5.0 out of 5 stars
THE BEST ALBUM SINCE JUSTICE HANDS DOWN, Jun 14 2003
FIRST i was P-d OFF when i heard that there were no guitar solos. then i realized that i had been listening to the 'extreme' radio station for 2 hours and hadnt heard one from any of the so called hardcore 'new' metal bands either.
While it does kinda suck about that,i cant believe all these illiterates have dragged the average rating down to a 3 star. #2 overall on amazon.com at this writing and a 3 star?
THIS ALBUM EFFIN ROCKS!! the low ratings are from (1) the posers - and i ask them 'do metalheads go around rating britney spears albums?' no, because we would BECOME SICK and (2)the 'old metallica was great but new metallica sucks' crowd - god what a tired rap that is.
FACE IT : bands change their sound as they get older, live with it. dont compare old to new. look at zeppelin, ozzy, motley crue, c.o.c., or any other band. While it's hard to argue with the fact that their best work was before BOB ROCK introduced his formulaic influence...why cry over spilt milk...great songs are still to be found!
Hoping for a few good ones i was BLOWN AWAY to discover that there are no less then FIVE awesome songs on this album. 2,3,5,9,and 11 F-IN ROCK. 'all within my hands' is awesome. 'unnamed feeling' is a nod to black sabbath all the way. Yes the style has changed, hopefully not because Mr. Rock wanted a 'new metal' sound - but there are no ballads on this one baby - if you hated 'nothing else matters' you will love this album it JAMS FROM BEGINNING TO END.
Anyone complaining about robert trujillo, the new bassist, is nuts - this guy has impeccable credentials and an intensity that is SCARY. for the uninformed ever heard of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES or DOWN to name just 2?
Which brings me to the free DVD that is included - anybody trying to say that metallica sold out (dont all bands sooner or later?) and are only in it for the money cannot argue with the fact that they could have made a sh**load of money selling the DVD separate but have included it free - along with free access to a website to download live mp3s. Napster freaks, get over it, they took a stand for their industry against piracy and although i did it too, i respect them for that. And now we can have our precious mp3s legally.
Overall : it does suck that kirk doesnt seem to get much work on this album (why? are bob and lars being d**ks? is kirk ok?) but it doesnt take away from the fact that this albums JAMS - James is at top form (to say - a guitar god of metal of all time) and i like it better than the BLACK ALBUM, LOAD, or RELOAD - PERIOD.