Reviews (page 8 of 11)
This album wasn’t really for me. Too dark and I didn’t really think the orchestra fit into the type of music. I would be curious to listen to another Metallica album, but this one wasn’t for me.
Symphonischer Rock ok, war damals vielleicht ein großes Ding. Klingt schon Energiegeladen aber nicht so meins.
Epic!! Can’t believe I didn’t know this existed! Had such a good time listening.
Liked most of the songs on this album. Masters of the heavy metal sound. Orchestra adds to the experience.
Great stuff - though the orchestra does not add too much IMHO.
Interesting idea, but I didn't like this.
This is not my preferred listening experience for Metallica. This is jarring and oddly fused in the worst possible way. My ears, mind, and soul reject everything about this. It's like I'm trying to listen to Metallica while my husband is watching a movie using the same sound system for the audio at the same time as me. These two disparate layers of sound are not complimenting each other the way everyone involved in this project convinced themselves they were. I'm glad Metallica are open to exploring other avenues of their artistry, but like dude, nobody wanted this. And it's over 2 fucking hours loooooong. Omg. It was painful. Respectful 2 star rating because I love Metallica and can't bring myself to 1 star them, even if this is the stupidest album concept and execution I've ever experienced.
I just hate Metallica
Liked: considerably more epic than anything ever released before. Added instrumentation and score definitely unlocks a different sense of feeling a purpose by this music. Hammetts solos are actually tasteful. Hetfeild's voice was at its peak. Disliked: Most songs run over 5 minutes, and dilute in essence what Metallica was a hard and fast metal band. Lärs drums suck again, no surprise there. Trujillo is lost completely in the mixing and mastering. And thats about it bud.
Couldn't care less bruv
Metallica is very same-y aside from the hits. The live band was cool
I liked the instrumentals!…better then the others. 😬 This album gets an extra point because it was live.
I didn’t need this. Prefer the originals
Love this discovery. Strings added new dimension to these songs. Would definitely check out a Metallica concert with strings. Energy out of control. Will definitely revisit this one.
I’m gonna need to see Metallica live now. Preferably with an orchestra. This album completely blew me away. I get the Metallica hype now. Who’s coming with me?
probably the best way to enjoy some metallica songs even if you don't like them that much?
Enjoyed the massive arrangements
Listening to this is a joy. The orchestra makes the root sound of the band amazing
Pretty good, incentive album from the Met
Badass. Loved it.
Didn’t finish, it was good but eventually it just became Metallica which got old
should not be that long
Couldn't finish it. Not for classical music lovers, and I suspect not for Metallica lovers either
Bastante rollo. Se salva Nothing Else Matters.
Incr.
A sporadically entertaining 90s curio whose arrangements miss at least as much as they hit.
Meh, I don’t really like live albums unless I really love the artist/songs. They sound pretty good if you love Metallica.
Congratulations to Metallica for playing together with an orchestra 30 years after Deep Purple did it. The Who actually wrote a rock opera to be played with an orchestra around that same time. I'm sure there are others. Nothing groundbreaking here.
I don't know this was fine but went on for over 2 hours. I think this is the 4th Metallica album I've had wow! More interesting than just a live album with the addition of an orchestra to a metal band.
Incredible work, perhaps not the best one to sit and listen to whilst totally sedentary, very long and very mosh inducing
I LOVE this album. A great idea and great execution.
As a lifelong Metallica fan I'm giving this 5 stars, but there's not a single Metallica fan that thinks this album should be on the list before Ride the Lightning or Kill 'Em All. Not one. Watching this gig on video is better than just listening though.
Live Metallica, really good. The symphony gives it a different sound.
Why add the most cheesy-vanilla Metallica album here? It is literally dumbed-down to please an average listener. Something to show your grandparents to prove you are not in a Satanic cult. This is not why they are good or revolutionary in their genre.
another gem from the past. I used to watch this on DVD with my father. the opening 4 songs are perfect, but the whole 2 hours of this is quite difficult to listen to. contrasted to the orchestra arrangement, it is weirdly obvious how limited Metallica music is
I'm not usually a big fan of metal, however I found this surprisingly enjoyable with the addition of the symphony
3.5
Manchmal etwas zu bombastisch
I will disclose that I do not like Metallica. I know many of their songs well enough I could sing them at karaoke, but for some reason their music has always made me feel uncomfortable. (I like other heavy music so it's not the style either). It took me four days to get through this album. I liked Metallica even less with the orchestra. Sorry. Listens: 1 Fave Track: Nothing Else Matters Rating: 2
Yeaa this was awesome. Already love Metallica for being heavy without screaming, now add in a symphonic orchestra for extra grandness? Cool sound. I will say that it doesn't totally work for every song in this 2 hour set, but it really does for others, enough that I enjoyed the whole trip.
This was great music to lightly doze to
Not a big Metallica fan. The band sounds tight with the orchestra. But I find most of their songs a little cheesy.
I enjoyed this. Not sure why I hadn't listened to it before. Maybe due to the length.
The Ecstasy of Gold- 10/10 The Call of Ktulu- 10/10 Master of Puppets- 10/10 Of Wolf and Man- 10/10 The Thing That Should Not Be- 9/10 Fuel- 10/10 The Memory Remains- 10/10 No Leaf Clover- 9/10 Hero of the Day- 7/10 Devil's Dance- 10/10 Bleeding Me- 10/10 Nothing Else Matters- 9/10 Until It Sleeps- 9/10 For Whom the Bell Tolls- 10/10 Human- 9/10 Whenever I May Roam- 7/10 The Outlaw Torn- 9/10 Sad but True- 9/10 One- 9/10 Enter Sandman- 10/10 Battery- 8/10 194/210
"S & M" (Symphony & Metallica) is a live album by American thrash band Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Kamen. It is performances of Metallica songs with symphonic accompaniments. The idea was actually that of former bassist, the late Cliff Burton. Speaking of bassists, this was the last Metallica album with Jason Newsted. The album reached #2 in the US and #33 in the UK and had decent critic reviews. The album begins with the symphony covering Ennio Morricone"s "The Ecstacy of Gold." The band enters the concert on the next song "Ride the Lightning's" "The Call of Ktulu." The strings begin to the guitar to the drums. A very large and grand sound. The next song works as well with the symphony, "Master of Puppets." These are the songs I thought worked really well with the added smphony: "Hero of the Day," " Nothing Else Matters," "Sad But True" and "One." On the flipside, I thought the symphony took away the intensity and the made the song too busy in "Enter Sandman" and "Battery." There are two new songs: "No Leaf Cover" and "__Human." Both sound like songs from "Load" or "Reload." I did like "No Leaf Cover." A soft-loud-soft dynamic. A chunky guitar solo. The strings in the background. For the most part, the strings do add and make the songs bigger and more grandiose. The song selection covers all of Metallica's catalogue. But, there is a large amount from their 90's albums ("The Black Album," " Load" and "Reload) so if that's not your favorite Metallica cup of tea, remember that. This reminded me of how good Metallica sounds live and they do sound good here too. It is risk that paid off unlike some other collaborations they made.
It's a great Live Show but it is better to listen them separately.
# 130 : Really? Two hours? life has other things to do… Interesting concept that turned out ok. Favourite track : Of Wolf And Man Listened : 13/12/2023
Majestuoso. Cerró el siglo XX.
Amazing how James Hetfield’s vocals manage to extract what little melody Metalilica manage to craft and eradicate it. Never my cup tea. Adding an orchestra doesn’t change that.
I enjoyed this album ... not a new concept, but it works well here. The contrast of classical strings and metal guitar should be pleasing to any rocker with broad tastes. But, I'm not sure it's one of the 1001 albums I HAD TO hear.
Live album - 0/5
Lars still a salty pussy
Harder dan hard, wat een creatief album metal gecombineerd met een symfonie orkest. Het sluit zo goed op elkaar heen. Laat maar weer zien waarom metallica de goat van de metal is
Onsamenhangend en rommelig voor mijn gevoel, heb er niet van kunnen genieten
Interesting collaboration! Sounded like a movie score. Fun listen, but over 2 hours was a big ask lol
Great power but the autotune was kind of a let down, and was kinda underwhelmed with the string arrangements.
Great album. Putting these two together was a great idea. The live audience made it better with their reactions and applause. I felt like Hetfield's vocals were a bit lacking on a few songs, like they didn't hit like they once did. Album is 24 years old. Crazy.
Would be a 5 star if it was a studio album.
I miss Jason Newsted and Metallica before they were sober.
Friday 10:27AM: @ work... Three songs in... Master of Puppets... Popped the 2nd earbud in & ready to score this a 5 star & KICK! TODAY'S! ASS!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 11:45AM: Holy shit this album is 2+Hrs. long - F*ck Yeah!!! Still kicking ass @ Wherever I May Roam! If this album doesn't get you amped up check your pulse, you may have died. ☠💀☠
Didn’t actually listen cuz Metallica is LAME lol
Absolute garbage from a once great band. FU Lars, FU Bob Rock.
I saw Metallica and automatically assumed I'd be listening to a 5/5 today. But hearing these remixed versions of Metallica's greatest hits honestly just makes me wish I was listening to the original versions. I still enjoy it because I love Metallica but even I can admit this album does not belong on the 1001 albums to listen to before you die list. I guess it is interesting because of the Symphony Orchestra mashup and that's what is supposed to make it stand out. But it's just too long. The audio isn't as crisp because it's live. Metallica has a long catalog of amazing albums that everyone should hear at least once. Greatest Hits type albums shouldn't be on the list.
Amazing wowwwww
refreshing.... SFSO took head banging to a beautiful new high, glad this was included and a referral candidate to friends
Why
Eh not much to say
It’s a 5
Good but not really for me
This is brilliant and fuck the haters.
Quite frankly, I don't believe compilation and live albums should belong on this list
Alright, I guess. Never been a huge metal fan, but it works well with an orchestra although it's almost 2hrs long!
Very cool album with the addition of an orchestra to back the band!
They say that if you hit play at the right moment, this album syncs up perfectly with watching dog piss dry on cold cement. I am 10 albums behind because it took me seven days to listen to these two hours.
I remember when this first came out and everyone ragged on it, but I never gave it a listen. Now that I have, I can officially declare that it's not very good. The symphony only detracts from Metallica. To my ear, it makes all the songs sound slower than their original recordings, and when you're listening to a thrash metal band, speed it kind of the key. I do think something like this could work, but in order for that to happen, the arrangements would need to be seamless, like they were always meat to be there. To me, this ain't it. A lot of the time, it sounds like movie background music.
This collaboration rips!
It was okay, I'm not a huge metallica fan really. They are fine but I'm not about to bust down doors to see them.
Great stuff, a nice spin on some Metallica classics, not an improvement on the originals though, but very interesting.
Cross over was interesting, but it’s a bit self of the self indulgent times that were the 90s.
Cool idea and the symphony sounded great. Couldn’t get over the Metallica though which seemed to be even more Metallica than usual. Did not finish listening.
As an album, it aggregates some of Metallica's greatest hits, bringing them to soaring highs with the addition of the SFSO. It's so well mixed and produced that it doesn't quite have the energy of an expected live album - whether or not that is a criticism or a compliment might depend on the listener, but for me, it detracted from the experience, making this more of a chore to work through than anything else.
This only proves that metal is not my thing. I did not enjoy this and barely got through it. The songs are unnecessarily long, and they are pretty boring. The riffs the violins and the general sound is good but just so convoluted and not in a way I can like. One of my favorite songs was the ecstasy of Gold, which goes to show about my preferences.
This was an impressive, albeit very long album because it’s a live recording of a concert performance. That said, it gave me a newfound appreciation for Metallica. This album is a great way to explore their catalogue with the added bonus of the bombastic hook of the symphony. The hits hit hard here, “Enter Sandman” & “Nothing Else Matters” were excellent in this setting. But the album is long and there is a sameness with Metallica’s song that wears on. Still, the performances are excellent and I enjoyed the experience of the live concert!
Yes
Too heavy
This album goes so freaking hard. The strings add so much to their songs and make them even more epic. One of my favorite live albums ever.
ChuggachuggachuggaBOOMBOOMBOOMcrashwhoooooooooooshWEEEARRRGHHHHHHHboomcrashARghBoomBoomChuggachuggathudthuddidudidudiduddleyeeehawwwooftdudududududududtcrashboomcrashboomwaerjabkasdkc.... No.
starts off awesome. Goes on for far too long...
The shit. Great energy, I was exhausted in a good way by the end of the album. Didn't know I liked Metallica this much
the symphony orchestra concept is so cool to me so this was one of the most enjoyable albums so far, even if it wasnt the best the latter half had some more mid songs that didnt fit the concept as well but I still enjoyed it
Classical infused with metal is something I didn’t know I didn’t want. Like seriously, the genre fusion isn’t good. It’s ok at times, but it is VERY out of place with the metal sound. It’s been done better. It has its moments, but the live songs just don’t compare to the studio versions. Bad live album.
It's basically Metallica with an orchestra. Doesn't blend too well and is insanely long, tiresome even
No need for notes.
Another album that I've heard 100+ times. The addition of the symphony is extremely well done. RIP Michael Kamen.
Very cool. Made me wish I had better speakers. It is a bit long, but I still enjoyed it through the end.
Interesting concept. It doesn’t always work, but it has some songs that really work with the orchestra. 3.5/5 Might listen again
Great idea and great performance, but the live album is SO LONG.
More of a greatest hits with orchestra
Pretty unique album that has a wide range of sounds and instruments. Cannot deny creativity of this band and love for their music.
Every great artist should do one of these.
This is the first totally new one for me - I've heard some Metallica songs, but don't know many by name and have never heard of this album. My understanding from wikipedia is that the songs were pretty significantly rearranged by the band, so this will be interesting coming into this not knowing the original songs well. It's Over 2 hours long, with multiple songs in the 7 to 9 minutes range, so it will be quite the undertaking today. The first two songs, "The Ecstasy of Gold" and "The Call of Ktulu" are completely instrumental. "The Ecstasy" is an Ennio Morricone composition, and serves as an orchestral prelude. "The Call of Ktulu" brings in the band. There is some nice, bombastic interplay between the metal riffs and triumphant orchestra arrangements. I jammed to "Ktulu" a few times today. Then it goes into "Master of Puppets" and the crowd goes bonkers. James Hetfield starts singing on this one with some audience participation. The focus is more on the band, with some horn pops and dramatic swells provided by the orchestra. The following songs use the orchestra to varying levels of success- some were great and some were meh. Some songs had a lot of audience participation - namely "The Memory Remains" and "Enter Sandman". "Hero of the Day" is extremely corny. So is "Wherever I Roam". The more vocally intensive songs are disserved by over use of 1999 pitch correction - I said "yikes" out loud during a particularly autotuned part of "Nothing Else Matters" "For Whom the Bells Tolls" combines the orchestra and the band very well to a menacing effect. Same with "Outlaw Turned" and "Sad but True". The end of "One" is turned to 11 with the whole orchestra joining the band in thrash overdrive. Likewise for "Battery" It's a 3.5 based on the tunes which are mostly good, but I'm rounding down on the basis that it's not an album, it's a live show recorded. "Portishead Roseland NYC Live" and "Stop Making Sense" are better live albums and are not included on this 1001 albums list. I am looking forward to hearing more Metallica as I progress in the list. I will be using "fuckinnnnn A! Right!" in the style of "Battery" more often.
Everything that’s bad about Metallica is amplified, and the orchestrations behind the songs give them a grandiosity that strips them of any grit. Perhaps I’m jaded because metal bands playing with symphonies isn’t novel now. Was it in 99? If so, points for that. Of course the orchestra is great, it just doesn’t make any of the songs better. So, why add something if it’s not adding anything? James’s corniness is amped up to 11 and so much seems so contrived (like the maniacal laughs in The Thing That Should Not Be). Newstead was maybe the most soulless bassist they had, and it’s on display here. This performance could benefit from a little less self-seriousness. I couldn’t get through it and ended up picking the hits. But, I just simply don’t like this and see it as nothing more than a novelty. It gets a 2 because it all sounds fine and I can’t bring myself to give it a 1. I’ve grown to like Metallica after long criticizing them. There are Metallica pieces that are important. This is not one of them.
Good integration of the SF Philharmonic. Mic placement was suboptimal at times. Still banging tunes
better than i expected
Not the biggest Metallica fan but at the time incorporating metal with an orchestra was a big deal and something that a lot of bands eventually strived for in their peak/finale live show type of setup. For that it's memorable on its own. I don't think the orchestra adds anything specific to the songs other than this sort of faux pretentiousness of other forms of music recognizing metal as a valuable genre like so many seem to seek out.
mwah
Between a 2 and a 3. Loved the orchestra, felt like Evanescence for men. Really enjoyed listening but can’t give it a 3 as I wouldn’t put it on again.
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING SLAPS
Very cool mashup of sounds with the symphony.
It was enjoyable and I would return to it. Not in a rush. 2 stars.
I don't like new Metallica. This is new Metallica. So overrated, so boring, and so irrelevant since the 90s. Just go away. 2 stars because it is not noise and it is not country
Metallica's Red Square concert is an all time great performance that few could ever match. That said, the collaboration they pulled off here is impressive for completely different reasons. The biggest criticism I can lay on this work is (aside from James' lame banter), there are many moments where the symphony adds little to nothing to the original songs. But never does it feel like it interferes, and when the collaboration works, it works! 4 headbanging violinists out of 5 🎻🎻🎻🎻
I can’t believe it’s over 2 hours long
So awesome!
man i’m usually okay with metallica but the level of ego on display here is absolutely unreal
It's like Atom Heart Mother fucked Metal Gear Solid fucked Guilty Gear xx fucked ... Metallica. Is Hetfield autotuned on this? Did not finish. 1.5 stars.
Great mixture of rock and orchestral, loved it had a new spin to it
Enjoyed it, despite the edgy 11-year-old style metal lyrics ("awoo I'm a werewolf lol"). The vocals were better than I expected.
What a listen, epic
i wish lars ulrich would stop sleeping with my mom
I’d rather just listen to the good songs not live. Not terrible. Not amazing though. Too long.
What I like about Metallica is the aggressiveness. the orchestra works against that. and it's a bad length. it might be good if you've never heard the songs before.
This took originally good music and made it annoying. And horrendous length.
Noisy. Feels like very structured metal. Like classical metal. Hmm
I wasn't always a fan of live versions of songs on an album but Thin Lizzy changed that for me a while ago, so my expectations were high. I think I preferred this album to any of their others I've heard so far from this list, the use of an orchestra really elevated it imo gave a very dramatic feel to the songs, the crowd also really added something to the music which is cool to hear. "Ecstasy of Gold" was a fabulous intro to the album.
It was a moment. Reminds me of playing twisted metal on PlayStation.
This is... fine. I remember this coming out. I didn't have much interest in it then. It feels similar now. There are some caveats to my feelings: 1. I think Metallica is absolutely stellar up to their self-titled ("Black Album", 1991), and then there are gems here and there an obviously legendary songs from them, but few that I get excited to sit down and listen to (Load was good). 2. I'm not a huge fan of a live album, but this is a decent twist on your standard (though, it's certainly not the first symphony + rock album, nor the last). I don't know that anybody _must_ hear this. It's aggressively long. I bet it would've been fun to be in the crowd. The symphony is obviously super good at what they're doing. It's just kinda blowhardy. Overall, I'd rather have spent my 2 hours and 13 minutes on something else.
This genre as a whole is not my cup of tea. Although I appreciate the classics.
This is a really fun collaboration. Also not something you see done all that often.
Metallica isn't my favorite to begin with, but these performances are as competent as Metallica always is. I'm left wondering, "Who asked for this?" The orchestra doesn't elevate Metallica to something more highbrow than it is. The strings add little to the drama of the band's music in the first place. In this context, with the way they're mixed, the strings sound like a synth anyway. Nobody asked for this!
It was a live album on apple music, entertaining listen, bit soundtrack-y. wouldnt just pop it on to listen too
1.5
Must’ve been an epic performance and very original. It’s not something I’d want to listen to regularly though.
The concept is great, but the execution not so much. It feels like the symphony orchestra is added after a live concert of Metallica. I think the music would be a great fit for the bombastic, overdramatic sound of an orchestra, if Metallica would have embraced it more and didn't stick to their own versions this much. Also, not every song is a great fit.
I quite like Metallica, but this is some tacky, melodramatic stuff.
Not sure the orchestra is really an addition to their music, just felt a bit more like there's more stuff going on but guitar music with an orchestra has been done better by other people (Steve Vai) for example. Besides that it's a bit too long
Epic, kind of long. Would probably have been more fun to be there than to listen to it from home.
Palletable at best.
A Metallica album for people who don't like Metallica. The symphony smooths out the rougher, edgier elements of thrash that is necessary to truly enjoy this band.
A very cool mix of very different genres of music. "No Leaf Clover" is my absolute favorite song from this album. Very cool \m/
I will never understand this band
Metallica's discography is consistently great, and they are doubtlessly amazing live performers. Still - this album offers nothing their studio albums don't.
goood
i don't like it
I like quite a few of Metallica's songs but I've never listened to a lot of their discography. So this is a live album with orchestra in background?? Hmm, could be alright. I'm actually excited to hear what the songs I know sound like in this setting. Ok...wait...so there's no vocals on this entire 2 hr long album?! I thought there would be!!! Oh no there are vocal, still not sure I'm enjoying it tho, maybe would be the best thing since sliced bread if you were a massive Metallica fan but idk it just doesn't hit right for me. It's loooong and boring and blends into one and it's not stimulating my brain, it just becomes background noise after a while. I actually ended up only listening to the songs I know (not following rules I know) but the rest I just didn't enjoy and it had no meaning for me. I did like the ones I did know but I would rather just listen to the OG song.
dit is echt niks
Apart from the classics, I'm not that hyped
2 straight hours of Metallica is a LOT of Metallica. But that being said, this would have been an amazing concert to see live. I'm not a huge fan of metal music, but I've always respected the artistry of the genre. It's fun to throw on every now and again.
I’ve never been much of a Metallica fan, but tried to go into this with an open mind. But over 1hr into this 133 minute album, I’m wondering if I can slog through to the end. It doesn’t suck, it just that too much of it is essentially the same to me, kind of a a constant beating drone. Not enough melody, lots of head banging wall of sound. I like the symphonic part, but that loses its novelty pretty quickly. “Hero for the Day” is a nice change of pace, and the symphony is really good on that one. Likewise with “Devil’s Dance”, with it’s “Kashmir” inspired strings. But I had to wade through over 45 minutes of wall-of-sound to get to those. It doesn’t help that I’ve never liked James Hetfield’s vocals, just not my “thing”. I can see why lots of people love Metallica, but I’m not one of them. I guess that summarizes the whole experience. I’ll finish disc 1, and give myself a break before disc 2. Which isn’t much of an endorsement. 2/5
10/24/23. Have known a few songs off this concert and thought it was a cool addition to have the orchestra. However, I think the majority of the songs, it doesn’t add much. Admittedly, I’m also a casual Metallica fan.
Orchestra and band instrumentals are generally on point, although they do not always complement well. During "One" in particular, the orchestra did not add much to the experience for me. James Hetfield's singing is also not my style throughout the performance. However, hearing a live experience such as this is always different from actually attending it yourself and this was likely a banger of a concert to see live.
Altijd leuk om Metallica te luisteren uit nostalgie. Dat het live was maakte het soms irritant wanneer de zanger het publiek laat invullen. De zangstijl is niet helemaal mijn ding, en de lengte van de nummers wordt soms ook vervelend. Zou niet het hele album hebben geluisterd, maar eerder de klassiekers eruit pikken.
Niet zo erg als normale live versies
I liked the concept, however i dont think it works for all the chosen songs. All in all a great album and interesting experience.
This is impressive! Metallica rendering their songs to work well with an orchestra. I have to say I don't like James's performance in quite some moments, but the band is on fire. The orchestra works great on top of and working around the songs. The exclusive songs for this concert are great too! 8 out of 10
live album.
This was phenomenal from start to finish. Real great take on a ton of great songs.
Solid effort, nice touch with the orchestra backing.
I wanted to love it, but I’d much rather listen to high quality tracks, without crowd noise. Harder to enjoy the music when the audio quality is like that. I haven’t listened to much Metallica, I don’t think this was a good entry point - seems like it’s more for fans of the band to enjoy.
It's a very majestic album. The furiosity of Metallica's thrash metal combined with a symphony orchestra is a good match. It really shows the melodic side of Metallica as well. I like the successor S&M2 better than this one.
A two plus hour live metal concert with classical backing (which feels like overkill) to start the day? Okay... Actually found myself enjoying this at one point about an hour in. But the whole inescapable overblown silliness of it wins in the end.
i was intrigued by the idea, but the symphony seems artificially added on top of the music and i’m not sure adds to the experience. if i want to totally thrash out to Master of Puppets, i’m going to go to the og recording, not this version
One of the best live albums ever
This is the type of music that I expect men listen to. I appreciate the energy but the vaguely biblical lyrics with the cheesy orchestra gives it a real megachurch vibe.
Эпик особенно первая часть альбома. Вообще он для меня поделен на две части - первая более симфоническая, вторая - более "металлическая". Обожаю, когда соединяют глубину и масштаб оркестра с современной музыкой. Я поняла, что устаю уже от большого количества тяжелой музыки за раз, но пятерку не поставить не могу
Interesting concept. For my ears it doesn't work. I can think of three Metallica albums that properly belong on this list. This ain't one. At first I thought it was because the mix was "upside down"; the strings are prominent over the guitars giving this musac-metallica feel. But when I suggested it, my wife said, "or it just doesn't work." I think she's right.
This is a great album ... I wouldn't have listened to this, but it came up, so I did listen to it and I liked it 4 stars
banger
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. The orchestra was probably why.
I don't really understand why this is on a best album list? It's a greatest hits with an orchestra? If I wanted that I would have listened to an apocalypica album. That being said I've never listened to this on principle but it's well done... Greatest hits album.
With very few exceptions (Bleeding Me being one), the orchestra make the songs worse. James' singing in Master of Puppets is terrible.
Liked it. With the orchestral twist, it makes it much more listenable to me, because I often think of live albums as boring. I know, shame on me. I mean, I can listen to live versions and bootlegs of my fave bands, sometimes the songs end up sounding better than the studio versions. Anyway. I think I enjoyed most of the songs. Has a twist to it. Hetfield's voice sounds a bit different here, but it fits.
Her kendte jeg flere af sangene på forhånd, men at høre dem med en symfoniorkester var rimelig vildt. Har kun hørt lidt af det, da jeg ikke lige fandt tid til 2 timers Metallica i dag.
Highlights: The Ecstasy of Gold, The Call of Ktulu, No Leaf Clover, Devil's Dance, Until It Sleeps. In a nutshell: grandiose but it could have been so much better. First time listening. It's a mixed bag. BRILLIANT arrangements by Michael Kamen. Fusion genres such as symphonic metal or bands like Metallica may not be everyone's thing. On stage it felt as if the orchestra was on the side rather than a co-headliner. That said, it's worth listening to this album to appreciate musicians who push their own boundaries. Plan an intermission if streaming, it's 133 minutes. Overall: 6/10
Dull, rock by numbers.
This is probably better if you’re already a big Metallica fan. It’s not as interesting a take on the songs as I hoped. The songs all sounded too similar, like music for end credits of a Transformers movie (not a compliment). At the same time a lot of them sounded so much more restrained than the normal album cuts. I’ve heard and even seen live other bands do something similar with the LA Philharmonic that I enjoyed a lot more than this.
If you’re a Metallica mega fan, you’ll love this album; it feels like a celebration of the band. As a semi-fan, I kinda just want to hear the songs I like as I know them. The orchestration doesn’t really feel like it adds much to a lot of the songs, with a couple exceptions for some mid-paced songs.
Long album. Orchestra adds a kick to it.
1. Ambitious Collaboration: The most striking aspect of "S&M" is the ambitious fusion of Metallica's hard-hitting metal songs with the grandeur of a symphony orchestra. This collaboration was a bold move that showcased the band's willingness to experiment and push boundaries. The result is a powerful and dynamic sound that elevates Metallica's music to a whole new level. 2. Powerful Symphonic Arrangements: Michael Kamen's symphonic arrangements add depth and richness to Metallica's songs. The orchestra's involvement is not merely decorative; it complements the band's intensity and adds new dimensions to their music. Tracks like "The Call of Ktulu" and "No Leaf Clover" benefit greatly from these arrangements, creating a captivating sonic experience. 3. Dynamic Performance: Metallica's live energy is captured brilliantly on this album. The band's performance is tight, and they sound as powerful as ever. The presence of the symphony orchestra adds an extra layer of dynamics, making the live experience even more immersive. James Hetfield's vocals, Kirk Hammett's guitar solos, Lars Ulrich's drumming, and Jason Newsted's basslines all shine in this setting. 4. Track Selection: "S&M" features a selection of Metallica's most iconic songs, including classics like "Master of Puppets," "Enter Sandman," and "One." These tracks were chosen well, representing different eras of the band's career, ensuring a diverse listening experience for both new and longtime fans. 5. Highlights: Some standout moments on the album include the epic rendition of "The Call of Ktulu" with its haunting orchestration, the emotional depth of "Bleeding Me," and the intensity of "Battery." The album also introduces two new songs, "No Leaf Clover" and "−Human," which seamlessly fit into the overall performance. 6. Flaws: While "S&M" is a remarkable achievement, it may not be for everyone. Some fans of Metallica's raw and uncompromising thrash metal sound may find the symphonic elements distracting or unnecessary. Additionally, the mixing of the album has been criticized by some listeners, as the orchestra can sometimes overshadow the band's instruments. 7. Impact and Legacy: "S&M" is a testament to Metallica's musical versatility and willingness to experiment. It paved the way for other rock and metal bands to explore orchestral collaborations. This album remains an important part of Metallica's discography and has been a defining moment in their career. In conclusion, "S&M" is a daring and successful experiment that showcases Metallica's ability to transcend genre boundaries. It offers a unique and captivating listening experience, blending the raw power of metal with the grandeur of a symphony orchestra. While it may not be universally beloved by all Metallica fans, it is an essential addition to the band's catalog and a testament to their musical evolution.
Metallica is good. SFSO is good. Together it’s long, tedious, and the title is apt…S&M
Really good album. Metal and symphony. Not a huge metal head, but I enjoyed it immensely.
Wow wow wow! One of the most epic things I've ever heard! Heavy metal and orchestra done perfectly.
Holy effing moly! That was amazing! The opening is ridiculously attention-grabbing and what follows is glorious. I mean, was a 2+ hour assignment a bit challenging to work into a day?...sure. Did I need to have it on as the soundtrack for some other activities?...sure...but, it was so awesome and engaging that it never lost my attention for a moment. I also loved imagining the orchestra thrashing, 'cause you know that they did!
Wowee! That was epic! Oddly enough, I had to take a break from the album to go see the Seattle Rock Orchestra’s presentation of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. It’s been a symphonic rock kind of day. Anyway…this album melted my face off in the best possible way.
I was not thrilled at two hours of Metallica… but the orchestra added so much! Some really great pieces herein… and then some I still would rather not. But the best Metallica yet!
Viel zu lang. Gute Produktion für ein live album. Orchester nicht nur ein afterthought, bringt tatsächlich Mehrwert.
Might be to some people’s tastes but I thought it was just awful
What is this crap
I like Metallica. I only liked Metallica once they "sold-out" and went "mainstream". "Nothing Else Matters" with an orchestral arrangement is a think of absolute staggering beauty but "Enter Sandman" is a mess. I like it, but can't help feeling it could have been more somehow.
Probably the most listenable Metallica will be for me. For a few songs it’s really awkward with the symphony and on others it really brings up the guitar and singer performance. I could imagine the concert being epic though. 6/10
ça change
Nice! Never listened to this one before. The symphony pairs well with Metallica.
+1 for real instruments (lots of them). -1 for being way too long (2 hours). The songs all started to sound the same. The symphony contribution could have been more creatively used. It worked great on some songs but not on all. And I admit I did not listen to the whole thing.
High energy, unique takes on classic tracks, this one is a gem.
Metal and classical music actually pair up quite well, and the treatment suits some Metallica songs more than others. What was a novelty in 1999 seems to be now quite common in some metal genres. That said, the orchestral treatment seems overdone in some other songs (too much spy movie vibe).
As a previous reviewer put it best, "Like hockey and baseball on the same field at the same time." Interesting attempt I guess but Metallica and the SFS had no reason performing together, and the end result shows that.
Love Metallica and I love Classical Symphony, the two don’t mesh well and work for me.
The softest metal amplified with an orchestra. Got bored about halfway through.
Very powerful, its a bit of a cheat to put it in this list since it's not an album though. it's a live performance greatest hits.
Holy shit
classical music is just heavy metal without electricity so there was no reason this shouldn't work although it is a weird idea at first. Mostly this album screams "not that great": it's live; over two hours and features a lot of songs wich studio versions are also featured on this site. Still this slaps and is just great from front to back. It might not be as great as albums like Master of Puppets but still really really good! favourites: a lot... there are too many least favs.: Bleeding Me, Until it Sleeps, Outlaw Torn Rating: strong 8 to light 9
4.5 stars. This was epic. They symphony adds to the metal performance, enhancing what is essentially a Metallica greatest hits live album.
Enjoyable. Probably a 7/10 but can't justify a 4*.
Metallica, but James Hetfield’s singing is worse, there’s a random orchestra that doesn’t really do anything yet still manages to make the songs have less bite, and for some unknown reason, the line ‘how I’m killing you’ in Master Of Puppets is changed to ‘how I’m fucking you’. The song is about drugs - you should know that considering you wrote it. -1 star for length, too, as the album Master Of Puppets itself was a little on the long side, but I liked that album, and I don’t like this one.
Lyssnade igenom en stund men 2h o 13 min är alldeles för långt. Allt jag hörde i de första 5 låtarna var dock asfett. Favorit master of puppets
perfect
I like early period Metallica quite a bit, and I also enjoy classical/symphonic music a lot. Together, though, it just doesn't work for me. It feels too sanitized or something.
High four, not quite a five. This album rocks, but the long length works both in its favor and against it. Hetfield’s vocals are also a bit weaker on this album, but that’s to be expected with a live album. That being said, this album is AMAZINGLY put together for a live album.
Fun combination of Metallica and classical music that surprisingly works well. I think it could benefit from being half as long because after a while it begins to get tiresome. I would be interested to hear the version of this if they made it today. I feel like they wouldn’t have nearly as much material from Load and Reload as they do on this record. Added to playlist: No Leaf Clover
It’s good, It’s literally good, metalica is a good band and putting strings on metal songs works very well but I just have to rate it a 3 as you don’t get much else from that and while I like metalica they aren’t one of my favourites.
Merle Haggard has an album that covers 100 songs. Do we need to make it a live album recorded with a symphony? I don't think so.
A little bit of a tough one in that this is essentially a Metallica greatest hits double album. The only thing that could warrant putting on this list is the fact that a metal band reimagined and created an arrangement that uses a symphony orchestra. A completely fascinating idea and one that they absolutely CRUSH. the sound is so full, rich and heavy. amazing album (though i started to get a bit tired after 2+ hours).
I'm really on several different thoughts with this album and I'll try to put them in line. The Good: - It's a great collection of Metallica material. Some old, some newer, but all good songs. - The band and orchestra are in superb form! James' voice is clear, Kirk never loses control anywhere, we can actually hear the bass and even Lars keeps rhythm. The Bad - It sometimes feels if the Band and Orchestra are more in each others way than playing together and other times the orchestra steamrolls over the band - Not all songs benefit from this supersizing. A lot of these songs really didn't need an orchestra fill and become bombastic due to it. - If you make an album with an entire symphony orchestra, why not write new material instead of rehashing everything? Or do it half/half? Apparently this is a good introduction into metal for a lot of people. But for me it was too full with filler.
I decided to listen to Linda Ronstadt's Simple Dreams (not included on this list) instead.
good collaboration.
Missed some opportunities to play some absolute bangers
I couldn't listen to much of this. Got about three tracks in before abandoning. The Ennio Morricone opener got me hopeful, but once Metallica joined in it went downhill. I can't imagine listening to all 2+ hours of this.
yeah, not my thing
i'm sure this is fine but this is really my first exposure to metallica in full, and i don't know if i appreciate the symphonic aspect of it considering i know that a lot of these songs just don't have it. so to me, it is, at the same time, unnecessary flourish because i know this isn't how the music usually is, but also the only way i've heard most of these songs. so i'm not really sure what to make of this, as someone who is unfamiliar with the source material. it was fine but really was just lost on me.
Very good
Not really a fan of live albums - this would be an incredible gig but it’s a slog to listen to at over 2 hours and you can’t match the energy of a live show on a recording. Don’t think the orchestra arrangements added too much to the songs but otherwise a decent album.
Pretty good album. The symphony mixed with Metallica worked, but I wouldn't say it was anything special. More of a novelty than anything. Best track: # 19 - One
Listened to this album before - like Metallica but not the biggest fan of their live stuff.
Som fotball og håndball på samme bane, samtidig
Had already listened through this album quite a bit before it was recommended here. I am a big fan of musicians/bands reorchestrating their music in live shows to include guests acts, and S&M is one of my favorite examples- the full orchestra complements the compositions extremely well, and James Hetfield's energy in live shows helps tie the whole thing together. Some other parts of the composition suffer a bit (drums are the obvious example), but the sound quality is also extremely good for a live show. The instrumental openers (Ecstasy of Gold, Call of Ktulu) blend into Master of Puppets brilliantly to open the show, and the show contains a good mix of Metallica classics (One and Battery also stand out to me) along with some of their post- Black Album work scattered in.
Unfortunately the one on streaming services sounds like is heavy with autotune, so this ruined the live experience. "I'll search for the original1999 cd or vinyl if available for the real experience 3.5
2 hours is crazy. Second star was for the Orchestra themselves.
ummm okay metalli-cheese. the symphony is the best part of this album. and i get thag its live, but fuck this is bloated and long. shiiiittttttt.
What is this?? A cross-over episode?
Positiv överraskning men det kanske mest beror på symfonikerna. Många klassiker här.
A bit samey but loved the use of the orchestra
This is, by far, my favorite Metallica album.
Not Metallica’s best performance, but it was a very novel concept at the time
Video game music
Brilliant! An amazing collaboration between diametrically different musical genres that works! Can’t imagine what this was like live. It is too much to take in in one sitting recorder, so if this represents one show people would be wrung out by the end.
Wanted it to be cool but the orchestra choices are kind of cheesy and at times distracting. Better orchestration might’ve saved it but as it is, not the best.
It’s Metallica, it’s not bad. The idea was interesting. The symphony does seem to just be incoherent, ruining parts of songs multiple times I’ve noticed already. Idk this was probably really cool live, that doesn’t make it a good album though.
Alright, fine. That was pretty fucking good for a cell phone commercial.
It's Monday morning, i opened my album selector in anticipation of what album would be up for review... my eyes instantly rolled back in my head as I saw the name Metallica come up.... gently closing my eyes and rubbing my forehead in soft circular movements, I contemplated how precious life was and whether I should subject my ears and brain to the Metallica sound. Surprisingly, from the opening trck of the album, I realised that this was a bit different, it was a live album with an orchestra who could actually play instruments and make music! Have to say, I liked the albilum a lot more than I'd first thought, it was a good combo, and probably would have been an excellent concert to be there at, absorbing the full atmosphere.... but for me the orchestral novelty wore off by track 6. It's not a new concept, but still an interesting album in ways, and I could listen to some of it again.
Love this album
I'm not much of a Metallica fan. There's a handful of their songs I quite like, but this live album is them at their worst in my opinion. Can't stand the orchestral backing to metal music. Every track sounds too similar. Not for me this one.
first listen not a bad album, albeit a little long
Cool idea, but I wish it had been a studio recording because I really don’t enjoy live albums
Excellent. Love Master of Puppets
i dont mind metallica, i even like some of their songs, but this shit all sounds the same and it's 2+ hours long.
Too overloaded. No leaf clover is a stand out. It’s the only track where the orchestra adds something transformative to the heaviness. Otherwise it’s too much of everything all the time. For me the orchestral power doesn’t translate to record easily. I am not much for the grandiose. But in a live setting it sure can be powerful.
En serio? Por qué?
I appreciate that this exists but I don't care for the execution
Not a huge fan of live albums. Pretty long to listen to when I'm not...there. But this was a really good one.
I'm not a huge Metallica fan the guitarist is the only reason I sat through 2 hours of this. The orchestra is a cool addition but can only make it so much better. It's just long and repetitive.
Didn't listen to the whole album but thought it was good considering it was live. Loved all the string stuff
i'm not a huge metallica fan but I really don't get the hate for this album. a lot of the songs work well with symphonic arrangements and they're more interesting to me than many of the original album versions. stay mad, "REAL" metalheads favorites: the ecstasy of gold, the call of ktulu, master of puppets, the thing that should not be, fuel, hero of the day, for whom the bell tolls, one
An excellent way to listen to Metallica! I enjoyed the whole show, appreciating the symphony parts throughout.
Like a greatest hits collection from an all-time group, PLUS some songs are much better with orchestra. (Some aren’t helped at all, but that’s hardly a liability.) Ktulu, Fuel, Bleeding Me are FANTASTIC
How did this make the list?
Whoa. Metallica already has such a massive sound and then they added an orchestra? 😂 It’s inspired but also a little insane. The album can be overwhelming and overstimulating. Still, it’s a remarkable and impressive achievement. Add in the audience singalong moments and this becomes a very special recording. This is probably more in ‘I respect that this exists’ territory than me actually loving it. But I also wasn’t familiar with most of these songs. I can imagine my reaction being different if I knew these songs and then heard them expanded into these epic, live, orchestrated versions. I’m starting to get acclimated to the over-the-top style of this album. “Devil’s Dance” is slapping right now. Feels like heavy metal meets Bond theme song with the strings.
I love early Metallica. "Kill Em All", "Ride the Lightning", "Master of Puppets", and "And Justice For All" are some of the best heavy releases of all time and somehow they are all released by the same band! But I have to say, I think this recording might just be Metallica at their best. Those earliest 2 albums were great for Metallica in finding their thrash-inspired heavy metal sound, the next 2 ,"MoP" and "AJFA" was where they explored the idea of "epic" metal music, and the ones that followed- Black Album, Load, Reload, were the ones where they refined further to get to their most popular iteration/sound of the band. Combining tracks from all of those records and doing it live with a symphony is a crazy feat and a genius idea. Metal is such a good platform to add an orchestral sound too. Metal music tends to fit the sonic spectrum to the max- bass guitars fill up the low end and specifically in metal tend to fight up into the mid registers, guitars fill all of the mids and some lows and some highs, and vocals and cymbals sit in the high mids and highs. Drums also punch their way in through those frequencies wherever they like. Thinking "hey lets squeeze in a full symphony orchestra and around those frequencies" is super ambitious, and Metallica was the perfect band to do it. I think all of that exploring that happened through their first 7 albums paved the way for this legendary greatest-hits-esque release. Starting with "The Ecstasy of Gold" is such a badass idea. I remember being young and loving Clint Eastwood / western movies / Ennio Morricone and almost kind of gatekeeping that music in a way? Wanting to keep it for me and my friend group and thinking of all the ways that we could sample it and/or cover it in some metal way, but Metallica did it right. There are some composition decisions that I don't know if I agree with, like the intro of Master of Puppets is SUPER cool and heavy and memorable, but the strings at the 00:41 mark are just kind of weird... they use some rhythms that aren't used anywhere else in the song and just sort of like start a melody but don't actually realize a full version of the melody? This happens again around 2:50 in Master of Puppets- there is so much going on here, like so many chime-y percussion lines, harp runs, and timpani hits. They don't really elevate the band, they more so fight with the band for attention, and having different rhythms and melodic phrases that don't exist inside the already established music creates a competitive sound, and not a homogeneous one. This is super nitpicky but there's really a distinct lack of rubato / lengthening and shortening of tempos across the performance. A good example is at the end of the Master of Puppets solo around 6:15 to 6:30, this part I feel like famously usually slows down. It's like the post-climax crazy guitarness that breaks the pressure and gives the band a moment to recover (and for Kirk Hammet - who sounds INCREDIBLE on this record - to give his hands and wrists a slight break). Metal is in my opinion the best genre for energetic live performances and bands usually mess with tempos a lot, depending on how they are feeling and how the crowd is reacting. The energy symbiosis is a cool phenomenon with live music. This is a natural thing and is awesome to experience as both a performer and an audience member, but this record doesn't have a lot of this. I am confident that this is a byproduct of a whole orchestra being involved, and there's just a logistical misalignment / potential for miscommunication between a conductor and a drummer/frontman. It's a seemingly impossible thing to expect a conductor and frontman to be so in touch with eachother to lead the people behind them and push and pull when they feel it. I love how James Hetfield starts the first Master of Puppets verse and almost immediately stops singing to allow the crowd to sing the "response" part of the melody. That's so cool. This was probably one of the coolest metal concerts of all time. I truly love this album cover, man is it COOL. It's so cinematic. The black bars, the title text on the top of the graphic that looks like a movie title with producers names under it, and those COLORS. It's like looking at one of the 1990's Batman movies with these saturated hues and blown out and blurred lights. The S&M (Symphony and Metallica) on the bottom is super cool too. My one knock on this record is that it doesn't contain any tracks from "Kill Em All", which is an album I really adore but I understand that it is one that is really far from Metallica's evolved sound (but they are still known for this sound!). It would have been pretty clashy to have their thrashy sound brought in front of an orchestra so I get it. Overall, it's a 5 for me. It's such a standout record for heavy metal.
Interesting mix with the orchestra. After a while the same backing phrasing got repetitive and could have been more interesting. Metallica was metallica. Another commenter thought it sounded like Metallica doing a James Bond score: totally agree with that! I had the same thought.
Increible
outrageously boring i hate the vocalist and orchestral arrangements of these songs
I would place this album with the TransSiberian Orchestra or whatever. I like some orchestral music. I like some metal, but some fusion experiences aren't great. I don't like fish and ice cream. That's kind of where my head is at on this album.
Metallica's S&M is perfect for Trans Siberian Orchestra fans who don't enjoy Christmas music.
The melding of Metallica’s electric guitars and drums with an orchestra is a brilliant pairing. The problem with “S&M” is when in their careers they made it. It’s heavy on “Load” and “Reload” because those were their most recent albums. Sometime around the black album, James Hetfield became a better singer. And then took everything he learned too far and became a worse singer. I just don’t like the way he uses his voice as much from “Load” and beyond. Those vocals and the set list here hold “S&M” back, but a metal symphony is a terrific concept. There’s probably some symphonic metal out there I should be checking out.
This album is so cheesy, it’s hilarious! But i don’t think the band realizes how ironically ridiculous it is that they traded their metal cred for some 70s Live-and-Let-Die symphonic arrangements. If they were in on the joke, I might give them an extra star or two for their cleverness. As it is, it’s just a mess of styles and self-importance.
I like the idea. I would have preferred leaning into the concept even further and making instrumental only versions of Metallica songs.
I was cautiously hopeful that I would like this album. And I’m happy to say that I liked it much more than I thought I would. I was skeptical seeing: i) a lot of Load and Reload songs and ii) it’s a 2+ hour long investment. I think the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra added copious drama to the Metallica sound. The set list was better than I feared. And there were only 2 or 3 songs that I get could have been left out entirely. This was close to getting a 5.
Cuando era más chico, los que escuchaban este disco eran re cancheros. Yo decía que lo había escuchado, pero en realidad no lo había escuchado. Ahora lo escuché y me parece una poronga.
It wasn't really the unlikely combination of metal and symphony, real symphonic metal albums can make the same point but with a much better execution. For me, I think it's more about making live albums and compilation albums. This album is basically a live, compilation album. But what I liked about it is that they reimagined their hits and put new colors in it, instead of just recording a stage version of those songs. That's how you do a live album. But despite the cool bits of it, it still has a lot of misses. It's freaking two hours long after all, and its live!
Just because you could, doesn’t mean you should.
aucune chanson meilleur dans cet album que leur version originale. 2h bcp trop long. 5.5/10
I uh...may have enjoyed the orchestra more than Metallica. Surprisingly, this worked for me. The album ran a bit long, but I listened to it while killing a shit ton of enemies in an FPS game, so.
Cool idea, but fell flat for me. I don't like Metallica that much to begin with.
I LOVE Metallica. This album doesn't do it for me. I know I should love it, but I don't. It's too long, and good songs are changed.... still better than a lot of other albums on this list. 3.5/5
Always found an entire album of Metallica gets a bit samey, so the orchestra added an interesting new texture. It all worked far better than I thought it would
Hella long album, great performance, and I think the symphony really added to these songs. I'd give it a 4.5, it should sit below Metallica's studio albums but still be given high praise.
Solid. Not sure it made me a fan of any songs I wasn't already but really enjoyed having the symphony behind a lot of the songs I already enjoyed
- Heard already - Nothing special
Not as good as each component. It has some highlights, but I’d rather be listening to just Metallica or just an orchestra.
Not for me. I still don’t like Metallica and I probably never will. I didn’t even make it through the whole record
Wild
4.25
Great album with a lot of energy.
Nice idea but Lars is not the best drummer in Metallica and is clearly struggling in this live performance
A live album? Why? I am not listening to a Metallica (strike one) live (strike two) album that is over two hours long (strike three). Oh, and it's called 'S&M'. Strike four (apparently this stands for 'Symphony and Metallica', but the connotations are still there). I do like a good orchestra. It has to be said. And they could be heard instantly on the first track! OK, this first one is actually very good. Probably because Metallica had no hand in it! (Obviously, I have watched 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'). Oh, I'm not bothered. 2/5 for having an excellent orchestra perform (honestly, if it was just them, I'd be willing to give 10/10, but there are sadly no classical albums on this list). But I'm not bothered with the rest of this.
This was quite good, the orchestra worked really well with Metallica songs. I like Metallica enough but 2+ hours is a lot of Metallica and I’ve never been big on their ballad tunes though One was awesome here. I could pair this down to an awesome 45 but I’m rating the full two hours so it’s 3.5 stars from me
This just feels like them disappearing up their own arses. Although that seems to be the case for a lot of band + orchestra albums.
It wasn’t that bad: I’m not a massive Metallica fan but neither a hater but this album felt like a glorified “best of” album. 2h15!!! That was ridiculous for me and literally took me all day to listen to, the songs weren’t too bad with them pretty true to the originals and the orchestra didn’t add much but I guess enough for the band to allow it. Overall my main gripe would be the fact it was so long and added nothing new I think to the Metallica discography, just like a long concert.
Not sure if a live album should be included in a top 1001 albums. Neat concept: Heavy Metal meets Classical Orchestra, but not a big enough Metalicca fan to appreciate their songs as an arrangement.
Unh unh can’t make me do it. Couldn’t get through the whole thing. But, just feels like a very long vanity project. A big James Bond vibe for me though.
Quirky album. Some great renditions of historically weak Metallica tracks from Load/Reload.
weird
Listened Before? Yes This album has a shitload of nostalgia tied up in it, so I don't think I can be at all unbiased. Received this for Christmas when I was about 9 years old and played the hell out of it for years to follow. I remember it was a two CD package which meant an extremely long listen. Looking at this with a bit more cynical eye, this album seems a bit more of an ego-stroking cash grab, but it will always hold a special place. Album opens with only the symphony playing ecstasy of gold (from the Good the Bad and the Ugly). Metallica joins the stage for their instrumental Call of Ktulu from Ride the Lightning with the symphony adding depth to the existing song. Original is great as is this version. Only complaint is that the mixing buries the (amazing) guitar solo a little more than I would prefer at the midsection. Symphonic addition kind of makes this feel like a James Bond intro or something. I actually think that the symphony inclusion hurts Master of Puppets. IMO the song works much better as stripped down as possible. First time hearing Hetfield and his live vocals sound great. Quality micing work on the audience to capture their singalong. Far too much here to try and break it down song by song. In broad strokes, this album is an interestingly successful musical fusion that pairs a professional symphony orchestra against "metal." I think that the pairings tend to work better for the later career (read as more poppy) entries to Metallica's catalog; however, they must have noticed that as well given that that describes most of the album outside of a few notable exceptions. Standouts for me are Of Wolf And Man, No Leaf Clover, Hero Of The Day, and One. This doesn't hold a flame to the first four albums Metallica released, but it is a fine enough entry. Will always hold a special place for me. 4 / 5 Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists:
I think this was better in concept than in reality. Metal and Classical should go together like chocolate and peanut butter, but the composition and performance of these songs just seem kind of slapdash. Sometimes it sounds like the orchestra has just been shoehorned into the song. Rather than a 2-hour live performance, I can't help but think this would have made a stunning hour-long studio album by cutting the filler and getting James Hetfield's vocals and Kirk Hammett's guitar into a proper studio. A+ concept, C- execution.
I went into this album open minded but must admit I'm not a massive metal fan. I find it totally ridiculous in a Spinal Tap way. A stupid venture in all areas. 2
Very good
Orchestra-aided rock is almost always a win, in my experience. I kinda wish it wasn't a live concert, though. I ain't listening to hear the crowd sing, James!
I'm sure being there live was pretty fantastic, but it felt cheesy as an album.
I didn't enjoy this album even half as much as I thought I would. To me James sounded like he was just phoning it in. This just wasn't all that great.
I don't like the sound. I don't like the songwriting. I don't like the production overall. Awful album from one of my favorite bands. Far as I'm concerned, ...and Justice For All is where Metallica ended.
Metallica with an orchestra. It's one of those crazy ideas that sort of works somehow. To me it sounded like music from video games, particularly final fantasy games. which I like, so it's a plus for me, though it's strange to not be stressfully fighting some monster at the same time. Some songs work better than others, and given that it's a 2hr+ album, I could have lived with having less. But enjoyable, especially if you're doing something that takes a while, but needs an epic soundtrack.