DALLAS COYLE ON ALL OF THE METALLI-BASHERS
Friday, September 19th, 2008 at 4:04pm by Dallas Coyle
Why The World Needs Metallica…
It’s funny. It really is. I’ve been bothered by the bullshit I’ve seen regarding the new Metallica album. People are shitting on the album left and right, not paying respect to one of the greatest bands ever and it’s complete fucking bullshit… I’m not saying you should like something just because it comes from a certain band, I’m saying you should like it if it’s good. And news fucking flash: THE NEW METALLICA IS THE SHIT!
The really sad thing is Blabbermouth got it right with the new Metallica record! What in the fuck world are we living in? With this new Metallica album and the reviews I’ve been seeing, I feel we’re living in an opposite reality. How is it that Blabbermouth gets it right and the majority of Metalsucks reviews looked like an Iann Robinson night at the movies? Straight haterade. It makes me think of politics (again). Why is McCain holding on? People just don’t see good shit in front of them when it’s there. Or it’s like Katt Williams says: people hate good shit.
To those people who gave the Metallica album a BAD review, give a good fucking reason why. And spare me your Barack Obama voting, elitist post-Black album bullshit. Give me something real. How does this new record NOT sound like Metallica? Cause it’s not TR00? Fuck all that. My bro and I were chilling out and listening to the new Metallica rocking out like when we were kids. It was crazy. We’re talking about the record and he says,’You were the first person to give the album a good review…’ I thought about it and I thought, ‘That is fucking sad.’
How is it that people these days don’t have the respect to actually give their ‘idols’ the respect they deserve? And let’s be honest, Metallica are idols to many people. Most of the people who were reviewing their records, I guarantee you, idolized Metallica. Now they turn their backs. Maybe it’s because we live in a country where we expect to see our idols fall and get shit on. It’s fun to shit on ‘The Hoff’ when his ass is wasted and eating a sandwich off of a floor. It’s fun to see Glen Danzig get knocked out on Youtube. But guess what? There’s a reason you want to see them fall. You wouldn’t care about some random dude getting knocked out. No. You wouldn’t.
It’s good to see someone who has more than us fail. That’s the nature of our society and I understand that. This is why it makes sense when people say God Forbid are over the hill as a band. They want us to be over the hill. Trust me, when people hear our new record, their foot will be in their mouth… Or will it? This is my point. Our new album is pretty damn impressive as we get these mixes in but the people who are hating won’t give a shit. To them we’ll always be emo-core shit. You see what I’m getting at?
With Metallica’s new album they’ve given you no reason to hate. IT’S A GOOD FUCKING RECORD! I dare some of the motherfuckers on here to wait about a month or two and re-review the record with an open mind. With that said they’ll give it the same review. They want everything to be the same as it ever was. Nothing ever stays the same. You have to be flexible with what you can accept and won’t accept. Maybe people fail because they don’t understand the ramifications of a stagnant world.
It makes me think of a line The Joker says in The Dark Knight. “An unstoppable force meets an immovable object.” When that happens everyone ends up in misery. People like being miserable. They don’t want to be happy. It’s like, ‘Hey, Metallica sounds like Metallica again…’ They’re like, ‘Great… sounds… great…” The sad thing is they don’t even listen. Normal people are listening and Metallica is doing it again. They are changing the paradigm once again. The world needs Metallica right now. Fuck it, I need Metallica. We’ll never tour with them but we’ll do better with a new, good Metallica album out there! And so will you.
I’m sorry dudes, I gotta do it. Blabbermouth called it right on the new Metallica. I’ll give them that. But those same people who love the new Metallica will vote for John McCain? This world fucking sucks. You elitist Barack Obama voting, Metallica haters need to rewrite some reviews! Let’s re-establish some order, bitches!
Hornz!
If your band didn’t make a series of terrible Megadeth-inspired metalcore albums, I might’ve given pause or credence to your defense. But sadly, you do, and Metallica haven’t done anything solid (keyword: Solid. even …And Justice For All is filler-laden) since ‘86.
THANK YOU Dallas, well-said.
People’s expectations/demands on them are way to high and unfair, IMO. A lot of people need to lighten up, big-time. I mean, Jesus, it’s fucking music people. That’s all. Get over yourselves. They’re not 22-year-olds anymore, and we’re not 14. Be fucking happy they’re still around at all. You aren’t required to like everything they do by default, nor is anyone required to respect them if they don’t want to. Just be fucking mature about about it, instead of coming off sounding like you’re worried about – as Dallas alludes to above – not sounding “TR00″ or “br00tal” enough. That, my friends, is as UN-metal as you can get.
The whole “Metallica sucks now” debate that’s been around since post-1991 has always reminded me of Bart’s admonition to Comic Book Guy about Itchy & Scratchy (my emphasis) from the “Poochie” episode:
In the Android’s Dungeon…
COMIC BOOK GUY
Last night’s Itchy & Scratchy was, without a doubt, the worst episode ever! Rest assured that I was on the Internet within minutes, registering my disgust throughout the world.
BART
Hey, I know it wasn’t great, but what right do you have to complain?
COMIC BOOK GUY
As a loyal viewer, I feel they owe me.
BART
What? They’re giving you thousands of hours of entertainment for free. What could they possibly owe you? I mean, If anything, YOU owe THEM.
COMIC BOOK GUY
(pause) Worst episode ever.
“And spare me your Barack Obama voting, elitist post-Black album bullshit. Give me something real.”
“You elitist Barack Obama voting, Metallica haters need to rewrite some reviews!”
I don’t understand the Obama references. What the hell are you talking about? Did I miss something?
Also, quit yer bitchin’. People are allowed to dislike the album. I became a Metallica fan in 86. This album is mediocre at best. Just because it’s the heaviest album they’ve made in years, that doesn’t make it good. Honestly, a lot of it sounds sloppy. You’re entitled to your opinion, fine, but that doesn’t invalidate the opinions of those who disagree with you.
Well said, people need to lay off Metallica. It’s not like there’s nothing else out there for you to listen to if you didn’t like Death Magnetic.
If you have not grown up on metallica and can look at them through their body of work rather than the childhood memories you have of them, it’s perfectly legitimate to not like this new cd.
The new metallica album in a nutshell: great guitar, good arrangements, shitty drumming, shitty production, shitty singing, lame lyrics, bass?
The main thing for me is that I hate James Hetfield’s Hard Rock voice and that is what, more than anything else, has turned me off to metallica past their first few cd’s when they for a thrashier approach.
Why is it mediocre? why does it suck? “Love is a four letter word”. That’s why
Because each song has 40 seconds of cool riffs, followed by generic, load-era uninspired rock riffs to fill the verses.
Because the richest metal band in the world can’t get their new album, in 2008, mixed and mastered properly, because they think that sounds “raw”.
Because their drummer is boring and would rather give interviews than practice his goddamn instrument, and because Kirk Hammet doesn’t have an interesting guitar tone to save his life (doesn’t matter how many scales you know how to play if you sound like wah soaked shit doing it).
Because, in 2008, we have bands such as Opeth, Meshuggah, Devin Townsend, Neurosis, and Natchmystium making interesting, relevant heavy music. This is an average effort from once giants among men.
Here is what I posted last week about the new Metallica:
Metallica will never make a record like AJFA or MOP ever again. They shouldn’t and couldn’t if they tried for a variety of reasons. No one gives any other band the amount of shit that Metallica gets. I am one of them, admittedly. I have hated on them, and rightfully so I think, since about ‘91. That being said, this record is really fucking good. I think the majority of reviews on this site and others are complete shit. There is no way you can make a rational conclusion about the music without living with this record a little. If the points brought up still exist after that, then so be it. I have not listened to Metallica in ages and St. Anger damn near killed any possibility of me giving them a chance ever again but I always give them a shot. I am glad I did in this case. Very good record.
Now to add some stuff to it:
The mixing and mastering is reprehensible. I have been a professional sound engineer for 15 years and I can tell you that what happened here is unreal. Millions of dollars were spent making and marketing this record and this should never have happened. Thank God for the GHIII mix or we would be totally fucked without a complete remix and master. What upsets me so much is that I really like the record, especially after having a week with it to listen to.
Well said Dallas fuck all the Haters!!!!!!
I wanted to hate this album so I could write them off as washed up, spoiled assholes. BUT, from the first riff of the album to the final, other than some minor issues that have been repeated ad nauseum, I think it’s not only a solid album, but a very good one. If Metallica, the legacy, didn’t exist, 99% of metal fans would think it’s an awesome recording.
James has shed the annoying whine factor in his vocals, the riffs borrow from previous songs, but then freshen them up and *incorporate* them into new riffs. The thrash element is back. The abrupt changes in tempo are solid. Yeah, the lyrics are kind of weak, but have you heard a country song lately? THAT’s tedious and ponderous. It does need more bass, but hell, that’s Metallica. And Hammett shreds like he’s been bottled up for a dozen years. Even Lars, while weirdly sloppy at times, is punishing.
I loved the new Metallica on first listen, and it’s only gotten better each time I’ve listened to it. I don’t get the Obama references though? Are Metallica lovers also McCain supporters? Cause nobody told me that?
Let’s be honest though, the record could have been mixed a lot better. But I still love it.
All nightmare long is by far the best track on this cd. I dont get the $39.99 version I saw at best buy today tho? What does that include a online code to the rest of their catalog? It was the same exact package as the $9.99 version as far as i could tell
Well, someone finally convinced me to give it another shot. Just for you Dallas, I’ll try it again. And I think, that I just didn’t like outright, the songs just felt drug out. I don’t idolize Metallica, I’m not a hardcore, from-the-start Metallica fan. Fuck, I wasn’t even born when Metallica put out their record. And I like St. Anger. So I guess I owe James and Co. a fair shake for Death Magnetic.
The $39.99 version contains codes to download the album for Guitar Hero.
Overall, it’s not an enjoyable experience. Therefor I have the right to not like it. It’s not a terrible album, it’s not a good album. It is an improvement over St. Anger however. All in all, I don’t care if they are Metallica. If this was a debut album for a new band, I would most likely have the same opinion. It’s not terrible, it’s not worth buying.
Wtf is with the Barrack Obama jabs? What the hell are you even talking about? Usually your posts/blogs are pretty well written and coherent. This one, not so much.
RE: The Obama stuff.
Dallas is merely asking us to stay on topic. One of his recent blogs was hijacked into about 50 political comments.
I’ll say it again. It’s fucking STUPID for people to take it personally that Metallica went in another direction with Load/Reload. The same ignorant assholes that get their wonder woman underoos all in a bunch remind me of the douche that killed Dimebag.
For anyone to let that stage of Metallica get in the way of enjoying one of the best albums this year is ridiculous. I’m not saying it’s the best.. but lets face it, it’s a hell of a lot better than anything Tool or Meshuggah have ever done in their overrated careers. Metallica brought back everything everyone bitched about missing on this album. They brought back the thrash, they brought back the attitude and the edge, and they brought back the solos. Who the hell can complain when you have songs like “That was Just your Life” and “All Nightmare Long” to make you unknowingly do 90mph down a rural road?
@Dallas
I was eagerly awaiting your review of Death Magnetic for 2 reasons: 1) You seem to have somewhat of a level field of opinion when it comes to things people make a huge deal about for no reason. 2) God Forbid is part of an often wrongly ostracized genre of metal(metal, as some people call it) that should be praised for its combination of accessibility and brutality. Tons of respect for the positive review man. Fuck what people say, if it makes you want to punch babies, I say punch babies.
SOLID! 1
“niggaplease Says:
If your band didn’t make a series of terrible Megadeth-inspired metalcore albums, I might’ve given pause or credence to your defense. But sadly, you do, and Metallica haven’t done anything solid (keyword: Solid. even …And Justice For All is filler-laden) since ‘86.”
I don’t know why there were more comments after this one. It’s so on target it could be a cruise missile.
(sigh)
Metallica has the most indulgent-as-fuck fans in the world…
Not being the worst doesn’t mean good… nevermind
Right on Dallas. If it’s a good record it doesn’t matter who it’s by. If Britney Spears made a good metal album, I’d listen to it.
I’m not sure if I get the political references, even after Sammy’s explanation, but I do know that I shit all over my friend last night for saying that he thinks Ne-Yo out-sold Death Magnetic, and I mean SHIT on this kid.I fucking buried his face in it, showing that Ne-Yo wasn’t even in the top selling 100 albums this week.I showed him that records that had been out over a year were outselling it.Probably because the kid is into metal and I want to harden him and show him the way.THAT is how much I fucking love Death Magnetic, and for the record, I dig both bands, but will take Megadeth over Metallica, any day.That is how good Death Magnetic is.
And D, I get the metalcore references about GF, but who the fuck has ever referred to God Forbid as anything remotely related to anything emo?Because like the band or not, that person is not too bright.
Skyclad’s the best metal band ever…And they’re only popular in like Greece, a country that’s over 20% communist with an additional 35% favouring social democracy. So kiss my ass, right-wing swine…DEATH MAGNETIC ROCKS THOUGH!!!!!
Incidentally, I was shitting on all the New Kids fans and going out of my way to remind everyone that Quebec sales alone will be more than enough to shake New Kids from #1…Guess what? I was right, naturally.
@ Dallas:
If people weren’t criticizing Metallica, then they would’ve kept writing the same mediocre songs. I actually like the new album because it’s a step in the right direction for them. I personally think that after the Black Album money signs were embedded into Metallica and their mind was fucked up.
@jaime
Thanks for proving my point. Why don’t you try listening to the album before you open your mouth next time?
Thanks for your keen insight, Dallas. I will, however, choose to stick with the new Testament and Metal Church albums as the ultimate 80’s thrash band comebacks.
Both albums are far, far superior to Metallica’s newest debacle in every category: songwriting, production quality, strong vocals, guitar tones, stellar drumming, lyrics, heaviness, and ability to actually matter in the ’00s.
I respectfully disagree with the fine gentleman from Texas, Mr. Mitchell. Well, the last part. I do agree that the new Testament album is a sinister, awesome piece of writing and recording, better with every listen. But I also think DM is damn fine.
Dallas, let me explain it to you in a way that might make sense. Back in 1986 Metallica was on the cutting edge of heavy metal. Their riffs were tight, they were making records that were “heavy”, groundbreaking in production and at a breakneck tempo. A lot has changed since then. Today bands have taken tempo, sonic density, and all other edges of metal and pushed it to new extremes. Even if you built a time machine and grabbed Metallica before Cliff died and put them in a studio in 2008, nothing they do would out do what is being done. Honestly I listen to old Dissection a lot more than old Metallica. As much as I love Ride the Lightning, Storm of the Light’s Bane is a better album.
So why hate on Metallica? Because of empty headed fanboys like you, who offer no real explanation as to why they are the bestest band evah. None. Instead, you demand justification for the negativity like some petulant child. If Death Magnetic were the very first Metallica album ever and they were a brand new band in 2008 I’ll bet you’d give it a “Meh” and forget about it. Because it isn’t that great. But you don’t, because they are a lame ass nostalgia act. Worse than AC/DC. And people who idolize bands are depressing. I’m not 14 anymore. It is time to grow up people.
It’s sad I have to spell out the Obama references. Most people who hate on DM are elitist bastards who believe things need to be above the clouds for it to be viable. I’m an Obama supporter and it was a joking way to say get your head out of your ass. The messiah ain’t coming.
Hibernum:
Empty headed fan boy? The only things you know about me are things I let you know. So take your empty headed comments to TMZ. Metallica being a nostalgia act has nothing to do with the quality of DM. It’s a good record and it’s sad you can’t see it. I don’t demand shit. I put out a test to people who talk shit to re-review it. Not very hard. Where is your review bud?
Let’s be real. The only reason people hate on metallica is because they are so big. people are selfish and they want their own band. When Metallica got huge in 91 and became the biggest act in rock, the turncoats did what they normally do: Cut and run cause they can’t let a good thing get out to the masses. Wake up, Metallica ain’t yours anymore and you have to deal with it.
HA!
This is probably the best blog I’ve seen from this guy. New Metallica was the shit, and just because others are trashing doesn’t mean you (as in anyone else) should. It was so freaking good, and most of the people that hate it, would have hated it no matter what they put out. If it was any more like Master of Puppets or whatever, they would have said “They’re over the hill and rewriting the same album over and over” and obviously if it was like St. Anger…we all know how they would have responded. Thing is, Metallica got it nearly perfect. The vocal lines for Unforgiven III could have been better, but for the most part they got it right. And even if some things weren’t perfect, their minds were in the right place. They weren’t selling out with this album. They were Metallica, plain and simple. Easily the best album of 2008
Thank you, Dallas. It sucks though, because almost all of the haters are the ones that troll the internets, and the extreme majority of the real fans tend to have useful enough social lives to not be douchebags online.
Interesting thoughts as always, Dallas.
One thing I think I’ve noticed: those of us who’ve pretty much grown up with the band seem to like this album more than the younger folk or the people who tuned in to them later on. I think that’s because we’re listening to it lyrically as well as musically, and when you look at the complete package like that, the album takes on a different sheen. This is a more mature band, and after 20 years, I’d hope they’re more mature.
Yet that maturity might be what is turning others off. I mean, hey. I *get* Unforgiven III. Sorta like poetry in a lit class, I can’t explain it if you ask, but I *get* it. And because I get it, I sort of like it.
I’ve often said that Metallica’s been the soundtrack to my life. They’ve been right there with me since I first heard them in ‘86. Death Magnetic’s no exception.
It’s sickening to the core all of the media attention that metallica have gotten in the past few weeks. The last thing we need is the opinion of YET another fanboy that worships the band so blindly. So pathetic how all of the lame fanboys comes defending something that isn’t worth defending in the 1st place! Nigga pleeezz!! FUck the fanboys and the haters! Fuck you all!!
I think everyone can agree the lyrics are not all that great, then again, i dont think i ever really listened to this band for what they are saying. You want lyrics listen to Bob Dylan. I think my favortie thing about the record is being able to listen to it loudly in front of you non-metal friends and not getting that disgusted look they usually give you.
Which is something I’ve been meaning to ask everyone.
Are you the lone metalhead in your group of friends?
Preety much the majority of people I know, girlfriend included, hate what I listen to. Everytime people come into my car, I always have to find somehting for them to listen to. Just once I would love to blast Pig Destoryer and not get that look of….”please, can you put on some Zepplin or Metallica”
Which is what is great about Metallica, they are accessible for just about anyone. I dont think there is anything wrong with that, as long as a quality product can still exist.
Dallas, likewise what you know about me is what I let you know. And I know that once again you demand something of me like a petulant child; a review of Death Magnetic. Where is your DM review? And what is TMZ? I discovered Metallica with the Black album, I didn’t turn on them when they became popular.
It is time to be realistic here. People hate all kids of band. People hate obscure bands like Darkthrone as well as popular bands like Opeth and Metallica. People don’t hate Darkthrone because of popularity. People don’t hate Metallica for popularity either. Some people hate them because of the way they threw metal under the bus during the “load” era when they were obviously trying to be The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Some of the songs weren’t bad, but they were definetly not the same group that wrote Metal Militia. People get pissed off about that, and it is understandable. After all, people literally wore the band on their sleeves.
What if God Forbid became a really good reggae band? People would be pissed. That is the nature of the beast. Do you really think you will be the exact same person with the exact same tastes 20 years from now?
I have no opinion on the DM album, I just don’t care for YOU Dallas. You seem like a chode, you look like a fan boy that can’t even grow any facial hair in your little ‘Hard R’ banner, and you need to give the ‘elitist’ bullshit a rest for you sound like the biggest poser this side of the Mississippi. I’d love to hear your theory on 9/11.
HAVE A NICE DAY!
The question you should be asking, Dallas, is not whether some of us reviewers will be having second thoughts about this album in 3 months, but rather whether you yourself will even be listening to it anymore in that time.
Even if you love it as much as you do, I doubt this album has any staying power even amongst it’s most hardcore defenders.
“What if God Forbid became a really good reggae band? People would be pissed. That is the nature of the beast. Do you really think you will be the exact same person with the exact same tastes 20 years from now?”
This has nothing to do with anything. What if we became a good reggae band? That is ridiculous. Why would we become a really good reggae band? Because our singer has dreads? Also, Metallica trying to be RHCP? What the fuck type of drugs are you on? Load and Re-Load were some of the best ROCK, yes ROCK, albums that came out at that time. As far as I’m concerned Rock and Metal are directly related and bands cross genres all the time. Stop comparing apples and oranges. Comparing Metallica to RHCP? The only similarity is Rick Rubin producing both bands. You make yourself sound as if you never even listened to Metallica. By the way, they weren’t the same group that recorded Metal Milita. Cliff died in a bus accident. At least your observational skills are in check.
Deez Nutz: Lick Balls. Do you really think i give a shit what you care for? I look like a fan boy? let’s not forget the fact that you’re reading my blog and responding to it. If it’s such a problem shut the fuck up and find somewhere else to waste your time. I may sound like a poser but you ARE a poser. If you have no opinion on the DM album then go somewhere else to talk shit. This is about the Metallica album, not your problems with me — which are retarded considering you don’t know much about me except my pre-pubescent photo you so kindly commented on. Stop analyzing my face and start analyzing your POV. If you can’t stand me, why do you want to know my 9/11 theory? Make up your mind bruv…
God damn… scoring all day long. HA!
David, why do you say that? I don’t understand the logic. I think the album is good and I think I’ve listened to this album more than any other album I’ve listened to this year already. Look, I thought I wasn’t going to like the album, so I was surprised. To your logic, every band I’ve listened to doesn’t have a record worth shit because I don’t listen to any records months after they come out. I don’t listen to records the way most people do so maybe i’m not the best judge. My favorite records get, at the most, two weeks in my playlist.
Didn’t understand the political reference at all until I read your comment, I thought it was a joke I was missing, but I guess it was just a less than obvious jab, good one.
Deez: Yeah, you need a metal beard to be metal, shut the fuck up meathead.
The press has been really positive for the album so far, Rolling Stone is basically contractually obligated to kiss Metallica’s ass, but Allmusic gave it a great review, and they’re really dependable. Basically everyone has positive things to say about it, though if you go back, most of the magazines all had great things to say about St. Anger too by and large, the end result? Ignore magazines, they don’t know what’s good, they never will, the magazines and general press review based on trends and clout, not quality.
I’m mostly looking forward to hearing the album, not being a huge Metallica fan I’ve put it off until I’m in the mood for them, and personally all my metal friends like it, the consensus is something like “After St. Turd this is great shit!”.
well said the new disc is brilliant. METALLICA=THE GOLD STANDARD
i’m sorry dallas but you sound like a retard, in the review and in your posts. people can hate whatever the fuck they want and you bitchin about it doesn’t make it any less rational.
metallica will never be able to compete with the new generation of thrash bands cause they are armani wearing near-senile millionaires. any band that releases st. anger as an actual album is officially dead inside.
DM is basically Load with a bunch of pseudo-thrash riffs thrown in just to make it more “metal” to ignorant newbs who don’t listen to anything but radio rock. people here should know better.
and I’m a guy that likes Load/Reload. but I’m sick of people getting all wet just because there’s a solo in each song. omfg that’s so metuhl!!!!1!!1
“Lol” the comments here are ridiculous, I can’t believe how many DM haters there are on this site, I thought people knew better here. Great blog though Dallas. Like someone here already mentioned, DM has gotten lots of great reviews and I personally love the record and so does all my friends.
“DM is basically Load with a bunch of pseudo-thrash riffs thrown in just to make it more “metal” to ignorant newbs who don’t listen to anything but radio rock. people here should know better.”
I’m pretty sure there are lots of people who dig this record who don’t listen to radio rock. I don’t listen to radio rock, i can tell you that.
And that dude ‘Deez Nutz’ is retarded. What’s up with the personal hate on some person you’ve never even met? and hating on someone’s lack of facial hair? what the fuck are you on?
The point of your original post is totally lost on some people apparently. Some people just can’t see the forest for the trees.
This is one of the main reasons why metal will never be more than underground(exactly how many people want it by the way). We do nothing but bicker and bitch and complain about who is “more metal.” It’s not okay to just like a band or not like a band. For what is supposed to be one of the most open minded genres, there are a lot of fans who have a very limited idea of what is allowable. A band has to change just enough between albums but not too much. Once a band becomes popular, they are no longer “metal” and therefore not cool. If I don’t like the same bands as you, I am automatically more metal than you. It’s retarded.
He’s not saying you can’t hate the album(at least I don’t think he is). What he is saying is, if you look at almost all the reviews, they are not actually reviewing the album. They are ripping into the thing that is “Metallica.” And if you’re a fucking chode who can lie to yourself and say that The Black Album sucks, you should just tune out right now. People need to accept the nature of the human conditions even when it applies to bands. For people who get pissed about how they feel that musicians are no longer “one of us” when they become rich, we forget so quickly that they are all just human. Things like band members dying, kids, marriage, getting rich, getting OLD affect them, just as those things would affect all of us. There’s not getting around it and pumping out the same shit despite those changes comes across as forced and insincere. The argument could go back and forth as to whether or not Metallica in particular reacted well to those changes. I personally feel that they have made many good steps and a few bad. But the fact remains that they are not going to be writing the same shit as when they were 18, nor should we be surprised when they don’t. I’m sure Metallica themselves would be the first to admit as much. Why do we expect that just because we like one of a band’s albums that we’re automatically going to like them all? And just because an album isn’t their best, does not automatically make it horrible. So, feel free to DM, but, if you do, hate it for the content, not for the context(as many people seem to).
The sad thing is, that’s not the case. many people hate it simply because they want to be able to continue the chant of “Metallica hasn’t written a good record since AJFO.” Fine, if it makes you feel good to be “more metal” because you are just too cool to like anything they’ve done since then, good for you. Whatever. I personally think you’re nothing but a bane to the genre in general. Things like this have gotten worse since the internet really kicked in. It’s basically turned metal fans into nothing but a bunch of whiny, self important fanboys looking to feel like they belong to something by tearing down everything. We’re not better than the star wars fanboys at this point. Shit. We’re no better then the horrid individuals that are on some american idol message board. There’s no unity. There’s no, “Oh, you like that band? They’re not my type of thing but I can respect them.” Shit. I can’t stand AC/DC’s music but I respect the shit out of them.
Why can’t motherfuckers open their eyes and realize that just because something doesn’t appeal to them, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it sucks???? Why can’t we get past all the popularity contest(in the case of metal the contest of being least popular apparently) bullshit that we shouldn’t be caring about in the first place?? Those questions applies to DM and to us as metal fans in general.
But shit, we can’t even get past the point of resorting to personal insults when we don’t agree with someone about fucking music. I mean, I know I disagree with Dallas about a lot of stuff. But I’m not going to bullshit myself and everyone else and say that they’re putting out shitty music just so I can win some imaginary pissing contest.
@ Jesse:
I didn’t take Load personally… it’s just not a great album, the riff are generic and show the band (at least at that point) lacked any creative fire. I HAVE listened to DM, and guess what, they album is mostly a combination of AJFA era sounding riffs sandwiched in between a majority of boring, load-era style riffs. It’s an observation of what I heard.
To say it’s better than anything meshuggah has done is absurd, and points out that you’d rather listen to tired, rehashed riffs from a bunch of has beens than listen to people doing something different. The only point I proved is that you WANT DM to be a great album, no matter what, and won’t listen to the fact that the richest fucking metal band in the world can’t even get it mixed right. It is a fucking joke.
And how did i prove you point by listing a handful of reasons why the album isn’t great? Wouldn’t that show I’ve listened to it?
The production is terrible. The songwriting could–and should–be a lot tighter, especially coming from Metallica. Kirk’s solos sound uninspired; like he dropped by the studio and one-offed everything.
I happen to really like Metallica, but this album goes into the “meh” catagory. I liken it to Megadeth’s “The World Needs A Hero”–cool moments, but it’s obvious they’re having a difficult time turning the big, metal ship around.
I guess I expected a lot more this time around. I ran St. Anger on a loop for eight hours straight trying to find something to like about it–I couldn’t. Death Magnetic sounds incredibly rushed, but it’s a big step in the right direction. Maybe if they would have stayed in the studio another couple months they could have polished it. Production classified as “raw” does not appeal to me an any way–where did the vocal harmonies go, James?
As a side note: why the hell were politics even brought up here? This is about music, not the every-fourth-year joke we refer to as an election. Separation of (metal) church and state, Dallas, please.
ive certainly warmed up to the songs after a bunch of listens (especially after getting the guitar hero rip), but the fact still remains, the production/mix/mastering (wherever in the chain the fault lies) of the final product is fucking atrocious, and will keep me from ever calling it a great album. cause a great album is more than just the music, its the full fucking package, and if it sounds like garbage, well then it cant be great.
For all you people out there who use the production as an EXCUSE to say the album is not worthy, i have one thing to say: As The Palaces Burn
If you aren’t in a band or haven’t set foot in a recording studio, do yourself a favor: don’t talk about the production. Just because you have a paragraph from a mastering cat talking about the record being shit doesn’t mean anything. For the record, most engineers/studio dudes are technical snobs how over analyze everything and they don’t necessarily have a balanced POV.
When I heard DM, I thought the production was fine. Nothing jumped out at me. The guitar sound is sick, everything is up front. Listen to that compared to the new Slipknot. DM is louder and a lot punchier. I’d say I’m qualified to talk about this sort of thing considering I’ve helped produce 5 records of our own that sound pretty good…
Seriously, why does this guy have a column on this site? This post sounds like it was written by a fucking 12 year old. I agree that the new Metallica is great, but where the fuck did the elitist shit come from, Dallas? Keep your ridiculously moronic political opinions to yourself and stick to what you know, dickhead. I love how being intelligent, educated and informed is now equated with being an elitist, but being a raging, ignorant dumbfuck that believes dinosaurs and humans coexisted on the earth 4,000 years ago means you are the salt of the earth. Please drop this piece of shit from the website. I come here to read about music, not have high school drop-outs regurgitate idiotic propaganda that was force fed to them by the RNC. Thanks.
Haha, I believe Dallas is an Obama supporter, he’s not regurgitating RNC talking points. He just failed at making some lame attempt at a comparison between current political events and the negative attention that DM has gotten. Proof that this stretch failed is evident in the several comments questioning it, as well as yours, who misunderstood it. I can see why – it didn’t make sense in the first place!
Dallas, I don’t use the bad production as an “excuse” to say the album is not worthy – I think it’s sloppy and contrived. It has a few energetic moments, and to me overall I’d call it mediocre. I will certainly be listening to Opeth and Gojira more…does that make me an “elitist”? And yes, I am in a band, we recorded an album, I guess by your terms I’m qualified to mention the production? My band did better (prodution-wise) on a $10,000 budget than Metallica did on, I don’t know, hundreds of thousands?
Isn’t it fair to say we should expect more from the “gold standard” of Metal? This coming from someone who credits Metallica as one of the main reasons I picked up a guitar!
Yo Wrecking Ball, first things first, hit me up with a link of your band. I’d like to check it out. I think the production of DM is fine. I’ll listen to your stuff and see if the production is better than DM. Also, if i like it I can get it to some people who can help you out.
As far as the Obama references, I failed! Ha. It’s all good though. I tried my best to appeal to “bitter” Americans! Maybe next time. Also, I’m going to move more towards band, touring and songwriting stuff again in the near future with the blogs. I just had to get the Metallica shit off my chest.
First of all FUCK YOU HATERS!!! first and fucking foremost. everyone wants to hate because no one wants to be the “oddball” and say its goo. Fuck that shit. They didn’t do this album for you. They did it for them. They don’t give a fuck about your opinion or your fucking feelings. the albums not about you, its about they’re creative output and what they wanted to sound like and feel like. Just like St. Anger. So bottom line for me is Quit hatin. Build your balls up and go write half the shit they came up, or play as fucking fast as Kirk did on almost every fucking solo on the album. Get your balls up. make something that doesn’t sound like a fucking carbon copy then fucking talk shit.
Dallas-
Really? you listened to this album and found nothing wrong with the production? I’m not the hugest GF fan, but i will say your albums are always “well produced”… DM is presented poorly. I’ve been in various levels of production from radio to professional recordings, and it is easy to spot when something is over-compressed so the master volume can be higher. Even the guy who mastered the album says this is the case.
Nothing jumped out at you? That awful, overmixed snare sound didn’t offend you? C’mon dude, the inept production of this album is practically inarguable.
PS, it’s obnoxious to condescend to people if they have never “Set foot in a recording studio”. Does that mean they can’t tell when something sounds like shit (quality of the music aside). That’s like saying …AJFA sounds fine, there is bass in the mix, but because you “never set foot in a studio” you wouldn’t know what you’re talking about in regards to production.
“everything is up front”… not everything should be upfront Dalla, hence “mixing”… the drums and vocals and guitars should not be at the same volume at all times!
Yes, you mos. def. give a shit what I said because you went on a bitch rant defending yourself. I’m reading your shitty ass blog b/c it happened to be on metalsucks, a site I’ve been coming to months before your sorry ass showed up. I want to hear your views on 9/11 because I’m sure it’d be chalk full of conspiracy shit like you stating anyone who’s not behind Obama as being ‘elitist’. I call bullshit, you’re a musician and your sorry attempts at pushing your politics on us pisses me off.
Jaime, it’s all a matter of opinion. There is no one way to do things. There is no one way things should sound. That’s why when you get an album master back there are vocal up mixes, vocal down mixes, guitar up mixes, guitar down mixes, etc, etc. I like the way the album sounds. That’s just it. I think this is a nitpick issue really. I think people complain about the snare because of the st anger snare. They aren’t the same at all.
Also, recordings give albums their charm to a certain extent. I know when I first heard as the palaces burn the recording was weird but now when I listen to it, it’s a part of the charm of the record. It grows on you.
Metallica is no different. With AJFA it’s the same thing. People talk about no bass but the album is still a classic so who are the people complaining?
Deez Nutz: It truly is sad you waste your time on shitty things. Did you go to see Catwoman too because you happened to go to the same theater months before it showed up? Your logic is shot. My views on 9/11 have nothing to do with shit. I’d like to hear your views on 9/11 because I need a good laugh. How about this, when I do another podcast we’ll have a debate on all these things? If you’re willing to expose yourself that way and debate your problems with me so everyone else can hear, that would be gratifying and definitely worth my time.
Dallas, the issue is, this album is not AJFA quality, and in 2008 the richest metal band in the world should be mixing their albums properly… they pulled that “raw” excuse with st. anger… it is starting to seem like they just don’t know how to record an album.
You said it yourself, Dallas. Guitars get mixed down, vocals get mixed up, the song has variance of volume depending on the part of the song. There is NONE of that, it comes out at “10″ and stays at that level whether the guitars are clean or distorted, the vocals are singing or yelling louder, whether the drums are laid back or faster and aggressive. I know YOU wouldn’t be happy with a GF mix like that…
I gotta agree with Jaime…I also doubt that the DM production would be up to Dallas’ standards for a GF album. Even “Reject The Sickness” had far better production than DM…
If you are really interested, Dallas, you can hear my band here: http://www.myspace.com/coldwarsurvivor
We also go for a “raw” production, but I think we pulled it off (rather, our engineer did) better than DM at a fraction of the cost. Especially our drum sound, which is full and “punchy” at the same time.
Corey Mitchell Says:
September 19th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Thanks for your keen insight, Dallas. I will, however, choose to stick with the new Testament and Metal Church albums as the ultimate 80’s thrash band comebacks.
Both albums are far, far superior to Metallica’s newest debacle in every category: songwriting, production quality, strong vocals, guitar tones, stellar drumming, lyrics, heaviness, and ability to actually matter in the ’00s.
AMEN to Testament… also Dallas… you don’t have to be in a band to know good production when you hear it, you just have to love and pay attention to music and its quality. And though I hate to admit it… Slipknot’s new album has better production than DM. You can hear the highs and the lows, the ups and the downs on AHIG. DM is a static, poorly produced album. There is little fluxuation in sound… which is boring.
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/05/16/loudness-war-music-over-compression-demonstrated-on-youtube/ don’t make generalization about what people know and understand. I’m not in a band nor am I an engineer, but I have two ears and I can hear.
just search “loudness war” and read… its saddening
As someone stated, we all have ears and can clearly hear when something sounds like shit. I don’t think you need to patronize us for having an opinion on what sounds right that differs from yours. Although, this sounds a lot like the same bullshit I heard from the Metallica sheep about St. Anger being “awesome” and a “return to their roots”–neither of which are remotely true.
For the record, …And Justice For All is my least favorite of Metallica’s early work. Ride the Lightning is, and always has been, far superior in both production and songwriting. AJFA was more advanced from a technical standpoint, but it was dry–too dry.
Kill ‘em All sounds “raw”. It also sounds good. Ride the Lightning sounds “raw”, good, and thicker than Kill ‘em All. If Metallica wanted a “raw” production they should have just gone retro, ditched the Pro Tools and recorded everything analog again; it would have sounded a lot better than the overcompressed crap that became Death Magnetic.
The main issue I have with the album is that it -could- have been really good. It has a lot of potential–there are many, many awesome riffs. It just feels rushed. I am hoping that on their next record they will have a little more patience with both the writing process and the production.
I expected to hate this album, I really did. The first listens of the first songs they release didn’t click for me. So I continued to talk trash and didn’t plan on buying or reviewing the album. I couldn’t help myself though. When I bought it and played it at home it sounded a lot better than the web singles. The production sounds a lot better but there are some spots that it sounds fuzzy. Overall I thought it was a good record. The only complaints I had was that I didn’t like how some of the songs dragged out after about 4 minutes and a lot of James’ lyrics are generic. I also didn’t like the way his vocals sounded, but you can hear a difference in James Voice on every record from the beginning. Some peoples voices change and get deeper. That and he sings cleaner and when he sounds like he’s trying to sing rough it almost doesn’t work. BUT I still think this is a good record. Not the best record of ‘08, but still a good, solid Metallica record. I made it a point to not read any of the reviews here and to keep it simple by summing the entire album up and not doing a track by track. The stand out song to me on this album is Broken, Beat & Scarred. Suicide redemption is a cool instrumental and The Day That Never Comes kind of grows on you and gets stuck in your head. I still don’t like My Apocalypse much and That Was The End Of Your Life usually get’s skipped. I probably looked like a fool by some of my readers after talking all sorts of shit in the past year, but I had to step up, pull my foot from my mouth and be truthful.
I’m just curious Dallas, is this how you are or is it just some sad little way to get people to pay attention to your blog? What I’m seeing here is a lot of confrontation with little to back it up. People like you always love to jump all over me because I don’t just hand out love and admiration to any band just because they are who they are. The difference is that I can back it up, I can tell you why I don’t like something and why I feel it fails on most levels. You seem to just want to scream and shout from your crib and use really idiotic terms like “hatorade”.
Based on what I can see from your little rant you just think you’re right and anybody else is an asshole. I see you trying to throw out political references to appear as though you have a point but, like all politicians, you don’t. You’re throwing around a lot of words to try and seem intelligent when truth be told you sound like some 15 year old kid screaming at people who don’t like his music in a lunch room somewhere,
As for your views on the Metallica record, well what can I say. Did you read my review? Did you take the time to analyze what I said before taking this swipe at me? No, probably not because I said that while this isn’t the band taking the chances they used to this isn’t a bad album. I realize your highly insightful “The new metallica is the shit” is way more involved then my track by track breakdown as well as overview of the album but hey I really did try.
Based on the comments to your blog and the overall opinion I’ve heard on the record you must be dying for the opening slot on an upcoming MEtallica tour to spew this much jizz over an obvsioulsy flawed album. I’m not saying you shouldn’t like it, hell a bunch of my close friends think Death Magnetic is way better than I do but they at least have something to say besides Hot Topic Lingo mixed with some kind of fanboy worship. If that’s who you are and that’s how you judge music that’s totally cool but don’t try and sit at the big boys table and discuss things, it shows many of the holes in your armor.
I’m not going to get into some back and forth with you about this, nor am I going to start insulting your band or taking cheap shots. I simply thought your little swipe was weird because it didn’t make any sense. Then again I don’t spend much time at the Mall so maybe I was just confused by the vernacular you used to insult me.
Thanks for your time
Iann
.324 to the fat bastard known as Iann Robinson.
Conversation between two New York filmgoers:
Dude 1: I can’t wait to check out “Righteous Kill” with my boys, Bobby DeNiro and Al Pacino.
Dude 2: I’ll pass, DeNiro hasn’t made a good flick since “Wag the Dog” and that was 11 years ago.
D1: “Whachoo talkin’ ’bout? “Meet the Fockers” was hilarious. So was “Analyze That.”
D2: DeNiro used to be the man, dude. Now, he’s just another Hollywood ho more concerned about putting cash in his pocketbook than making good films.
D1: Stop drinkin’ that Hatorade, you elitist bitch! It’s Robert Fuckin’ DeNiro!
D2: Yeah, the same guy you used to have some self-respect. You know, Johnny Boy, Vito Corleone, Travis Bickle, Jake LaMotta…
D1: Who the fuck are they?
D2: “Mean Streets,” “Godfather II,” Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull.” Heard of ‘em?
D1: Oh yeah, yeah. That old, sorry shit. Before they had those cool computer graphics like in “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle” or “Shark Tale.” He was fuckin’ ill in those two flicks, man.
D2: Dude, have ever seen “The Deer Hunter” or “Brazil” or “The King of Comedy” or “Goodfellas”?
D1: Nah, man, that shit’s too depressing. Plus, if I can’t see it on my PC why waste my time. Man, how the fuck can you say DeNiro sucks?
D2: Um, I never did.
D1: You don’t want to see “Righteous Kill” so, therefore, you think DeNiro sucks!
D2: Dude, what kind of fucked-up idiotic logic is that.
D1: You’re a hater, motherfucker! If you don’t think “City by the Sea” is da bomb than you are a hater! You gotta respect your elders, man. I mean, c’mon, DeNiro is a legend. I got into him through “Meet the Parents” and everything since then is fuckin’ rad!
D2: ***shakes head*** What’s the use?
D1: Elitist bastard!
So, whatd’ya think about Al Pacino?
D2: slinks away
D List Celebrity Deathmatch
Fat ass versus Fanboy
This week on Mtv
Iann, Iann, Iann… Here’s the deal. I didn’t read your review. I really don’t care what you think of the record. I’ve hardly read any of your blogs or reviews to tell you the truth. I just have an idea of what you think of “rock stars” and the ways their bands go once they have money, or fame, or — whatever it is they have that you don’t like. I wouldn’t say I took a swipe at you. I mentioned Barack Obama in the same blog as I mentioned you only to bring up the idea that people have a messiah complex when it comes to things they support or used to support. I support Barack Obama so am I confronting him because I mentioned him? You have a bad taste in your mouth about certain bands and/or rock n roll. You have a platform where your voice speaks loudly and influences other people. I have a different point of view. I need to be my own voice of reason…You may like to label it as a MALL POV but you and I both know it’s entirely dismissive of me and my opinion. That’s fine.
But remember, this blog is about Metallica, not you. You managed to make this blog about you. To each his own. You reviewed the record and I knew you wouldn’t trash it because you’re a smart guy. The articles of yours I have read are very interesting and well thought out. I admire your writing. I’m not a writer. I’ve never claimed to be so I’d refrain from comparing my blog to yours, it’s apples and oranges. Guess what: New Metallica is the SHIZZZNNNIIITTT…
As far as your confrontation statement; what confrontation? You are way too sensitive to be in the blogosphere if I mention you and you find it to be a personal attack. I saw my bros response to one of your blogs and you accused him of attacking you and it wasn’t an attack at all. He apologized and I wish he didn’t because he didn’t insult you or “confront’ you. I think you should pop some pills to take the edge off. This is entertainment and if you can’t handle that, shit, I don’t know what to tell you…
As far as my comments on the new Metallica, I’m a true fan. And your comments about me wanting a Metallica tour… What band doesn’t want a Metallica tour? I know you can list the bands that wouldn’t want a Metallica tour but I don’t want that career. I’ve already stated that God Forbid is the one band that will probably never get a Metallica tour because of all the shit I talked about Metallica in magazines in the past. Magazines, Iann. Do you really think Lars Ulrich is reading Dallas Coyle’s Blog? C’mon man, wake up… Do you think getting a tour is all about liking a record in a blog? I thought you knew more about the record business than that…
Again, your Hot Topic comment is so dismissive and disrespectful. It’s funny because I know exactly what you think of my band in the way you talk about my opinions. You don’t need to talk shit about GF when you use terms like Mall and Hot Topic. You’ve already given up yo shit! You think I spend time at the mall? You’ve got to be kidding… Maybe when I’m doing an in-store signing… Maybe. I go to bookstores, I have meetings, I work on films… when I’m not playing in a band. Which happens a lot. Full time to be exact. All across the world.
By the way, who sits at this big-boy table? You and who else? This is some shit I’d really like to hear. Get off of it man. I know who I am. If someone takes a swipe at me in a blog I’d be proud. At least, I’m making a mark. So I want to thank you… You have validated me in a way I never thought would be possible.
I’m a proud supporter of None Louder and I appreciate what you do over there. I have NO interest in having a back and forth with you on a message board. I’d much rather you takes swipes at me in your own blog and put it out there to the people and tell them what you think of my opinions. That’s what the big-boys table is. I’m sitting here already. Would you like to join?
Also, I have a request and/or suggestion… I think you and my bro are way smarter, more well spoken than I could ever be so how about this… Why don’t you guys do a debate blog every week like Hannity and Colmes… Robinson and Coyle or vice versa on None Louder? That’s something I’d love to see. Keep my ’small, unintelligent mind’ out of it. I’d feel better speaking to the LCD, considering you’ve labeled anyone who enjoys this blog just that…
Mudda Mercy…
Dallas, we love you, but seriously, shut the fuck up about politics, granted I agree that Obama is slightly less shit than McCain, but the fact that some people will vote for McCain makes no fucking difference, they’ve both been rubber stamped by the men behind the curtain, thats why they get the media attention that they do, and besides that, America is not a democracy, the electoral college doesn’t have to follow the popular vote, so there’s no fuckin point in voting anyway.
The new Metallica rots. Rots, Dallas. You’re a sympathetic cat and like us, you love Metallica. But our Metallica is gone. And everything Metallica did to shape our lives is respected. I love my favorite restaurant but if the cook became a yuppie and started making shitty food, I’d say something. And spend my money/time elsewhere. The fact that there’s so much shit-talking “left and right” speaks to the the poor judgement Metallica has shown in assaulting us with non-stop hype, hoopla, and hogwash. We all have acquaintances who run their mouths and expect us to believe a lot of crazy shit, but we laugh at them behind their backs. That’s Metallica right now: full of shit and trying to talk their way out of it. The real Metallica didn’t need talk. It’s over.
One day when my children are reading in their History of Metal text books about the great Dallas Coyle and Iann Robinson flame war, i can say i was there… and by there i mean on this blog site.
yeah but who the fuck is iann robinson?
My apologies to Dallas if indeed those comments were sarcastic or made in jest. METALLICA RULES.
FLAME WAR!!! *throws pie*
but seriously:
-The new Metallica would be good if it was put out by the Jonas Brothers (see 1 below for details)
-Speaking of the mall, I sometimes go there (see 2 below for details)
-My band (www.myspace.com/mismo) would glady take a Metallica tour (see 3 below)
-Name a better, all around metal album, put out in 2008 OR 2007, by a band in the vein of 80s Metallica (ie, no death metal this, no prog black metal that.) (see 4 below)
(1)You have to look/listen to it like that. If you have 3 teeny boppers smiling and glowing on the cover of the album, would you still like it? If they performed it as you’ve heard it, but instead of 4 old men, you have the three teeny boppers bopping away? Yes, I sincerely would still think the songs kick ass, and thus would be a Jonas Brothers fan. Luckily it’s a Metallica record though, so it makes me a Metallica fan.
(2)…my local Gamestop is there…so like, if i have to buy a video game…or usually a present for someone else…it’s usually the easiest place to hit, at least for ideas…just for ideas…im probably a poser
(3)…preferably replacing Machine Head though, because I like The Sword…and also $$$…because we better with that many peeps in the house (oh snaps sorry, mall talk there…and im gonna be 31 soon too!)…
(4)…i’ve heard Testament and Metal Church so far…i’ll give you Testament MAYBE…but if we’re going to talk about progress and extremes and whatever else, what does that entail? when is processing of a guitar signal into something that doesn’t resemble guitar become “not metal”…or what maintains it as metal?
This is another subject entirely, but my point is, metal, for what it is, will always be “trapped” and “comfortable”…technical guitars with agressive wild percussion, and over the top vox. But if you delete guitars, insert distorted synths, you have industrial. Take out the percussion, and you have ambient. Take a pencil and scribble over the wave files and you have Merzbow…so my question is, how do you “retain” metal, yet still be “extreme”…when metal is formulaic to begin with (as are all music “labels”)…
Gotta love how ,these days, you can dismiss anyone with a contrary opinion to your own, just by uttering the dreaded “hater” or even better “haterade”. What a stupid world.
Ezra,
I’m curious where you get your talking points from?
Or better yet, Ezra, ‘SHIZZNIT’! Ha.
@Nick: -Name a better, all around metal album, put out in 2008 OR 2007, by a band in the vein of 80s Metallica (ie, no death metal this, no prog black metal that.)
Softball…
Since you’ve narrowed the parameters, I’ll stick with 80’s thrash bands and/or ‘00 thrash bands inspired by that era:
Death Angel – Killing Season; Exodus – The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A, Overkill – Immortalis; Testament – The Formation of Damnation; Metal Church – This Present Wasteland; Megadeth – United Abominations; Grave – Dominion VIII; Toxic Holocaust – An Overdose of Death; Evile – Enter The Grave; Warbringer – War Without End; Municipal Waste – The Art of Partying; Hail of Bullets – Of Frost and War; Gamma Bomb – Citizen Brain; Bonded by Blood – Feed the Beast; Hatchet – Awaiting Evil; Merciless Death – Realm of Terror; Blood Tsunami – Thrash Metal; Dekapitator – The Storm Before the Calm; and Fueled by Fire – Spread the Fire
…to name but a few.
HACKEY SACKS!
ok, well i’ve listened to 7 of the 19 or so you’ve listed there…and i think only Testament comes close…everyone else are either posers or have ridiculous names that give me no desire to even bother with em…
a perfect example though of what i was speaking before of though is Killing Season by Death Angel…really?!…i thought Art of Dying was more classic (at least the first 5 or so songs, it wasn’t Ultra Violence or FTTP)…i downloaded then deleted Killing Season I was so let down by it…to me, on oomph like the early days…
but then again, that’s what people are saying about DM…so it boils down to personal taste at that point…and with that, my money for release of the year is Hocico’s Memorias Atras…which probably means i really do think “metalsucks” and i’ve always missed the irony of this site, but whatever, i also find Metal Inquisition hilarious for more reasons than i’d care to share…some things get so stale, it takes old men like Metallica for us to take notice, and to me, to get jaded old (former?) metal heads like myself excited with a song (or 9), that means to me said release HAS to be all the more special…it HAS to be…PLEASE GOD LET IT BE (j/k)…
anyways, to further clarify, yes, everything else i listen to is new material from bands i got into before 2001…bands post 2001 that i listen to are few and far between…if that makes any sense…it’s only because i find alot of newer bands boring and not really doing anything new…maybe there is nothing new to do…
Wait I forgot Alkonsot’s Stone Heart Blood….i guess that’s more “metal”…tied overall though with Hocico for best album i’ve heard this year though…
http://www.myspace.com/alkonostrussia
I’ll admit I’m still a little skeptical of the album, not because I think it sucks, but because it just sounds a little weird to hear Metallica trying to thrash again. But hey, give them credit where it’s due because this is some ridiculously good shit right here. They play just as fast as ever, if not a little bit faster sometimes, and the songs are technical and shred-tastic. So what if they’re old men, and so what if they’ve fucked up in the past? They are icons, and they’ve written some of the best metal songs ever, past, future, and present. If you hate them just because you’ve been hating on them ever since 91, wake the fuck up! Music changes and if you really were a TR00 metal fan, you would be happy that the band you like is mixing things up a little, and stop hating on them for taking a stand against stagnation and writing the same songs over and over again.
Dallas, I defy you to listen to the fan remixes of the GH3 version of the album and then the album itself and tell me theres something not amiss with the production.
Thanks,
Matt.
[...] God Forbid, ha escrito sobre Metallica en su columna llamada “The Hard R.” en el sitio Metal Sucks. Dallas habla sobre el nuevo disco de Metallica, comentando la relación del público con el disco [...]
I love the new Metallica, though the rhythm sound lacks the balls of a lot of earlier releases. Songs are great, though. I believe we can all make up are own minds as to who we want to vote for. Amazing how a person thinks that just because he/she records a record, films a movie etc.. think that they know all about politics (everything?) and that whoever disagrees is not as enlightened as them. I’m so thankful Hetfield is mature enough to know better. Funny what people do to get a little attention paid to them. Human nature, I guess.
First off, Dallas, yes, DM is the shizznitt. Coming from a fan standpoint, i love the album.
First off, i believe that since i am a PERFORMING musician (bassist), and have been recording for 3 years, and have taken up a hobby of producing/mixing for the past year and a half, i can say a thing or two on the production.
Yeah, its an unrefined and rough sounding mix. But that’s the fucking point. When you have great songs, you have great songs. There is no production in the WORLD that can take that away, yeah it might make it sound like ass, but still the songs are there. DM’s tunes are fucking amazing. the only little beef i have with the production, is that they have such an amazing bassist, and through alot of the album Rob Trujillo is snowed under in the mix. Your reference to L.O.G’s As the palaces burn is totally right. And to Mr. Robinson’s reply, how the FUCK can you sit there and accuse Dallas Coyle, who is twenty times more talented (and apparently more informed) than you are, of “Fanboy Bullshit”, you hypocrite fuck?!?? Last that I recall, when you used to be on Headbangers Ball back in the day, i remember you plugging Fireball Ministry relentlessly, and dissing many other great bands just because they didn’t measure up to your Fireball Ministry standards. (Bury Your Dead, Demon Hunter, God Forbid, Hate Eternal, Soulfly, Six Feet Under, Strapping Young Lad, Fear Factory, i could go on, he pretty much had something shitty to say about ALL the good videos on that show, before they lost all the live personell and started letting deathcore bands use their mouths for dick-warmers) But now you seem to have forgotten, so I regress. His statement to the affect of most of the DM reviews being like “An Iann Robinson night at the movies” is fucking right. I wasn’t really a fan of “Load”, “Re-Load”, and especially “St. Anger”. “Some Kind of Monster” upset me, cause if your are in a band, and you seriously CANNOT write, or record, or even be in the same damn room with each other without almost killing each other, something is REALLY fucking wrong, and bands should not allow themselves to be .like that. But it had to happen. They had to get that shit out of their systems. It seems to me that all these colon-caulking, fuckwit reviews are using that documentary as the main reference point by which to measure DM. Yes, Dallas, your right. Blabbermouth are the ONLY ones who didn’t drop the fucking ball. And it seems to me that you & I are the only literate people on here who fucking realize it. Some of these fucks who are bashing it, that are in bands, I fucking DEFY you to write a better intro (yes, just an intro. not a song) than “The Day that Never Comes.” I dare you. But once again, I regress.
And at the risk of having “- OHHHZ yOu FaNBoy LOZZERRR!! LOL LOL!!!! DAR-HICK!!!!” comments hurled at me, i have been a huge fan of God Forbid, since i was 10 or 11, way back in the “Determination” days when they were underground. They have not made one bad album, and seem to be getting progressively better with each record. And Dallas, I saw the live video of one of your new songs. It fucking pwns (hAhHAHAH i’se dONe uszed mALLcoRE lingO, DaR-HIck!!!) half the shit i’ve heard this year.And btw, keep playing in the drop A tuning, you guys fucking OWN in that tuning. It fits that song like a glove.
Me being a fan did not cloud my judgement of Dallas’s review one iota, you i.q-flatlining crotch-petters. He’s right. And him being a huge Metallica fan didn’t cloud his either. And you really are reading WAY too much into the Obama references. As a fellow Obama supporter, i can say that politics do not come into play in this situation. And as far as Metallica goes, theres a reason why James, Kirk, Rob & Lars are kicking so much ass again. Because they’re Metallica, and they pwn you by default (and me too, i’m sure) just by waking up in the morning. Crack a book, and get some of that “knowledge” stuff. I hear it’s pretty damn neat.
-Dave the bassist
Dallas,
I’m not sure what you mean, do you mean that you might have mentioned something similar in a previous post? Perhaps. You aren’t the first, and you won’t be the last. Either way, I’ve always hated (ha!) the usage of the term “Hater”, it’s somewhat akin to yelling “Witch!” in Salem, Mass a few hundred years ago. Either way, I generally enjoy your column, but I think they should have named DM “Load, number 2″ It’s terrible, the mix is terrible, they sound like Metallica “Trying to sound like Metallica” I could spend hours giving specifics, but let’s agree to disagree on this one, ok.
Totally agree!! keep up the good work!
im from brazil and honestly i never ever hear a music from your band but i will definitly try to find it somewhere :O!
I still feel hate for Metallica because of the corny sell-out Black album. Once I hate a band I can never buy records or support that band again.
All you guys bashing metallica are fucked! How can you hate the new album? It has everything that you bitched about St.Anger for lacking!!! Thrashy riffs, no more shitty ass snare drum soun, FUCKING GUITAR SOLOS!!!!!! Fuck they could of put out another Master of Puppets or Kill em All and you probably still bitch about it
WIZE THE FUCK UP THE NEW ALBUM KICKS ASS PRE BLACK ALBUM METALLICA KICKS ASS FUCK YOU TO ALL METALLICA HATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you people all stoned? The majority of complaints are concerning the quality of the recording not the songs themselves. The songs kick fucking ass. The recording quality is what sucks ass.
Get your heads out of your asses, put down your alcoholic beverages, put out the joints and pay attention to what you are reading.
I believe you are suffering from tunnel vision. If you don’t know what that means, let me explain. You only see what you want to see. Look at the big picture folks.
Let me say it again so you might understand. THE MUSIC KICKS ASS!! THE RECORDING QUALITY SUCKS ASS!! GOT IT!!
[...] read Dallas Coyle’s recent blog on this very subject, and while I share his level of adoration for this band, I’m going to have to refute one main [...]
hey dallas!…all good points! i even understood your political comparisons and im in oz!…anyway, for the record,i love dm..i bought retail version first,and was absolutely blown away!…the album id waited for since 89!..got into the band just before puppets came out..i was 12 years old and couldnt afford to buy their albums(vinyl).so i managed to get hold of a fourth or so generation CASSETTE,of kill,ride and creeping death e.p…so you could imagine the quality in hindsight wasnt at all good!..but at the time,i was mesmerised by this powerful,new music..the production never came to mind!(production?…what is a record supposed to sound like?..half the albums you bought in the 80s@ early90s were generally not even up to modern demo standards,but they had a unique identity!…(sepultura’s morbid visions is a great example,..as is early sodom,kreator,dark angel etc.)…and i still enjoy those albums today!…my point is,..that until i heard of the gh version@ read the blogs regarding the ‘unlistenable dm’,..i was totally happy with what i heard!..that was the sound of the album and that was that!..no crying and askin for a refund etc,..i was just happy that metallica had written a strong,aggressive,catchy,melodic album!…and just so you ppl know,i didnt jump off during the black,load,reload@st.anger era!,..the load albums were a shitload easier to take than most of the shit bein produced at the time,…and for mine,st anger was almost like a modern kill em all!..i know the songs werent as great by a long shot,but it sounded like a band learning how to be a band again…raw and primal@you could feel thier pain and confusion!….one last thing,…i played guitar in a fast,but melodic thrash band in 89,90,91…i mean pretty fast!..230bpm for eg! i now write and record my own tunes at home!…not long ago, i thought id try to write a real start to stop hyper-thrash song like the old days.you think i could?…no! cos it aint where my heads at these days! i still play heavy,intense metal but humans change!..thier tastes and mindsets change! if you dont,you stagnate and the world passes you by!…hense load,reload etc!…fuck,for my first ever blog,its a long one! lol….dallas,i like your band and appreciate your playing,..also the mature way you handle criticism of your opinions!..next time youre in perth, australia,ill introduce myself!…good luck and may gf prosper! cheers!…\m/
As hilarious and indecipherable as Dallas´ political commentary is, no one has yet bothered to point out to him that some members of Metallica probably voted Republican. First of they’re middle aged white men; I beleive the only demographic McCain won.
True, they do live in the extremely Democratic state of California and probably they all live in a city (red turns to blue as population densifies), but, secondly they are rich and uneducated (I assume, as I can´t be bothered to research the point), again an indicator of right wing voting.
And third they seem none too bright (Case in point 1. The lyrics on DM, 2. Lars has had over 25 years to learn how to play the drums, but no avail, 3. The awful play on words in some of the DM song titles, 4. everything they´ve done since ´91, the half asssed DM included.), which is a quality that lends itself to right wing politics.