundbreaking album that sold a ton of copies. I agree with all of that, but none of it changes the fact that this album annoys the hell out of me. After hearing it a thousand times over the last 30 years, 990 times was just too many! Oh, and if we count this listen, make that 991 too many times!
Not really my jam.
Couldn’t finish it. Why did the songs get so strained and uncool? I know they wanted to move on from “Damage Inc.” and the like but I’ll listen to that song fifty times before I crack the case on the later stuff. This album is NOT essential!
It’s amazing how the same album can have a song that’s unintentionally funnier than Spinal Tap (Don’t Tread On Me), and a fair shout for one of the top 10 songs ever (Nothing Else Matters).
Metallica is one of my favorite bands, but I do hold them to account where it's due. For example: St Anger, Death Magnetic, and Lulu (I'm a Lou Reed hater). I can definitely acknowledge the first three of their albums as different and excellent, but not necessarily better in my opinion. They're great, but for different reasons. This album, for me marks the beginning of my personal favorite era of Metallica: Black Album through S&M1. That's unpopular, but I don't give a fuck. I love earlier stuff and albums from 2016 to present too. Also, more unpopular opinions: I like Jason Newstead. He's a great bassist and it must have sucked to have felt like a stepchild in the shadow of the prodigal firstborn. Anyway, this album is great, and there are no misses for me on this album. Great production, Newstead's parts are not only audible in the mix but also significantly contributive; heavy, dark, melodic, angry, sad, tender lyrics and instrumentation. I have a hard time finding fault with this album, but if I need to be picky, I'd say once The Struggle Within hits its stride after a solid intro, it becomes the weakest track on the album. What I miss on this album compared to their previous albums (a HUGE instrumental track) is made up for by the middle passage of My Friend Of Misery. It's no Orion, but it's a beautiful fucking bit of music. All in all, FUCK. YES. Great album 🤘 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this album. It really meant a lot to me when I was younger. It was really good to hear this in its entirety today. Brought back good memories. I know that people don't really LOVE this one since it was the album that Metallica "sold out" to. But still, it proved to me to be a great gateway album into older Metallica albums as well as metal as a whole.
I tried to give this album a chance but there is just something about their sound that I can't stand. It sounds exactly like the generic metal music that plays at the gym and I'm forced to listen against my will. The last track summarises my listening experience perfectly: 'The Struggle Within'.
I was a huge Metallica black album fan back when I was in High School around 98. However, coming back to this record after putting on the shelf it has lost its luster, some good songs here but doesn't hit as hard as it did when I was a teenager.
Besides the opener, came to this new. I’m not really a metal fan though, still not.
Really quite tough to rate this one really, with all things considered. If I was rating this compared to my normal tastes it'd probably get a 2/3, but compared to the albums on this website I've already rated it feels like it deserves higher. The album itself is mid. The first 5 tracks are great, even if they are very overplayed (saying that listening to Enter Sandman for the first time in a while made it kinda good again). The rest after that - barring Nothing Else Matters - is just filler. I reckon there are definitely 4 - possibly even 6 counting Death Magnetic and Load - Metallica albums that are better than their self titled. This doesn't have the same energy as their previous four. Also, I know it's said a lot but the drumming on this album fucking sucks and the solos aren't great either. On the alternative though, Jason finally gets his bass heard, and very deservedly so he's a phenomenal bass player. James' vocals are arguably the best of the first 5 albums too. It gets a 4, just. After a fair few minutes of consideration
Starts very strong and goes down from there, especially second half. But first half worth it.
Starts off strong with Enter Sandman and from there it is a downward hill. I fucking love that song though. I remember liking the Nothing else matters as a moody kid a lot too. I guess I'm healed.
5 o melhor metallica
Opet 😂 a jao, ne znam šta dati ovome. Da, kultni je album. Je li realno dobar? Pa i ne baš. Vuče li me u djetinjstvo i čistu nostalgiju? Apsolutno. Ima par pjesama koje me i dan danas ponesu i zbog toga će biti mrvu bolja ocjena, ali nakon jučerašnjeg albuma ne mogu dati više od toga. 2/5, 4.5/10
Capolavoro
A classic. I would not listen everyday in my headphones but sometimes it hits hard
Motivațional. Legenda, it hits hard
Pivotal metal album - accessible and fun
An important change in sound and style for Metalica that some criticise as an attempt to reach a wider audience. Perhaps, but then again, it was wildly popular because it contains several very good songs. 9/10
Starting this one by saying that this is for me the most overrated metal band ever and it's not even close. And from the 3 albums of them that are considered great this one is probably the worst one by far. Because if not of the very few great songs in here, wvery other song is complete garbage. Most of this album's songs don't even have the Metallica song saving point, which is the amazing riffs. Lastly I will die on the hill saying that their records have the worst production I have ever heard. About 4-4.5/10
Good.
I’ll never forget hearing Enter Sandman as a kid and it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. That moment shaped my taste in music for the next 25 years after.
This records presents some nice riffs and catchy vocals melodies and it is heavy but it also drags some songs for too long. If it wasn't for this last point, I would give this album a higher rating, even after having grown tired of them
I expected to give this 2 stars but it was pretty good actually
From a guitar and percussion pov I can see why people think highly of this album. As someone who enjoys a good tune, however, it was just a little too yelley for me, and after a while the tracks began sounding the same. I was getting serious de ja vu in “The Struggle Within”.