Metallica
Some Kind Of Monster (EP)

"St. Anger" has been a peculiar, twisted album since its release, which on one hand revived the band's reputation, but on the other hand was seen as the announcement of an impending retirement of the four Californian thrashers. Without a doubt, it was an album different from Reload. Definitely less commercial, less accessible. Angry, aggressive.

It had been since "...And Justice For All" that the four horsemen weren't this impactful. However, it's not to say this is a perfect album, far from it. The ideas weren't developed with much care, Bob Rock's influence is too evident (even in the compositions); we could say it's a "transitional" album, a prelude to something more defined that we will soon (or later) see. At least, we hope. The album in question is an EP that offers nothing new, we have two versions of "Some Kind Of Monster" and various live versions of historical songs (from the first three albums), recorded in France in 2003, thus presenting the new sound of Metallica. "Some Kind Of Monster", taken in its full version, is almost unlistenable. Too long, too heavy. Ulrich's drumming is something unpalatable (especially that annoying snare). However, the track is not to be discarded. If you try to listen to the other version (shorter by at least four minutes), also arranged differently, you come across a very peculiar track. Hetfield’s voice is well-effected and the riffs are catchy. The rest of the disc presents live versions of some tracks from the golden days. From "The Four Horsemen" to "Leper Messiah". Hearing Hetfield sing songs like "Hit The Lights" after more than twenty years is a unique emotion, the riffs are rock-solid and mighty, the sound is compact and raw (in full St. Anger style). Hetfield as usual seems like a mean ogre, with his steady and deep vocal timbre (far removed from the screechy voice of "Kill 'em All"). The versions of "Motorbreath", "Ride The Lightning", and "Damage, inc." are also nice.

A nice CD to own if you are a die-hard fan and if you want to have something peculiar without spending too much.