DALLAS COYLE: THE POLITICS OF METALLICA
Thursday, August 28th, 2008 at 4:01pm by Dallas Coyle
The other day I went to NYC to check out In This Moment at their record release party. Needless to say, I had a good night because I got to see a lot of people I haven’t seen in a little while and the night turned out to be very interesting. In This Moment were very good and their new direction gave me hopes about the type of success they may have. I kept joking with them and telling them I can’t wait for them to sell really well so GF can have some cash for fine foods, wine and expensive sex! They are label-mates and we’re supposed to share.
I was joking obviously — well, half joking…
I saw Vince there channeling Hetfield with his new handlebar mustache. It kind of makes him looks like a child-killer. It was an open bar so people were getting their buzz on and just shooting the shit; getting hungover is more precise. Well-liquor is shit-pile! In the midst of all this buzz worthiness, at a bar around the corner Vince, myself and one of the first MetalSucks readers Factor got on the subject of Metallica. In all reality, I’m the biggest fucking Metallica fan. I bought all of their albums and they can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned. Well, as far as I was concerned. Now that I do this blog for Metalsucks I’ve turned into an opinionated asshole who has to dissect everything.
I love Metallica so much that I wanted to do an EP of all my favorite parts on St. Anger and call it “St Nigger.” That’s for real shit. No lie. It was discussed and we decided we wanted to have a 2nd rate metalcore career instead of no career…
Long story short, the St Nigger EP was panned.
After seeing and hearing so much about the new Metallica album and how it’s a return to form, I just decided to wait for the first songs to be released. Well, last week they finally released them. What did I think? It made me think of a John McCain speech. Necessary but painful. John McCain is above scrutiny because of his experience in a POW camp and I respect that. It got me thinking: Shouldn’t Metallica be above criticism because they created the HEAVY METAL BIBLE?
Seriously, I palm mute because of Metallica. Metallica is the reason why most metal bands exist. Literally, Metallica is the shit because they put the word METAL in their name without sounding cheesy. It’s the ultimate genius. METAL-lica… Shouldn’t this put them above the haters? Shouldn’t the haters just be happy that a new Metallica album provides a reason for living legends to get out there and play the shit you really want to hear? Would you rather Metallica stopped doing what they do or play some kick ass live shows every year? Metallica is great live. Even the haters can’t deny that.
Metallica’s new album doesn’t have to be and shouldn’t be expected to be the best thing since sliced bread. HELLO, THEY DID THAT SHIT ALREADY! Oh, and they are richer than fucking God. When they put their debit cards in the ATM machine the infinity sign stares back at them. Would you write a good record if you didn’t have to worry about paying your bills or find that “anger-muse” that allows you to be so EDGY?
Fuck all that.
The new songs aren’t the best songs in the world. But Metallica has already created all the songs they need to make their live shows amazing. Vince and I were discussing whether Metallica is a legacy act. I think they are. He thinks they aren’t. That’s up for discussion. Maybe someone has to pass away for any of us to get some real perspective on the bigness of Metallica. I’m not wishing for anything, just for the record…
By the way, Lars is not a good drummer. Shut up about it already
Finally, someone on this site that is legit that knows what hes talking about…cuz vince is a fucking homo who knows nothing at best…
Amen, brother. As much as I’m extremely disappointed by the new songs, you can’t argue with the ’80s. They were once the greatest band in the world, and once you’ve achieved that, you’re pretty much untouchable.
Metallica sucks.
Um, how are Metallica NOT a legacy act. Am i not understanding the term?
I hate to paint everyone with one brush, but trash metal is a young man’s game. If you’re in a thrash band you know you’re not getting rich off of it and you play for the hunger and passion and the anger. Metallica are old and they may be able to play it, but they sure can’t write it. They already made their contribution, let them continue to pump out middling records as an excuse to tour and play “One”.
Man law #529.3: Under no conceivable circumstances shall 2 men ever put both of their names on a blog comment. It makes them look like a couple.
@Dallas
Good shit man. There’s no possible way anyone could touch Metallica after what they’ve done for metal since it’s conception. I personally like “My Apocalypse”. It’s not the best song they’ve made but I’ll be damned if it’s not the best new Metallica song to be played on the radio in god knows how long.
And yes.. Lars does suck as far as technicality goes. It’s no surprise by any means. He gets by keeping up with the rest of the guys and personally, that’s all that matters to me. He may not be the most technical drummer out there, but let’s not forget all the Hetfield/Ulrich’s you see when you look at who composed a large portion of Metallica’s best shit.
BTW.. Just couldn’t do a whole blog without mentioning a politician, could you?
That was the first really good article that I enjoyed from Dallas, I believe Metallica is becoming a legacy act, this is sort of the transition period into that, much as it was for Sabbath after Dio left, they may still make something great, but there’s not much time left, and they do lack the hunger, passion, and anger as Tim said.
Whether I like, dislike, hate or get turgid over the new Metallica album or not, this is actually not a bad take on their “legacy”. I don’t agree with everthing you said here, Dallas, but I do think it’s a pretty good perspective – you know, for a fanboy. ;)
this should be the last word on Metallica on this site.
seriously.
Dallas hit the nail square on the fuckin’ head.
finally, someone was able to see what Metallica IS and/or WERE
from both sides of the spectrum.
and still find respect for them and what they HAVE DONE and/or what they ARE DOING.
well put, mahwfukkuh.
well put.
I think you have put it best.They have already written everything they need to in order to be THAT BAND.The one that is going to sell out arenas all over North America in a few months and not be playing any fucking dive bars.I think it’d be great if Metallica finally just said to every critic of the band “fuck you” because honestly, the war of words that are waged over this band is pathetic.They’re playing still because they like it and they are writing still because people still want to here what this band has to say.Once they stop going platinum in the second fucking week of a release, maybe they’ll ease off writing and “focus on touring.”But they’re not going anywhere.So have an Eskimo Pie and chill the fuck out.
This might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read on MetalSucks. I don’t think any self-respecting band wants to just rest on their laurels and to be known as a “good band from the ’80s.” That’s living in the past, man.
I think every new album by Metallica should blow the doors off the last one, and if it doesn’t maybe it’s time for them to finally call it a day.
My main beef with Metallica today is that everything that comes out of Hetfield’s mouth is so g’damned manipulative and self-righteous. I hate that douche more than Lars and I will not be buying their latest CD, “above scrutiny” or not.
metallica where good till the black album,after that they where going down the hill with
newsted leaving and now they have a bassist who does not fit in this group, he was better
of staying with suicidel tedencies ,or join a gang . he has no personality like hetfield or so.
with that new bassplayer it wil never be like the old days. i think the best thing to do for metallica is to stop. i was a great fan ,if i watch a live concert deze days ,it bothers me.
stop this band the chemestry is gone and over.
@ Dave Mustaine:
Trujillo “does not fit in this group” and should “join a gang”?? Wow. Aside from terrible syntax and grammar, you’ve just generalized that anyone with a Latin American last name is a gang member?
When you think about it, demographically speaking, Trujillo is a PERFECT fit. Lars is Danish, Hetfield is WASP, Hammett is Filipino/Irish. They’re a walking melting pot.
I saw a vid of Rob playing guitar. God Damn! That dude can play. Metallica should go to him for riffs.
mustaine, you’re an idiot!
Trujillo fits well. Grew up in the same scene when ST was coming up too. APples to oranges, but his playing is simialr to that of Cliff – I think bass should be played with your fingers.
I’ve only heard a coupl eof tunes off this new record so i can’t speak about it, but i though My Apocalypse was good the first time i heard it.
By the way, Lars is not a good drummer…
God Forbid is about as metal as Slipknot. You guys pound man ass. Quit being beaner.
Sammy, I’m going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and assume the “gang” comment had to do with Trujillo’s style of clothing and not his race. I’m probably wrong, but whatever.
Anyway, my thing with Metallica is this. They don’t need to put out great albums every time. But they should be putting out good albums at the least. Load and reload were both good albums at the very least. People may have their issues with the change in style, but they are good albums. For all the shit that was talked about them when they came out, the songs off those two albums seem to get requested a lot from what I hear on the radio.
St. Anger, on the other hand, was not a good album. It had good ideas and there were some parts that, had they had the proper direction, could have turned into some really outstanding shit. I’m not even going to talk about the production because I think everyone agrees that they fucked up on that.
The new stuff? It sounds good. Again, there’s parts of it that seem to work better than others. Hetfield seems to have lost steam lyrically. His writing just doesn’t seem to have the creativity anymore. Lars may not be a great drummer, but he has done some great drumming in the past. This album doesn’t seem to get there. The drumming is the weakest link in what I’ve heard so far. It really seems to me that this is going to be Kirk’s album to shine after sitting out the last 3 albums more or less.
And, you know what, with all of that on my mind, the album is still going to be, at the very least, good. What the fuck else does everyone want?
f Says: God Forbid is about as metal as Slipknot. You guys pound man ass. Quit being beaner.
Hmm, I guess that means GF is pretty metal. If Slipknot is not some genre of metal, exactly what are they? Country? Pop? Adult contemporary?
[...] God Forbid guitarist Doc Coyle recently issued a statement that, in short, he enjoyed the Metallica songs he heard, while guitarist Dallas Coyle issued his own statement about the new Metallica album over at Metal Sucks. [...]
That was a great read. I’m down for shooting the shit over Metallica and PBR’s anytime. Can’t wait for the full review.
@Matthew and Mark: cute.
Jughed Said “I think every new album by Metallica should blow the doors off the last one, and if it doesn’t maybe it’s time for them to finally call it a day.”
Well said. But they screwed that up a long time ago.
a band member has to have a personality, like old guns axl rose, slash etc. robbie has no
image what so ever to be a ROCKSTAR, nomather how good he,s playing is.
WAS SID VICIUS A GOOD PLAYER NO , BUT HE HAD THE ROCKSTARIMAGE.
IT,S ALL ABOUT WRITHING GOOD SONGS AND PERSONALITY.
CAN HETFIELD SING NO, BUT HE HAS THAT IMAGE. CAN JOU DIG IT NOW ALL YOU FUCKERS WHAT I MEAN
“…Maybe someone has to pass away for any of us to get some real perspective on the bigness of Metallica…”
stop me if i’m wrong, but i think someone already did die. unless cliff burton is hanging out with elvis and tupac somewhere warm
BURTON HAD IT ALL, AND HE WAS A GOOD BASSIST TOO
“By the way, Lars is not a good drummer. Shut up about it already”
This needs to be a quote of the week.
Dallas – Remember when you called me and asked if I thought the St.Nigger idea was good? I laughed and sent you the proposed artwork. You convince Vince to allow me to post it and I’ll be happy to submit!
Rev
“By the way, Lars is not a good drummer.”
Troo dat!
and John, go fuck yourself. Vince rulezz!!
Hey Dallas I was writing to tell you that I feel that Metallica is the most overrated band in the history of metal. Everyone gets down on their knees and kisses Metallica ass so much it makes me sic. I use to be a Metallica up until they fucked up napster and to me they showed me that everything they did was bullshit and all they are they godfathers of pop-metal and they could record a album of nothing but polka or if you the movie putty tang a whole record of nothing and everyone would be Metallica they are the best band ever and blah blah. I’m surprise that a band like God forbid would like Metallica they are the most un metal band ever they copied david mastine and his guitar riffs and made them popy and everyone is on them like new kids on the block or some other boy band. I remember I use to get told a bunch of shit cause I like hearing marilyn manson. But at least Manson music had a story had meaning. Metallica never had that. I listen to all their music now cause when we hang out someone always blows metallica out their ass and I hear it now and to me it sounds so boring samething over and over again. For exmaple if you listen to “fade to black” did you know it has the same riff prince wrote on the song computer blue the only difference is that prince goes crazy with the wal-wah pedal and metallica goes accustic. I think how funny it is that everyone is Metallica this and Metallica that and to me they never really did anything great but turn metal into a fade in the late 80’s and that is why metal died down for awhile. Everyone always talk them but they always forget the bands that kept what did and still do it to this day the bands are Anthrax, Megadeth, and fucking Slayer. You can not compare Metallica to Slayer no fucking way. I rather be a poor ass band playing what I feel instead of playing what I think is in. That is the difference from bands like Slayer and Metallica. I have been disappointed by Metallica for so many years and to me they get what they get because it was given to them they never worked hard for it like the other bands did and they are more brutal then Metallica. If you agree with me or not I don’t care But don’t say they are the best Metal band ever cause they are so many more bands out there that bust their ass and they do not get credit they desever. Laters Dethmetal MIke
“Maybe someone has to pass away for any of us to get some real perspective on the bigness of Metallica”
Hey asshole, ever hear of Cliff Burton? last time i checked, he was pretty dead.
“Maybe someone has to pass away for any of us to get some real perspective on the bigness of Metallica”
Hey asshole, ever hear of Cliff Burton? last time i checked, he was pretty dead.”
Ahem, fuck off…
Number two: Metallica has had a meteoric rise in popularity since Cliff died. I’d say Cliffs death as opposed to someone else in the band passing away at this moment in time are apples and oranges.
Who fills James, Lars and Kirks shoes? Who?
Did anyone expect the black album to be what it was? Cliff died 5 years before the release of that album and before Metallica’s legacy as it stands today, He’s a part of their legacy, not the barometer in which we measure it. Make no mistake, The Black Album and And Justice For All… is a HUGE part of the legacy.
So what is your point?
are* a huge part of their legacy.
very true, alex. as much of a terrible thing that is/was, cliff’s legacy continues to live on and will continue to do so. how old was he when he died? 24-25? i can’t think of anyone else in history who died that young and left such a strong, lasting impact on the world. if he had not died i believe things would’ve been very different for metallica. in what way? we’ll never know.
ha makes me think of what my one friend said when load came out, “…if hetfield went up to cliff with this ain’t my bitch shit and said, ‘this is some of the new stuff i’ve been writing’ cliff would’ve punched that motherfucker in the face right then & there!” funny stuff.
dude, st. nigger is a fucking fantastic idea. as horrible as that album sounded, as drawn out as those songs were, i always maintained there were plenty of good ideas on there, it was just executed fucking horribly. someone definitely needs to re-imagine those songs. if not you doing it, maybe someday a bunch of the current metal dudes can get together and do it, ala roadrunner united.
thanks matt : )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7IFMlLitoE
Dallas, don’t worry, all the non-morons realize the difference between Cliff dying and what you were getting across in your comment.
@Glen Benton:
You said you can’t think of ONE person who died that young (Cliff B) who left such a long lasting impact? Are you kidding? Outside the metal world, Cliff was relatively unknown and still is.
Ever hear of Randy Rhoads? Kurt Cobain? Jimi Hendrix? Jim Morrison? All were mid to late 20s. All have had much longer lasting legacies. Stevie Ray Vaughn was a bit older, but his legacy is monumental. I love Cliff Burton, but man, how about some perspective?
Uh, does anyone here get tired of reading this irrelevant blog done by dallas, i’m sorry but nothing relevant comes out of his rants, simply by using “nigger” that doesn’t make you edgy and your idea cool, and your music certainly matches your blog, mediocre and forgettable, lets get someone in here who has something good to say.
thankyou and goodnight
Would you rather Metallica stopped doing what they do or play some kick ass live shows every year?
Yes.
@DallasCoylesucks.net
Actually no, it looks like you’re the only one.
@dallascoylesucks.net
Yeah, it’s pretty much just you. Go back to blabbermouth and continue your homoerotic banter with your fellow cavemen.
Dallas!!! haha
that’s a fucking funny name.
I’m Ken Tucky nice to meet you.
no blabbermouth.net for me unfortunatly, and why because i dont like god forbid im a caveman? weird ? i hate metal bands
Every band that put out in a row a kill em all, ride the lightining, and master of puppets record deserve to do wathever they want for the rest of their fuckin lives.
If it’s good, the better.
@Michael Gomez
You think Marilyn Mason is better than Metallica? Kill yourself. You think Anthrax and Megadeth are keeping it real? Anthrax hasn’t had a good album since Sound of White Noise. And Megadeth?? did you hear the Risk album?!? It was fucking easy listening. You don’t think Slayer is rolling in the fucking cash?!? They’re the best thrash band ever. And Mustane was in Metallica! FUCK! do some research before your run your mouth off, you stupid douche nozzle.
Hey tetsuo669 did u know that metallica used riffs that dave wrote all up until justice and tetsuo I bet u think metallica is the heavyiest band ever u fucking fag and I think Manson has been more real in his music than metallica. Metallica is more of a boy band or a trendy band. That is why Pantera wrote the song sand blast that was towards metallica when they did load metallica. I see u are a joey fan. Joey is a good voalist but a shitty person and I think bush was just as good and in some ways better. I bet u stop hearing anthrax after that sounds of white noise. I’m sick of Metallica getting all the credit for metal when they did nothing. If anything it was Sabbath that are the Icons in my opion but dumb fucks like u are always getting down on ur knees sucking metallica’s dick. So to u here is a big fuck u bitch and as the famous words of Green jello “U get off u’r knees”