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Rating: Early 90s, Nirvana is at the peak of success, Pearl Jam is no less, Metallica releases "The Black Album", the absolute masterpiece of the band led by James Hetfield, the entire rock scene is experiencing a magical period.
A year after the release of the black album, on November 5, 1992, Metallica performs in England, in Birmingham, one of the most populated cities in Great Britain. They record "Live In Birmingham NEC", it's not an official album, it's a bootleg, making it a precious piece, it's played in a sports arena so the acoustics aren't of the highest quality. The sound is booming, but it's really worth listening to because it feels like being there on that grey and damp November evening, where only Hammett's guitar can warm you.
After the opening track "Enter Sandman", one of the most representative pieces of the Black Album, "Creeping Death" erupts, almost 7 minutes of song where the voice of the then young Hetfield explodes and where Hammett's guitar starts to cry!
"Sad But True" and "Wherever I May Roam" are great, but 'acoustically of mediocre quality', it feels like the arena is ready to collapse at any moment.
The band's sound is too strong for such a 'delicate' structure.
The calm begins, "The Unforgiven" starts, dragging hundreds of fans into a vortex where sadness, passion, anger, and bitterness create a magical mix that makes these minutes of listening the most beautiful of the concert, too exciting.
The minutes slip away, and so does the black of "Fade To Black", good performance, but sound a bit strangle by the constrained environmental conditions.
The endless "One" is drowned in a flood of applause, 12 minutes of emotion and magic, the highest point of the album after "The Unforgiven".
The last minute is dedicated to thanks and dedications, it's not over yet, but unfortunately, most has already been given.
A bit tired, a bit sweaty, the band performs "Am I Evil" and "Helpless".
Even in this case, the lack of space forms a barrier to an incredibly well-articulated sound.
The final piece is the acrobatic "Stone Cold Crazy", in this piece there's still so much desire to play, to surprise, to scream.
The recording closes with: "thank you very much, good night", the simplicity with which the live performance ends is surprising.
How many present there must have responded: "thank you very much too, gods of rock!!!"; well, I wasn't among them, I was only 5 years old, but almost 3 decades later I thank them for that unforgettable evening and for every album they have recorded.
I invite comments from those who own this musical gem, and I invite those who haven't yet had the privilege to listen to and understand it to search and listen to it.
The missing star is only due to a sound quality that is just above mediocre.
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