30/06/03

METALLICA / ST. ANGER

Metallica have come in for some stick over the last few years through one thing and another and mostly they are a victim of their own success, St. Anger sees them return to form.

Sounding hungrier than they have done for over a decade, the very raw production by Bob Rock sees the band concentrate on content rather than fancy over dubs and studio trickery, baring the simple, energy, enthusiasm and validity of the songs on offer and thus makes this a very honest record. The whole CD is like a new band jamming together and this highlights how good Metallica can sound when they let the songs speak for themselves and put all their emphasis on feeling.

Songs like "Frantic", "Some Kind Of Monster" and "Dirty Window" would have sounded very different if recorded for the Black album and I personally think they would have suffered from over production, it is sometimes very difficult to know when a song is finished and the temptation to add and tinker with modern technology is very strong.

Everything about this CD has, for want of a better description an Analogue feel about it, fans and purists will love its simplicity. Welcome back guys. Oh and if you want proof of what I have said buy it and watch the free DVD for proof.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME 75 mins + 11 TRACKS