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Rating: I think by now there is no doubt that Metallica is the most famous metal band in the world, as well as the most talked about, the most envied, the most copied, the most cited (see some cartoons), the most loved, and the most hated at the same time because of the joys and pains it has caused its most orthodox followers, and finally the most covered. Indeed, the issue concerns precisely this aspect of paying tribute to a band of the caliber of Hetfield and company.
Many of those who pay tribute to a band are fully up to the task, while many others produce a hesitant result that is not very engaging. This is not the case with this umpteenth tribute named "Metallic Assault" released by "Eagle records" in the year 2000, and which sees members of Megadeth, Kiss, Anthrax, Wasp, Motorhead, Fear Factory and many others involved. It will be difficult to describe to you the characters who take care of each track, as they are truly varied: distinguished gentlemen like Dave Lombardo, Roberto Trujillo, Eric A.k., and finally Mike Clark break in with an "acid "Battery", thanks also to the vocal skills of Eric A.k. and the rhythmic section entrusted to two old acquaintances like good old Dave, always in shape, and current Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo. The guitar work is also good, although the sound is not up to "Master of Puppets" levels. The second track we encounter is "Sad but true", which mainly strikes the listener for Joey Belladonna's warm voice perfectly stepping into "James's" shoes, while the rest of the band composed of Bruce Kulick, Marco Mendoza, and Eric Singer delivers a cover played precisely and cleanly, without incurring improbable and unnecessary personal embellishments.
The next "Sanitarium", one of Metallica's most beautiful songs, is tackled by an ensemble composed of Whitfield Crane, John Marshall, Mickey Dee, and last but not least Toni Levin on bass and a skilled Scott Iann on guitar. The band remains faithful to the Metallica version, with a singer who spits out well-distorted vocals and guitars that meld well both in the part of the initial solo played with a clean effect, and in the final part before the solo. Good musicians, excellent performance!
At No. 4, we find musicians of the caliber of Doug Pinnick, Vernon Reid, Tony Franklin, Frankie Banali, who I honestly don't know, work up what is one of Metallica's slowest and most pathos-filled pieces; this "The Unforgiven" is played a bit differently from the original, overturning the initial part and introducing variations (albeit minimal) in the vocal melodies that despite their originality, honestly do not create a significant emotional impact. In short, a somewhat "thin" performance I would say, that could make this version forgettable.
What must not be forgotten, however, is this somewhat swift execution with a nice and slightly prolonged solo in "The thing that should not be", sung by a singer named John Garcia who reinterprets it vocally with rather high tones, while the other members Kurdt Vanderhoof, Jeff Pilson, Jason Bonham on guitar, bass, and drums respectively, adequately support singer Garcia.
"Enter Sandman" is track No. 6 that sees behind the instruments Burton C., John Christ, Tommy Aldridge and once again Mr. Trujillo on bass. There's not much to say about it, just that the song turns out well given the professionalism of the musicians, but it leaves very few emotions.
Get ready for the best because the next track No. 7 is simply a masterpiece! I'm talking about the most aggressive piece of this tribute, a screaming "Whiplash" played by none other than "old" (more like old, they still rock!!!) hammerers such as Billy Milano, Scott Ian, is that enough? For correctness I also add Phil Soussan and drummer Vinnie Appice who also drummed for Black Sabbath. The sound is excellent, the performance of the four musicians is praiseworthy, especially the sung parts that have the effect of a punch in the face. This is what it means to assault the listener!
Calm your spirits as the atmosphere becomes calm and peaceful, suitable for a "Nothing else matters" masterfully performed by Jon Oliva in top vocal form, along with Bob Balch, Lemmy Kilmister, Gegg Bissonette. The song turns out well, it's emotional and quite faithful, highly recommended.
We're nearing the end of the tribute and we're at No. 9: "Seek and Destroy"! I could stop here but I still have to tell you that behind the microphone is Chuck, not Schuldiner (wish it were!) but Chuck Billy who nonetheless needs no introduction, just honors for this rather faithful version of "seek and destroy". The other musicians are unknown to me but they do quite well; another hit in this compilation. To conclude this tribute, Al Petrelli, Eric Bloom, Tony Franklin, Ayrnley Dunbar produce an "For Whom the Bell Tolls" acceptable mainly for the guitars, a bit less for the voice that at times gives the impression of vocal off-pitch moments, but overall we are fully satisfactory.
The album overall is good, except for some episodes that leave something to be desired, but it is known that tributes almost always feature performances that are not up to the original versions, as is the case, but the purpose is to testify to the importance of bands like Metallica, and it doesn't matter much if a "Master Of Puppets", for example, is poorly played compared to the original, Metallica is Metallica and they were among the first with the Thrash tornado a long time ago.
Tracklist
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