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THE REVIEW
It's the fourth single from Metallica's fifth album; that Black Album which represents the turning point, mainly wanted by James Hetfield, and the commercialization of the early Thrash Metal sound. A change in direction that has never convinced me, and which will also lead a "non-metal" audience to discover the universe of the four black Californian horsemen. I owe a lot to the band that in 1984, with the release of Ride The Lightning, (in the same year a certain Zen Arcade was marketed) introduced me to musical extremism and threw open the doors of Hell. From there, the next step was very short towards Death Metal and Grindcore.
"Wherever I May Roam" is the last track, along with "Sad But True," that gave me that seismic jolt, that punch in the teeth and swept me away with its sharp and violent Hard sound. A mid-tempo lasting almost seven minutes that represents the true swan song of Metallica. Then nothing, a total vertical collapse that made me put a tombstone on their career's continuation; from here onwards, unlistenable for me.
Wherever I may roam reads the title; many times over the years, the lyrics have jumped into my mind during my endless and continuous pilgrimages, almost always solo, on my mountains. "And the road becomes my bride," declares James at the beginning of the song. While at the end, he goes on to state, "...that my body rests, but I'm still roaming." They thought of me when they wrote the song, I am absolutely convinced of it.
The enigmatic and hypnotic sound of a sitar with oriental hues can be heard at the beginning of the song; then Lars' solid drums join in, with him delivering one of his rare excellent performances, and a lead guitar riff of such weight and effectiveness enters to take the breath away. The abrasive production of Bob Rock convinces, and the track takes off up to that incisive and deleterious six-string solo by Kirk which is true pleasure. A powerful Hard & Heavy explosion like in the days of their previous masterpieces. And they've written unforgettable pages for crying out loud...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL...
The single is completed by a raw and poorly recorded live version of "Fade To Black."
Ad Maiora.
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Summary by Bot
This review highlights Metallica's 'Wherever I May Roam' as a powerful and hypnotic track from their pivotal Black Album. The author reflects on the band's transition from thrash metal to a more commercial sound, praising the song’s impactful lyrics, strong instrumentation, and production. Despite some reservations about the band's later direction, this track remains a high point for the reviewer. The live version of 'Fade To Black' adds rawness to the single.
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. They rose from the Bay Area thrash scene with early albums like Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning, achieved mainstream success with 1991's Metallica (The Black Album), and have released a long-running and often debated catalog since.173 Reviews
