Exactly... finally they're saying sensible things, namely that music must be made with heart... but let’s talk a bit about the album (and for someone who defined me as such, I AM NOT A METALLICA FANATIC, I LISTEN TO EVERYTHING I FIND BEAUTIFUL).
The album is referred to as the last of Metallica in terms of "sonic impact," even though this album is definitely less thrash than its four historic predecessors. The sound has significantly improved thanks to new heads and new guitars, with the legendary EMG 81 pickups (if they use them, so does Zack Wild... hehehe)! Not to mention the recording system; even the inexperienced would hear the great positive change that the production and mixing have undergone. Well, with these premises, let's talk about the album. This is definitely a good work, not deserving of a review from someone who is certainly under who knows what substance. Enter Sandman: well, with this song (especially when the album came out in '91) it surely "stunned" all their fans. A heavy song, but never excessive, never a "tail flip," never a ride like the guys used to do. The fact remains that it turned out to be a less complex work but not inferior for that reason: Kirk in the solo has a considerable artistic streak, and all guitarists will agree with me that Kirk was one of the first "lead guitar" players to lay the groundwork for the use of the Wah-wah pedal, strictly Dunlop Crybaby! Sad But True: yeah, a beautiful song, there’s no doubt about it, another stunning solo but much more subdued compared to solos in the "Dyers Eve" style. The thrashiest songs on the album are certainly Holier Than You, Through The Never, and The Struggle Within, majestic even if less heavy than their old style. The inclusion of a ballad, such as Nothing Else Matters, which left many old fans stunned and catapulted them into a more commercial world, and The Unforgiven, beautiful, made by God, never excessive but also not a flaw... In short, all the songs are quite pleasant to listen to, they are beautifully defined and more dreamy. Translation: more commercial. But one thing I always wonder: which artist that made the history of modern music (like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix Experience, King Crimson, and many others...) has not given up on money?? No one. Almost everyone likes money, let’s not kid ourselves. For them, the only source of income is music, and if there's a possibility, why not earn more? Sure, here we're talking about tiresome and cursed millions of €/$, but many artists, if they don’t know how to do anything else but play, think it's good to have a passion, but if it could also be transformed into fame and money, that would be even better. This is how this music world works, there are exceptions, but that’s how it is. An album is produced to be sold, and if it sells more, it’s always a positive thing (which then, positive only the record labels have...). Good night to all.
