Metallica- Load- About Half Filler.

     After having released the black album, an album that was decent but showing signs of a Metallica that is transforming from melodic and emotive thrash into bonafide radio rock/metal. This album would see them experiment in blues rock, and don't get me wrong when it's good it's really good but when it's bad its really bad. Songs like Bleeding Me have a definite appeal that speaks to a broken spirit, but songs like Cure just drag on and you find yourself just waiting for it to end.

     The first half of this album is no slouch, it starts with paced hard rockers Ain't My Bitch and 2 x 4, which are both good tracks in their own right. Although they aren't the best Metallica has ever done they're actually pretty decent tracks. The riffing is slowed to a more hard rock pace, at times almost bordering on grungy with songs like The House That Jack built.
The appeal of this album is really how Metallica shows their more emotional side on tracks such as Until It Sleeps which has sort of a surfer rock sound to it at times. It speaks to the pain which can haunt a person, and though some could say it shows weakness I find it to be a mature take on a haunting pain that gnaws at the soul.

     Hero of the day continues the emotional exploration and is actually one of my favorite Metallica songs. It has real feeling to it which showcases this albums strongly. The track that follows, Bleeding Me is another example of this however taking a more bluesy approach and this is a track that succeeds well, however sometimes I feel it lasts just a little too long. However with every track that succeeds in this experiment there is a track that just doesn't cut it. Songs like Cure and Poor Twisted me just seem a little bit forced and filler in nature. The song Outlaw Torn while lasting a little too long is another successful track on here.

In conclusion this album is about half successful and half filler. It shows Metallica's sound kind of declining into something that is just there. Not terrible but not measuring up to the band's past releases. I actually really like some of the songs on here, but as a complete album this experiment falls quite short of the mark set by past albums.

55/100

The Metallica Saga- Master of Puppets

     The band Metallica had 2 releases previous to this both of them huge albums within the genre of thrash metal. While Kill 'Em All was a pure out thrasher, Ride The Lightning showcased in injected with a little more melody and in a more focused way. Now it is time to review the third album and one that many hail as the greatest metal album of all time. Master of Puppets
    
     From the very onset of this album you know you're in for a ride. The breakneck speed of Battery thrashes you do death for a full 5 minutes straight. Then comes the furious Master of Puppets. This song is really a huge highlight of the album. It shows how Metallica was meshing melody with thrash in a very well executed way. From the famous main riff of the song to the excellent soloing in the middle section this song is one mammoth beast of a song.
      
     In order to avoid a track by track review let me just say that this album is huge. It keeps Metallica's trademark thrash sound injects more melody and tempo changes to craft one of the best albums of all time. This album is an album that is nearly. Its songs cover themes of social injustice, Insanity, and even some Lovecraftian mythology. The riffs on this album are still very creative, and quite thrashy. The soloing is top notch on this album as well. The whole album flows exactly the way an album should with the perfect mix of melody and chaos. This is an excellently crafted album.

     The one track that still has to be mentioned is Orion. This isnstrumental showcases really what Metallica is capable of as far as instrumental talent and songwriting skills. The moods of this song change from upbeat to somber and melodic. The solos and bass track in this song is momentous.
To conclude this album is one monster of an album and if you haven't heard it then fucking hell what are you waiting for?

99/100