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Rating: Commercial?
When talking about the group that invented thrash, one certainly means talking about Metallica, "the greatest rock band of all time" (as their most fanatical and shameless fans love to call them). Assuming they really are, are we really sure they haven't turned into money-grabbing rascals in these last years of existence? Sure, we could cite several examples, from the mediocre "Load" and "Reload", from '96 and '97 respectively, or the terrible "St.Anger", their latest creation in terms of albums produced, which definitively pushed them into the crap that nu leaves us with. Then, there's also the controversial "Napster" case, the scandal that had Lars Ulrich spring out, which truly helped define what kind of people Metallica are: it's truly grave and immoral that people listen to and download the band's songs for free from the internet, before the album’s release, and even without paying. If we wanted to conduct a thorough analysis, we would begin to look around at the numerous gadgets, indispensable objects for a true ?Tallica fan: unique junk, to say the least. And I'm not talking about T-shirts with their logo, like many bands limit themselves to doing (I myself own a Metallica T-shirt that I love to wear). But do we realize that there are people in the world capable of buying Master Of Puppets boxer shorts? No, I mean, do we realize? $12.99 for a piece of underwear, perhaps worn by one of the gentlemen cleaning the recording studio (maybe I'm exaggerating, but I wouldn't be surprised if those mean individuals are so shameless as to similarly insult human intelligence). Ehehe. No, I’m laughing because I just remembered that the other day, while browsing their website, I happened upon a truly absurd article: the Metallica Christmas bauble, for only $14.98! And should we talk about the latest release? The cycling shirt from St.Anger, Master Of Puppets, ...And Justice For All, and Ride The Lighting. But come on... Aside from the fact that someone using a cycling shirt would certainly never dress in such a ridiculously manner, here we are facing ruthless marketing. The neoclassical theory, expressed by Say, according to which supply creates demand, not only quantitatively but also qualitatively, being valid, who would even think of spending $62.98 for such a product? But naturally, the consumer who dangles on the lips of "the greatest rock band of all time" would. Now, I absolutely wouldn’t want to conduct a microeconomic analysis on consumer demand trends that fill Metallica’s pockets and the supply that empties theirs. If I'm not mistaken, I started by asking myself the question "to what extent are Metallica a commercial point".
In 2007, the release of the new album is expected, which reeks of commercialism, starting from the countless number of numerous tracks contained within this. Sure, we all expect something better than the last garbage they put out.
It so happens, however, that on their last tour, in 2006, they performed a new song in front of the audience, nicknamed "The New Song". While browsing YouTube, I stumbled upon it by pure chance. Right from the beginning of the song, I feel it's really gritty, with a sound very similar to that of St.Anger, but decidedly more aggressive. After the introduction, a truly very urgent riff starts, but it doesn't sound like anything new. I listen until James Hetfield comes in with the vocals, starts singing, and then I realize that the sounds aren't what the minority (still large, and excuse me the play on words) of true, genuine metalheads and rockers request, but rather those requested (once again bringing us back to commercialism) by the vast listener crowd. Obviously, James’s ungraceful and damaged voice through his career abuses doesn’t help me enjoy the song. Nonetheless, the melody is very catchy. The song continues, and after a while, I hear something that hasn't been present in Metallica songs for quite a while: a solo. It starts in one key, and there's even a modulation in the middle of it: certainly a giant step for these (now) music entrepreneurs. James starts trying to tune his vocal cords again, with another theme, then, together with Kirk and Rob, picks up the riff, and the song ends.
Sure, compared to the other New Song performed, which I've heard with my fantastic ears, it’s a masterpiece, but it has nothing to do with the old and glorious Metallica. Naturally, just the fact that Kirk gives some solos brings them back to the level of Load and Reload, and maybe, with St.Anger, they really hit rock bottom. If all the songs on the new album will be like the one I've briefly reviewed for you (the other one I just mentioned? ugh... My arms are falling off), who knows that in the future (if they don’t die before) they won’t manage to return to the deserved glory, and not the one due to money...?
The level of the album, in any case, is represented by the de-genres I proposed.
P.s. If you are unable to search the song on YouTube, by entering a keyword into the search engine, I've attached the link where I listened to the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwsbUUEOT9g
Kirk89 greets you
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