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Rating: What interpretation can we give to this "Black Album" (I've always called it that) released back in the distant 1991?
What is considered the scandalous stone, the beginning of the end, the first step in that process of evolution-revolution that led the Four Horsemen to be labeled as traitors and greedy puppets, is an album that seems to renounce with the flick of a brush seven years of a career during which Our Guys rode the heavy metal tiger better than anyone else.
Starting with the fierce and relentless "Kill 'Em All," all sweat, nihilism, and youthful rage, moving through the darker and more varied "Ride The Lightning," to mature and hyper-complex works like "Master Of Puppets" and "... And Justice For All," in which the boys had fun composing like modern-day streetwise and badass Mozarts, the Bay Area thrashers reach a simple and austere style, suggestive and well-oiled, ready for large-scale consumption. How should one interpret such a "turnaround"? A bold choice? Sell-out? A sheer misstep? Everyone can draw their own conclusions. I can say, for my part, that what I'm reviewing is one of my favorite albums, one that demonstrated the band isn't only capable of creating atmospheres imbued with the most uncompromising and baroque metal but also of venturing into less intricate territories with uncommon dexterity.
"Enter Sandman" evokes the hooligan-like fervor of bands like The Who and Small Faces, with its hypnotic opening riff and its shout-out-loud chorus, ready for stadiums. "Sad But True" leans on blues, its obsessiveness and ferocity, but the result is atmospheric, not aggressive, more of a nightmare than a thrash metal assault, while "Wherever I May Roam" plays with an Indian-like intro and "The Unforgiven" references English folk despite being submerged by abrasive riffs and almost frenzied solos. Yet, Metallica entertain but do not frighten, do not make one scream miracle. These are noisy yet perfectly aligned tracks, roaring but not at all subversive, hard but not too much. Everything becomes more "easy", even playing to mimic Traffic in "John Barleycorn" in a folk-orchestral ballad like "Nothing Else Matters" (nothing less than a damn love song) and adding a touch of atmosphere to the gloomy and depressed "My Friend Of Misery" with a surreal break centered on a hypnotic bass melody.
The tracks that attempt to bring back memories of the "old" Metallica, those that try to act tough with supersonic cadences, slaughterhouse screams, and crushing riffs, like "Through The Never" and "The Struggle Within", are more fillers than representative tracks of these suit-and-tie Metallica. Gentrification? The desire to please the masses is undeniable. The inability to recall the past just as much. Yet Ulrich, Hetfield, Hammett, and Newsted have come to create pop-metal, catchy and enjoyable, perhaps a bit disappointing, considering Metallica's abilities. One shouldn't ask too much of an album like this. What little is expected, in my opinion, it promises and delivers. Think of that anonymous and confused mass that is "Reload," and the more successful and concise "Load," two albums where commercial lust met a certain lack of ideas, and compare them to this "Black Album." Some bands change their skin, others remain faithful to themselves until boredom. The important thing is that everyone makes their choices in absolute awareness. Repentance, even with the best intentions, is almost never a wise choice, and the Metallica of "St. Anger" know it well.
The new album is expected next summer, what do you say, is there still hope that the Horsemen will learn to ride again?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Enter Sandman (05:31)
Say your prayers little one
Don't forget, my son
To include everyone
I tuck you in, warm within
Keep you free from sin
Till the Sandman he comes
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to Never Never Land
Something's wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of snow white
Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon's fire
And of things that will bite
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to Never Never Land
Yeah-heah!
Now I lay me down to sleep
(Now I lay me down to sleep)
Pray the lord my soul to keep
(Pray the lord my soul to keep)
If I die before I wake
(If I die before I wake)
Pray the lord my soul to take
(Pray the lord my soul to take)
Hush little baby, don't say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It's just the beasts under your bed,
In your closet, in your head
Exit light
Enter night
Grain of sand
Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
We're off to Never Never Land
Yeah, oooh!
Yeah, yeah!
Yo oh!
We're off to Never Never Land
(Take my hand)
We're off to Never Never Land
(Take my hand)
We're off to Never Never Land
We're off to Never Never Land
We're off to Never Never Land
02 Sad but True (05:24)
Hey (hey)
I'm your life
I'm the one who takes you there
hey (hey)
I'm your life
I'm the one who cares
they (they)
they betray
I'm your only true friend now
they (they)
they'll betray
I'm forever there
I'm your dream, make you real
I'm your eyes when you must steal
I'm your pain when you can't feel
sad but true
I'm your dream, mind astray
I'm your eyes while you're away
I'm your pain while you repay
you know it's sad but true
sad but true
you (you)
you're my mask
you're my cover, my shelter
you (you)
you're my mask
you're the one who's blamed
do (do)
do my work
do my dirty work, scapegoat
do (do)
do my deeds
for you're the one who's shamed
I'm your dream, make you real
I'm your eyes when you must steal
I'm your pain when you can't feel
sad but true
I'm your dream, mind astray
I'm your eyes while you're away
I'm your pain while you repay
you know it's sad but true
sad but true
(2x)
I'm your dream
I'm your eyes
I'm your pain
you know it's sad but true
hate (hate)
I'm your hate
I'm your hate when you want love
pay (pay)
pay the price
pay, for nothing's fair
hey (hey)
I'm your life
I'm the one who took you there
hey (hey)
I'm your life
and I no longer care
I'm your dream, make you real
I'm your eyes when you must steal
I'm your pain when you can't feel
sad but true
I'm your truth, telling lies
I'm your reasoned alibis
I'm inside open your eyes
I'm you
sad but true
03 Holier Than Thou (03:47)
No more!
The crap rolls out your mouth again
Haven't changed, your brain is still gelatine
Little whispers circle around your head
Why don't you worry about yourself instead
Who are you? Where ya been? Where ya from?
Gossip is burning on the tip of your tongue
You lie so much you belive yourself
Judge not lest ye be judged yourself
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
Before you judge me take a look at you
Can't you find something better to do
Point the finger, slow to understand
Arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand
It's not who you are, it's who you know
Others lives are the basis of your own
Burn your bridges and built them back with wealth
Judge not lest ye be judged yourself
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
(yeah! who the hell are you?)
Holier than thou
You are
Holier than thou
You are
You know not
Not!
04 The Unforgiven (06:27)
New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
they dedicate their lives,
to running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
[instrumental solo]
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven
You labeled me
I'll label you
So I dub thee unforgiven
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven...
05 Wherever I May Roam (06:44)
... (And the road becomes my bride)
And the road becomes my bride
I have stripped of all but pride
So in her I do confide
And she keeps me satisfied
Gives me all I need
... And with dust in throat I crave
Only knowledge will I save
To the game you stay as slave
Rover, wanderer
Nomad, vagabond
Call me what you will -- yeah!
No -- but I'll take my time anywhere
Free to speak my mind anywhere
And I'll redefine anywhere
Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home - yeah!
... (And the earth becomes my throne)
And the earth becomes my throne
I adapt to the unknown
Under wandering stars I've grown
By myself but not alone
I ask no one
And my ties are severed clean
Less I have the more I gain
Off the beaten path I reign
Rover wanderer
Nomad vagabond
Call me what you will -- yea will!
But I'll take my time anywhere
I'm free to speak my mind anywhere
And I'll never mind anywhere
Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home -- yeah-yeah!
guitar solo 1
But i'll take my time anywhere
I'm free to speak my mind
And I'll take my find anywhere
Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home -- thats right!
guitar solo 2
But i'll take my time anywhere
I'm free to speak my mind anywhere
And i'll redefiine anywhere
Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home
Carved upon my stone
My body lie, but still I roam -- yeah yeah!
Wherever I may roam (3x)
Wherever I may roam - yeah!
Wherever I may wander wander wander
Wherever I may roam - yeah-yeah!
Wherever I may roam - yeah-yeah!
Wherever I may roam (3x)
06 Don't Tread on Me (04:00)
Don't tread on me
So don't tread on me
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling of her tail
Never begins it, never, but once engaged...
Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage
So don't tread on me
So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you will hear evermore...
Don't tread on me
Love it or leave it, she with the deadly bite
Quick is the blue tongue, forked as a lightning strike
Shining with brightness, always on surveillance
The eyes, they never close, emblem of vigilance
So don't tread on me
So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you will hear evermore...
Don't tread on me
So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling on her tail
So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you will hear evermore...
Don't tread on me
08 Nothing Else Matters (06:28)
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
But I know
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters
Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters
Never cared for what they say
Never cared for games they play
Never cared for what they do
Never cared for what they know
And I know
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
No, nothing else matters
09 Of Wolf and Man (04:16)
Off through the new day's mist I run
Out from the new day's mist I have come
I hunt
therefore I am
harvest the land
taking of the fallen lamb
Off through the new day's mist I run
Out from the new day's mist I have come
we shift
pulsing with the earth
company we keep
roaming the land while you sleep
shape shift nose to the wind
shape shift feeling I've been
move swift all senses clean
earth's gift back to the meaning of life
bright is the moon high in starlight
chill in the air cold as steel tonight
we shift
call of the wild
fear in your eyes
it's later than you realized
shape shift nose to the wind
shape shift feeling I've been
move swift all senses clean
earth's gift back to the meaning of life
(guitar & drum solo)
I feel a change
back to a better day
(shape shift)hair stands on the back of my neck
(shape shift)in wildness is the preservation of the world
so seek the wolf in thyself
shape shift nose to the wind
shape shift feeling I've been
move swift all senses clean
earth's gift back to the meaning...
Of wolf, and man yeah
10 The God That Failed (05:08)
Pride you took
Pride you feel
Pride that you felt when you'd kneel
Not the word
Not the love
Not what you thought from above
It feeds
It grows
It clouds all that you will know
Deceit
Deceive
Decide just what you believe
(Chorus)
I see faith in your eyes
Never you hear the discouraging lies
I hear faith in your cries
Broken is the promise, betrayal
The healing hand held back by the deepened nail
Follow The God That Failed!
Find your peace
Find your say
Find the smooth road on your way
Trust you gave
A child to save
Left you cold and him in grave
It feeds
It grows
It clouds all that you will know
Deceit
Deceive
Decide just what you believe
(Chorus)
I see faith in your eyes
Broken is the promise, betrayal
The healing hand held back by the deepened nail
Follow The God That Failed!
Pride you took
Pride you feel
Pride that you felt when you'd kneel
Trust you gave
A child to save
Left you cold and him in grave
(Chorus)
Follow The God That Failed!
Broken is the promise
Betrayal, betrayal, yeah!
11 My Friend of Misery (06:49)
You just stood there screaming
Fearing no one was listening to you
They say the empty can rattles the most
The sound of your own voice must soothe you
Hearing only what you want to hear,
And knowing only what you've heard
You...you're smothered in tragedy,
And you're out to save the world
Misery!
You insist that the weight of the world
Should be on your shoulders
Misery!
There's much more to life than what you see
My Friend Of Misery!
You still stood there screaming!
No-one caring about these words you tell
My friend before your voice is gone
One man's fun is another's hell
These times are sent to try men's souls
But something's wrong with all you see
You...you'll take it on all yourself
(Remember), Misery loves company
Misery!
You insist that the weight of the world
Should be on your shoulders
Misery
There's much more to life than what you see
My Friend Of Misery!
Misery!
You insist that the weight of the world
Should be on your shoulders
Misery
There's much more to life than what you see
My Friend Of Misery
My Friend Of Misery!
You just stood there screaming, oh
My Friend Of Misery!
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Other reviews
By cliffburton86
You can’t mosh to it anymore!
Surely the black album may not be as powerful, fast, and pounding as the previous masterpieces, but personally, I believe it is undoubtedly a good album endowed with a decent melody and a very high level of listenability for any individual.
By Vic Sorriso1
The most "known" song, absolute crap without question when it comes to metal, is "Enter Sandman".
Metallica represents metal crap in the absolute sense.
By Jack_85
The black album. A true stroke of genius. That’s what this record represents.
An album that doesn’t need comments. Just listen to it. Long live the chaos.
By Edgar Allan Poe
"I consider the 'Black Album' a great Hard Rock work; it includes a very catchy single like 'Enter Sandman', which has certainly brought many newcomers to listen to Metallica."
"'Nothing Else Matters' is one of the group’s best ballads. I’ve heard it defined by someone as a song made to sell... but have you ever translated the lyrics?!"
By pep 92
"Enter Sandman"... 'hell breaks loose' with fierce guitars that force you to thrash around like mad.
"Nothing Else Matters"... a devastating and pure guitar solo that makes you feel forgiven and noble.
