Metallica - Metallica
1991 Elektra

Track Listing:
1.  Enter Sandman
2.  Sad But True
3.  Holier Than Thou
4.  The Unforgiven
5.  Wherever I May Roam
6.  Don't Tread On Me
7.  Through The Never
8.  Nothing Else Matters
9.  Of Wolf And Man
10. God That Failed
11. My Friend Of Misery
12. Struggle Within 

Line-Up:
Vocals:  James Hetfield
Guitars:  James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett
Bass:  Jason Newsted
Drums:  Lars Ulrich

Website:  www.metallica.com

Horatio's Rating:  C+
Overall Album Rating:  C+

Also be sure to read:
Metallica - ...And Justice For All Review by Horatio
Metallica - Kill 'Em All Review by Scoots
Metallica - St. Anger Review by Horatio

Horatio's Review:
Sometimes I actually doubt that Nirvana and their offspring killed metal, rather Metallica did.  Up until 1991 Metallica and thrash had been building up to a crescendo that I think hadn't peaked yet.  Metallica went from strength to strength, with the previously reviewed '...And Justice For All' their most ambitious album to that point, an epic recording encapsulating the thrash era in all its technical magic.  With Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax all recording brilliant albums in 1990, thrash had made a statement that it did indeed belong as one of metal's key genres, and the best was surely yet to come.  Not so fast.  Metallica must have seen things differently, as they hired Bob Rock to produce their new album, a move which was greeted with skepticism by purists predictably.  They had every right, Rock more at home with the Aerosmiths of the world.  The recording lasted for nearly a year.  The writing was on the wall.

Fiji Harrison told me recently the 'Black' album was 'too cute'.  Two words that basically summarize the album.  Where the band had been a thrash powerhouse, leaders of the movement and legends in the making, they instead opted to alter their approach to metal, utilizing shorter tracks with a more mainstream metal approach that abandoned speed entirely.  When the album took off at a commercial speed on the levels of Guns And Roses, every metal act worldwide must have taken notice (minus Slayer), as every thrash act in the years following slowed things down and tried the mainstream route, from Megadeth to Exodus to Sepultura.  Shocking hardcore fans, Lars and the lads threw in a few ballads like 'Unforgiven' and 'Nothing Else Matters'.  Somewhere they lost their crunch by moving to this somewhat staid direction.  'Holier Than Thou' flirts with speed, but never truly takes off and I recall an interview with Lars in 1991 when Metal Mike asked him why there were no speed songs on the album.  Lars admitted it was his fault.  He saw the money signs and chance to gain mass acceptance that thrash wouldn't provide.

All these years later and I still find this an unsatisfying listen.  Who isn't bored of 'Enter Sandman', 'Wherever I May Roam' and 'Sad But True'?  Lesser known tracks like 'Of Wolf And Man' and 'The God That Failed' meander along without the explosive effect that Metallica once owned.  'Through The Never' almost tricks you into thinking a thrasher is imminent, but the final step into the technique never materializes.  The riffs are there, but somehow they lack impact.  The heaviest passage is found on 'The Struggle Within' two minutes and twenty seconds in, with hints of the old sound, but it doesn't last long enough.  The metal is pure, no question, but it was too much of a diversion from what people expected.  Instead it roped in kids and casual metal fans who took to such ballads and commercial fare like 'Enter Sandman'.  I'll never forget the VH-1 show 'When Metallica Ruled The World' when they showed some fans in the parking lot, one of whom said, 'I hope they got it out of their system and get heavy again on the next album!  They better!'

That guy, now 41 years old, must have been let down.  Every one knows that the album shifted untold millions and the band were never quite the same.  As they became superstars most bands died quick deaths as metal took a turn for the worse.  Everyone who tried a 'Metallica' failed miserably.  I'll never forgive Mustaine for his cop out.  So in reality one of metal's biggest moments was also it's worst.  Thrash was extinct almost overnight.  That's why it was such a relief when Slayer released 'Divine Intervention' in 1994.  They alone stood tall.  Anthrax almost made it but were casualties.  Then Pantera came along and forced everyone to believe metal had to be brutal to be considered real metal.  Then the likes of Korn showed up and it all went downhill.  Trace it back to Metallica.  It took them twelve years to resume normal service, with an album so heavy I forgive them for their indiscretion.
Horatio's Rating:  C+

Discography (last updated 1.27.06):
Hit The Lights demo - 1982
Metal Up Your Ass demo - 1982
No Life 'Til Leather demo - 1982
Power Metal demo - 1982
Ron McGovnev's '82 Garage Demo - 1982
Horsemen Of The Apocalypse demo - 1993
Jump In The Fire EP - 1983
Kill 'Em All - 1983
Megaforce demo - 1993
Creeping Death EP - 1984
Ride The Lightning - 1984
Whiplash EP - 1985
Master Of Puppets - 1986
Garage Days Re-Revisited EP - 1987
...And Justice For All - 1988
Eye Of The Beholder EP - 1988
Harvester Of Sorrow EP - 1988
One EP - 1989
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) EP - 1989
The Good, The Bad, And The Live box - 1990
Enter Sandman EP - 1991
The Unforgiven EP - 1991
Metallica - 1991
Live At Wembley Stadium EP - 1992
Nothing Else Matters EP - 1992
Sad But True EP - 1992
Wherever I May Roam EP - 1992
15 Pieces Of Live Shit EP - 1993
Live Shit:  Binge And Purge box - 1993
The Unforgiven II EP - 1995
Ain't My Bitch EP - 1996
Hero Of The Day EP - 1996
King Of Nothing EP - 1996
Load - 1996
Mama Said EP - 1996
Mandatory Metallica EP - 1996
Until It Sleeps:  Part I - 1996
Until It Sleeps:  Part II - 1996
Best Of Metallica - 1997
Live In London EP - 1997
Reload - 1997
The Memory Remains EP - 1997
Fuel EP - 1998
Garage Inc. - 1998
Live In London - 1998
Turn The Page EP - 1998
Whiskey In A Jar EP - 1998
Die, Die My Darling EP - 1999
No Leaf Clover EP - 1999
S&M EP - 1999
S&M Live - 1999
S&M Version:  Master Of Puppets EP - 1999
S&M Version:  Nothing Else Matters EP - 1999
I Disappear EP - 2000
Exclusive Collection - 2001
Best Of Metallica - 2003
Frantic EP - 2003
St. Anger - 2003
St. Anger EP - 2003
Some Kind Of Monster EP - 2004
The Unnamed Feeling EP - 2004
Vinyl Box Set - 2004
St. Danger box set- 2005