Kirk Hammett

Album Review: Metallica- Hardwired…To Self Destruct

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Metallica is one of my top 3 favorite bands of all time, right behind Nine Inch Nails and Alice In Chains. I’ve been eagerly anticipating a new album from Metallica for a while now. And I can honestly say that the wait was well worth it. Metallica really delivers the goods on their new album Hardwired…To Self Destruct. This album has everything Metallica fans love about the band. It’s thrashy, riff driven with lots of groove, and harks back to their more raw intense days of say Kill Em All and Ride The Lightning, with bits of the Black album and dashes of Load era blues. Let me simplify that for you, this new album is as though Kill Em All and The Black Album fornicated and did a few lines of Load.

Now here is a track by track rundown of the album:

From the start of the album with “Hardwired,” you know you are in for a ride. The anger and intensity that comes from everyone in the band comes alive on this song. “Atlas, Rise,” is a borderline epic jam that has flashes of Ride The Lightning influence to it as well as an Iron Maiden feel.”Now That We’re Dead” is very groovy, and musically there is a tinge of Alice In Chains to this song. “Moth Into Flame” is one of the best songs Metallica has ever written. There is nothing about this song that isn’t awesome. The melody, the riff, the drums and rhythm, it simply rocks. “Dream No More” is a very “black album/Ride The Lightning” influenced song, with some more grunge rock melody, making for a very gritty track. There is even a mention of Ktulu, which is a nice little ode to the Ride The Lightning era. “Halo On Fire” is  one of the more somber and mellow tracks on the album but, by no means does it lose the edge the rest of the album has. Kirk Hammett’s leads on this song add a sense of melancholy in a good way. “Confusion” keeps with the melodic and heavy riffs. “ManUNkind” is thrashy and heavy. This is one of those songs that really has the Kill Em All/Ride The Lightning feel to it. Plus the video for it is absolutely awesome. “Here Comes Revenge” is another heavy track but, this one has lots of dynamics to it, that separate it from the rest of the pack. “Am I Savage” starts off with a very epic drawl then transforms into a groovy track. “Murder One” is one of my favorite songs on the album. There is something really rocking and cool about this song, as it’s a tribute to the great Lemmy of Motorhead. Closing out the album is the heaviest track on the album “Spit Out The Bone.” This is the type of song many Metallica fans have been waiting for, for many years. This is a song is going to be one of those songs live that will leave you with whiplash from headbanging.

Metallica have delivered a truly great album. From the songwriting, production, artwork, and marketing, Hardwired…To Self Destruct is going to go down as a classic for the band. James Hetfield sounds great on this album. His lyrics are top notch and full of insight and imagery. Kirk Hammett’s solos are tasteful and full of melody. He even manages to lay off the wah-wah pedal enough to showcase his playing. Robert Trujillo provides a layer of thunder with the bass that hasn’t been heard since The Black Album. Lars, well Lars actually brings a speed and intensity that he has lacked in recent years. Sure he’s not playing like he did all those years ago but, he’s giving the songs what they need.

I for one am glad that Metallica took their time and didn’t rush to put out an album. Among their peers in the metal community, they have always done what they wanted and it pays off in the end, with the exception of St. Anger. That was just wretched but, necessary to get the band back to where they need to be, heavy and ruthless in their approach. Take a listen to the entire album and let this album encompass you and make you fall in love with Metallica all over again.

Overall Rating: A

 

Metallica- Hardwired…To Self Destruct:

 

Album Anniversary: Metallica- Master Of Puppets

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It’s pretty crazy to think that 30 years has passed since Metallica released Master Of Puppets. Not only that but in those 30 years, Master Of Puppets has only gotten stronger. It’s widely considered to be in the top 10 heavy metal albums of all time, inspired countless bands to start up, and those songs when played live get the crowds into quite a frenzy that most of the time you can hear the audience more than you can hear James Hetfield. I remember when I first heard Metallica. And Justice For All was the album that I heard first, but of course once I fell in love with the band, I knew I had to go after the other albums that they had. Master Of Puppets, has such great use of melody and heaviness. It takes the blueprint that the band laid out on Ride The Lightning (my personal favorite Metallica album) and expanded upon it by making it more epic. There isn’t one song on this album that doesn’t fit in to their structure. Each song has a flow to it that jumps out at you as the next one begins. I really don’t even need to keep rambling at this point. You all know that Master Of Puppets is great and deserves to be celebrated. A few years ago while touring the European festivals, Metallica performed the album in its entirety. That must have been one hell of an experience to see live. Maybe one day when Metallica tours the states again, they do it for all of us out here. So with all this in mind take an hour out of your day and blast Master Of Puppets!!!

 

Metallica- Master Of Puppets:

List: Overrated Guitarists

I really enjoy talking to my friends that are musically inclined and have discussions about this and that. One of the constant things that always comes up is who we think are overrated in terms of players, bands, etc. Today I thought I’d focus on creating a list of those that are overrated guitarists. I’m not saying they aren’t good players, just that they aren’t all that “Great.” Keep in mind that this is just my opinion and it’s ok that you don’t agree…I won’t get mad! I’m sure there are others as well, so go ahead and add them in the comments.

1. Slash
2. Eddie Van Halen
3. Dimebag Darrell- Pantera
4. Kerry King- Slayer
5. Kirk Hammett- Metallica
6. Synster Gates- Avenged Sevenfold
7. Zacky Vengence- Avenged Sevenfold
8. Pete Townshend
9. Joe Perry

Album Anniversary: Metallica- Ride The Lightning

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30 years ago, Metallica stepped up their game following their debut album and released Ride The Lightning. The album was recorded in Denmark by Flemming Rasmussen, who would go on to produce their next two albums. Ride the Lightning is the last Metallica album to credit former guitarist Dave Mustaine, with co-writing any songs. He is credited on the title track, “Ride the Lightning”, and instrumental track “The Call of Ktulu.” Though only eight songs are on the album, the 47 minutes of sheer intensity is very prevalent. Starting off the album is “Fight Fire With Fire.” This song opens with a very classical melody then jumps right into the thrash madness. The title track “Ride The Lightning” balances the harmony of dueling guitars with a crunchy churning riff. “For Whom The Bell Tolls” has one of the best bass parts ever. This song is beyond recognizable and is still a crowd favorite at Metallica shows. Cliff Burton really shines on this song. “Fade To Black” wasn’t well received upon first listen, but this song really showcases the ability of the band to write great songs. The entire arrangement of the song from the melody, lyrics, and riffs are spectacular, not to mention the closing solo. “Trapped Under Ice” is a very underrated thrash song. The speed of the playing on this song is intense. “Escape” is a wildcard on the album. This song has a more melodic sensibility to it. Though it does show what kind of range James was starting to develop. “Creeping Death” is my personal favorite Metallica song, it was also the first song of their I learned to play, so there is some sentimental attachment to it. The riff on this track is heavy as hell. The interesting part of this song is the lyrics as they are all about the biblical exodus and the plagues of the Jews leaving Egypt. Closing out the album is the instrumental “The Call Of The Ktulu.” This song is epic, melodic, and heavy, all the things that Ride The Lightning represents.

Ride The Lightning was definitely a step in the right direction for Metallica. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett really started to come into their own as a great guitar duo. Cliff Burton was a beast on the bass. Lars actually played with a passion. For many Master Of Puppets is considered their best album, I for one am in the minority in thinking that Ride The Lightning is. Not to take anything away from Master, I just have more of a connection to this album. 

 

 

By: Brian Lacy