Metallica Deals on Metallica

Metallica

Category: (Music)

36 new, starting at $7.06

49 used, starting at $4.71

Editorial Reviews

Japanese only SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Universal. 2009.

Called "the Black Album" by many (due to its monochrome cover), Metallica marks the group's entrance into the mainstream, with shorter songs, simpler song structures, and slower tempos overall. That said, this is an excellent album, featuring some of the best songwriting Metallica has ever done. "Enter Sandman," "Wherever I May Roam," and "God That Failed," despite being slower and more groove-oriented than the band's earlier work, feature the same heavy riffs and heavier rhythms that have always been a feature of Metallica's music. The band goes introspective with "Unforgiven," and proves that they can write a ballad with "Nothing Else Matters," which succeeds better than one might expect. Overall, this is a high-energy album despite its laid-back approach, and is in many ways superior to the previous . . . And Justice for All, which was weakened by overly complicated song structures and mediocre production. -- Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews

People hate it just because it's overrated

Reviewed by E. Phillips, 2010-02-17

I truly feel that their first four albums are their best and will never be topped. Just because Metallica changed their style doesn't make this album bad. If any other band would've made this album, everyone would've loved it. There is no denying that musically, this is their best album. I'm not sure how that makes them mainstream sellouts in any way. People hate this album just because it's overrated and it sold the most out of any other Metallica album. I'll admit, it's overrated in the sense that it's their most popular album but how people hate it for that reason I don't know. People should admit this album is a classic, but they don't want to because the cool thing to do is hate it.

Favorite 'Tally

Reviewed by Nipple Queen, 2009-12-14

This is still my favorite 'Tally album.
I can't stand all the "oh they sold out" blah blah blah.
They made a great album - get over it!
I wish they'd go back in this direction.

Bad

Reviewed by C. Nichols, 2009-12-12

My record skips on every song and it is not because of my record player. The people who cut this new version did not do a good job. It is brand new, but comes warped. Better off to buy an original off of ebay and pay the extra $$$$. I do not recommend this to anyone.

DVD-Audio Review -- A Must-Have

Reviewed by D.C. Hanoy, 2009-12-11

Pros: It's Metallica -- IN SURROUND SOUND!

Cons: No extras, unless you count an ad for one of their DVDs.

The Bottom Line: If you are a Metallica fan, and you own a player compatible with DVD-Audio, GO BUY THIS!

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Original 02/04/05 review:
Metallica has been quite busy over the past decade releasing a lot of studio albums, a few live albums, several concert DVDs and now a DVD -Audio. The first album that Metallica chose to release as DVD - Audio is the already very well produced self titled album, also known by Metallica fans as "the Black Album". Barely visible on the matte black cover in a dark grey is the band's logo and a "Don't Tread on Me" snake. I've always liked Metallica and view them as a "thinking persons" heavy metal band. This review will focus on the sound quality of the DVD-Audio rather than the album itself. Metallica albums have been reviewed rather heavily as the band has gained and/or lost fans as they have grown (or "sold out"). I will state that I am one of the fans who believe that they have grown.

That said, how does an already well done album sound in the new DVD-Audio format? Let me start with a description of my favorite two tracks on the album as they sound in surround! The album opens with the song "Enter Sandman". The opening guitar chords of the song float in the center of the room, then a few guitar riffs come in from the rear left and the rear right surround speakers. Then Lars drums boom from the front center, and bass guitar fills the rear. You will want a good center channel speaker for this DVD-Audio, because Urich's drums are consistently located front and center of the sound stage. The opening vocals of the song burst in from center stage, and choruses just seem to float into the whole sound field. The Lord's prayer is recited in the rear left channel and the child repeats the prayer in the rear right channel, as the drums and bass stay center stage. Vocals then move around a bit, sometimes coming in front left or right, other times rear left or right. Overall, Metallica really takes advantage of the full surround sound stage. The right and left rear channels are very actively used, and not just as ambient fill.

On my favorite Metallica song "Unforgiven", the opening guitars (reminicent of the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns) come in center front and expand to the full center stage. Then Lars drums come in solid center front and the vocals seem to emerge from the center of the room. The choruses seem to fill the entire sound field. The rear right and left channels occasionally burst into life with a guitar riff.

Similar surround effects were used throughout the album. Mostly, the drums and lead vocals would stay in center stage, but backing vocals and choruses would move around or literally surround you. Guitars and bass would often come in from the rear channels. Metallica does all of this in a way that sounds like a natural use of the surround sound and it never comes out as gimmicky or forced. By moving the instruments into six channels instead of two, I gained a greater appreciation of how well produced this album is. The orchestral work on "Nothing Else Matters" for example, takes on a clarity I had never really noticed in the stereo version. The Lord's prayer also gains a new depth when it is separated away from the heavy drums and bass. On the songs with melodic guitar solos, the guitar work clearly stands out in greater depth than it did in the stereo mix. You can hear the notes resonate! The Advanced Resolution Surround Sound mix is only playable on equipment designed to play DVD-Audio.

The DVD-Audio also has an advanced resolution stereo track (for DVD-Audio only) and a 5.1 Dolby Digital mix for use in any DVD player. I didn't notice much improvement on the stereo mix, but this is not a criticism of the DVD-Audio, its more of a compliment of the original CD.

Metallica was very light on the bonus features with this disc! A "video" is included which is nothing more than a teaser trailer for an upcoming video by them about the "Making of the Black Album". You get to hear Urich declare that the black album is their "Dark Side of the Moon", and a few bits about how hard it was to produce, but to get the full story, you need to wait for the "Making of", because its just an advertisement! Although Lyrics are included, a photo gallery is not. I would have also liked to see at least a couple music videos thrown in, but none are.

Since DVD-Audio cannot be copied and distributed on the internet, I am positive that Lars Urich will release more of Metallica's albums in this format. Based on the sound of the black album, I think thats great! If you are a Metallica fan, and have DVD-Audio and surround sound, the black album is a worthwhile purchase. Please buy it though, don't borrow it from your friend, or listen to it for free somewhere without properly compensating the band for the intellectual property they have commercially distributed for home use and enjoyment only. Lear Jets cost money you know.

Added notes: This was originally reviewed on a Yamaha Surround Sound Receiver with a Pioneer Elite 47A DVD player. At the time of my original review above, I had Cambridge Soundworks speakers hooked up except the front R&L channels which were Advent Legacies. Since upgrading to Polk speakers,a Velodyne subwoofer and a Rotel amplifier for the fronts, my feelings for this album have only grown. In fact the Velodyne subwoofer really brings out the bass I hadn't noticed in my original review. - Shopaholic_Man, epinions 2/4/05

Bob Rock makes Lars and James swing

Reviewed by K. Swanson, 2009-11-22

I was on a long drive recently and listened to all of the Metallica albums in order up to Live...Binge, and I must say that it made me realize what a huge difference Bob Rock's production and attitude made for these guys.

The original band was far better, for my money: Cliff and Mustaine vs Kirk and Newsted? No comparison. But Rock saw where this band's real power lies: founders Ulrich and Hetfield. He clearly knew how to bring out their best in the studio, and he definitely mic'ed Lars' kit like no one before or since. Maybe the best huge drum sound since Bonzo. Massive.

Plus, these tunes are among the best these guys ever wrote. I especially love Sad But True. What a huge riff, and Ulrich's drumming is truly awesome. This track exemplifies the main gift Bob brought to these guys, though I've never heard anyone mention it: he taught them how to swing.

While listening to the first Metallica albums I get a little worn out sonically because everything is so on top of the beat. Everyone is pounding but those songs could be even heavier if there was more rhythmic push-pull, a la early Sabbath and middle Zep. Rock saw this and showed Lars how to pull back in the pocket a bit, which makes Hetfield's incomparably heavy rhythm riffs thunder like never before. Just listen to the huge pockets on Sad and Sandman. That's a new zone for Metallica, and I don't think they've topped it since.

Nothing against Kirk or Jason, they're both decent, but they're playing with probably the best metal drummer and metal rhythm player of them all, so it's hard not to seem somewhat pedestrian. Hammett's solos get pretty boring after a while to me, but oh well. Newsted does lock in well with Lars' kick drum here, and that brings a lot of weight to the proceedings.

I got caught driving in a sudden blizzard in the Rockies last week at 3 am and could barely see ten feet down the highway, so I put this album on and turned it up to 11 to keep me sharp. I will never forget that hour. Total whiteness meets total blackness; the focus and ferocity of the music really got me into the zone as I went over a high mountain pass and slowly came out of the snow. The perfect soundtrack to hair-raising intensity.

I should mention that I saw a show on the first leg of this tour, and it remains one of the top five rock shows I've ever seen, of about two thousand. They were on fire and went off at least six times. Most bands get there once a night if they're lucky.

I don't much care for their work since this album, but as peaks go, this is Everest among metal albums. The best drummer/rhythm team in heavy rock at their zenith.

But you gotta play it loud, with a subwoofer.
Booooommm!