Metallica: The Unforgiven (1991) - #Song #Review

An amazing song!

Yay! I finally get to review my favorite song of all time... Ok, so before I go in to why this song is brilliant, I should probably say this... 

Ok, so this wasn't my first heavy metal song that I had listened to... I enjoyed the music, sure.... But I wasn't really entirely feeling it... And then I was... And then I heard this song one day about 20 years ago... And this song became, (and still is my favorite song of all time!) 

Not only is this song amazing, but the music video is epic!

That song is Metallica's, 'The Unforgiven' from their  1991 self titled album, also known as, 'The Black Album'... By the way, I have to say that this entire album kicks fucking ass! 

Anyway, this song, which was created through Elektra, is a brilliant fucking song that was developed as a method for the band to try something new... And you know what? It fucking rules! 

A lot of what modern metal is, is speeding through the song, or heavy bass/drums, etc... That type of music is truly fun, but this is the type of music that I love, what with heavy, distorted verses, and a softer melodic chorus! In my opinion it gives it that toned yet under current of darker torrential music, that all the metal heads I knew then, and probably now, still love!

James Hetfield just killing it with, 'The Unforgiven' live! 

So if you get a chance to listen to it, check it out! You will be glad you did!

Lyrics from Metallica's, 'The Unforgiven'! 

New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pain disgrace
The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man struggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

They dedicate their lives
To running all of his
He tries to please them all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I labeled you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

You labeled me
I labeled you
So I dub thee unforgiven

Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven

Song Of The Month: Metallica's 'Whiskey In The Jar'!

Jason Newsted maybe gone, but this song is a classic from his time with the band! 

Another first! My first, 'Song Of The Month' for my new blog... Dare I say it... YAY! 

Now more seriously, the song that I wanted to recommend is Metallica's, 'Whiskey In The Jar' from their 1998 album, 'Garage Inc.'

There are a lot of amazing songs on that album that are different from Metallica's norm that I do really like, but I decided to pick this song, because this song is probably in my opinion both representative of the amazing work that they have always brought to the table, and the brilliant and fun work that they brought to that album... but still plays well almost 20 years later, and happens to be one of those songs that rather you have been  following them for over 20 year (like I have,) or are just checking their music out for the first time, is a song you are going to love! 

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Metallica: Fade To Black (1984) - Song Review

The team that brought: 'Fade To Black' to life!

Growing up I have had a ton of musical interests, having grown up listening to almost everything... Including, 'Classical', 'Rock', 'Rap' & even, 'Country', but one of my favorite genre's that I have personally come to enjoy the most is probably, 'Heavy Metal'!

Besides the darker overtones (something that I have found the I have come to really enjoy in the books I read, and the movies I watch as well,) It also has an excitement to it, that I have to say that I really just have not felt with in the tempo of the music quite like I have with heavy metal!

Now you might be wondering why I mention this... Well the truth is, is, 'Metallica', helped get me interested in Heavy Metal, and the song, 'Fade to Black' from their album, 'Ride The Lightening' (1984) helped keep me in it!

From left: Cliff Burton, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich & Kirk Hammett during their, 'Ride The Lightening' run!

What makes this song so great you ask? Well the truth is, is this song can be rather depressing if you let it... But it also has a sort of fiendish glee to it... What I mean... Is this song is sort of like watching a surrealist horror movie... Where everything is not quite right, and the world that you are watching it in is scary and stormy, but it is a total blast to watch, (or in this case of this album... Listen to!)

And with this being one of the albums that Cliff Burton (He is probably one of their most celebrated bassists,) worked on before he died, it makes this song one of the better ones to try out if you are planning on trying out there music!

And for the true fans, enjoy, lyrics to: Fade To Black, by: Metallica!

Life, it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters, no one else

I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free

Things not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this can't be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel

Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now he's gone

No one but me can save myself, but it's too late
Now I can't think, think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death greets me warm, now I will just say goodbye
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Four Heavy Metal Bands That Made An Impression In The 1990s

Rage Against The Machine... A classic heavy metal band that through there music helped influence fans of the 90s!

When I was younger I came to realize something that I found to be rather interesting, that being the fact that it seemed like every decade women's fashions seemed to change, and what was popular in fashion at that time, (something that everyone woman was fighting to get for themselves,) would go in the next decade to being in the pile that went in the garbage or even going so far as to become the most embarrassing piece of filth that the mere thought of looking at it in the next decade was something intolerable...

Well growing up in a house that was primarily women, I was curious about why this was, so I asked my sister about this, and she could never really give me a solid answer, and well as time went on, I have begun to notice that this seems to be a trend with a lot of things...

A great example of this being music! In the 80s an extremely popular style of music was stuff like: 'Synthpop', in the 90s it was, 'Heavy Metal', in the first decade of the new millennium it seemed to be, 'Rap/Hip Hop'... And with the 90s becoming more and more of a distant memory, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the Heavy Metal Bands that really made an impression on the 1990s!

And so at number 4: Rage Against The Machine.

Rage Against The Machine was definitely a band that left a lasting impression in the 90s!

Rage Against The Machine... Man if you grew up when they were still together, then you were lucky! What I mean by this, is that there type of music was not just intense, and fun, but the music that they played... Well you could say that this band essentially helped to define music in the 90s... And for some people when they talk about music in the 90s still mention, 'Rage' when talking about it!

At number 3: Metallica.

Metallica during their 1996 Cunning Stunts tour!

Now Metallica... Metallica started out in the 80s, but the truth is, is things really started to change in the 90s for this group, and being a fan, and having talked to to other fans (not those that are only in it for Metallica's music. type of fans,) a lot of them have mentioned Metallica as being at their height in the 90s!

At number 2: Nirvana.

Nirvana practically invented the, 'Grunge scene' back in the early 90s!

Nirvana... Sadly, with the death of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana disbanded, but let's be honest here guys, when you think of the 90s and when, 'grunge' was still popular, Nirvana has to be the group that comes to mind!

At number 1: White Zombie.

White Zombie... A classic Heavy Metal Band of the 90s!

Before Rob Zombie went solo, and before he started his film career he was part of a truly awesome horrific metal band, 'White Zombie', and for the type of music that they played... Well they definitely left a lasting impression in the 90s that has carried on through Rob Zombie's work in his solo career!

Elvis Presley... The King Of Rock N Roll Now And Forever

Elvis Presley... Now unto forever!

That's right folks, decades after the man passed away, Elvis Presley can be said to be one of the greatest musicians of all time, what with still producing albums long after his death, as well getting awards for the work that he did long after he past on!

Why is this guy so great? Well besides  the fact that his music will always be truly amazing music, that has not just adequately done well through out the decades, his music has found new audiences generation after generation, (including myself)... But the truth is, is that the reason why this guy is still considered to be one of the most famous musicians of all time, at least for me is the era in which he represents!

Now I can go in to the whole (It was a simpler time) routine... The truth is, is that Elvis Presley's era was the last gasp of a world that majorly intolerant, was a time in which there was a lot of strife in the country and the rest of the world (it was threatening to tear the world apart...)

The 1960s saw the need for great change, with the tensions in the social fabric of the United States beginning to unravel.

No, what I mean here is that Elvis Presley and his music, represented an era that had stuff like, 'The Rat Pack', 'The Mob' (I mention this, but the truth is, is I don't advocate the mob...) An era that in which our country was tearing itself apart between the traditional conformists, and the more out there, 'rebels'...

And speaking of that, another thing that Elvis and his music represent (in this case, 'the music') was almost representative of that sort of thing!

What I mean by this is the fact that when Elvis was just starting out as a musician, most of the time people were still in to Jazz, (and at this time, even, 'Jazz' had it's under ground quality.) But besides all of that, Rock 'N Roll really was in it's infancy, with Jazz and, 'Big  Band Music' as well as older types of music still being the mainstay for, 'pop music' back then!

Elvis doing his signature dance moves... These moves back when they first came out were considered (scandalous for their supposed racey intentions...)

As a matter of fact, I would say that Elvis and his music destroyed what could be the traditional, 'values' of music back the, and helped  to reconstruct them in such a way that has made it acceptable for bands like, 'AC/DC, Megadeth, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne' and the like to come to life!

And so I say folks, that with the continued popularity of Elvis Presley and his music, that Elvis from now unto forever, should and currently still is know as, 'The King Of Rock', and hopefully he always will be!

Metallica: Seek And Destroy (1983) - Song Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

You know I will be honest with you guys and say that, 'Metallica' is my favorite band... I mean the way the music is arranged... James Hettfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett (and later Robert Trujillo), are just freaking geniuses... The story in their music more often then not is fun... And well I will be honest and say that they work so well together that I have hardly seen it in any other band!

And one of their first albums, 'Metal Up Your Ass'... Later known as, 'Kill 'em All', is pretty spectacular album! I hate to say it, but this album is not in my opinion their best... But for me it definitely rates amongst the top... And I have to admit that the song, 'Seek And Destroy'... Although not my favorite on this album, is only seconded by the fact that I think, 'Metal Militia' may not be far off...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The cover for the album that has, 'Seek And Destroy On It'![/caption]

Regardless though, this song is fun... Written during the height of the, 'Cold War' era... I think there are probably some strong overtones about the cold war... (I found that in the 80s there was definitely more then a few songs that were inspired by the, 'Cold War'...)

Never the less, the other reason I like this song is the instrumentals... The beats in this song are an awful lot of fun...

Well the truth is, is this is not one of Metallica's better songs, it still is pretty good, and if you get a chance to give it a try, you might find that you like it!

http://youtu.be/6mdBw3SG5io

Metallica's Concert With The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra... Absolute Genius

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="610"] The Metallica that made, 'S&M' so great![/caption]

Let me preface what I am about to say with the fact that I am a huge fan of Metallica... As a matter of fact, I would say that Metallica is probably one of my favorite bands of all time!

One of the reasons being of course is the fact that these people are absolutely genius when it comes to the concerts that they have created... (I hate to admit that I haven't seen any of them in person, but I have seen more then a few of them on DVD.)

Regardless though, a great example of their genius is, 'Cunning Stunts'... This concert was freaking awesome, and that in my opinion really cemented themselves in the 1990s (By the way, 'Cunning Stunts' is a play on, 'Stunning Cunts'...)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] James Hettfield on stage at the, 'Cunning Stunts' concert![/caption]

But another great concert that they did was a concert that they did in San Francisco around the turn of the new millennium... This was, 'S&M'...

This concert was truly an original concept in that they did some truly awesome classics, including: 'The Call Of Ktulu', & 'Master Of Puppets', but they gave it a very interesting twist in that they did these awesome songs with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra! And the truth is, is this heavy metal music maybe some of the best that I have ever heard! Doing this music gave them a very gothic bent that was just truly a lot of fun!

Unfortunately or Fortunately... (Depending on how you feel about it), but I have not heard anything like that since then from anyone else, (including them).

The truth is, is this album is one of the most original albums that I have ever heard, and I found it to be pretty amazing, and if you get a chance to give it a try, then you might find the same thing as well!

http://youtu.be/WDaybu1_t8w

Metallica: Call Of Ktulu (1984) - Song Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

And you know what? 'Call Of Kthulu' really is no difference... I am talking about the, 'Ride The Lightening' (1984) version as opposed to the, S&M version!

This song was the first song that introduced me to their amazing talent for instrumental versions of their songs... And you know what? They are pretty kick ass... And this one is no different!

Each song I truly feel rather they are instrumental solos or spoken word songs do tend to convey some sort of message or story in their songs... (some times these stories are more interpretive than others,) and I hate to say it, but, 'Call Of Ktulu' is one of those types of songs!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Metallica rocking out, 'Simpsons' style![/caption]

Now I am not going to say what this song means to me, because I don't want to spoil this song for you, but I will say that these instrumental solo are very awesomely well put together, and conveys a very powerful and awesome message to it!

For the negative side... The truth is, is in my opinion in that rare moment when entertainment of any variety is better in it's remade form (rather that be in movies, music, or I suppose even books,) to me that looses some of the quality of what made the initial thing so great... And the truth is, is that the S&M version of this song is better...

I suspect that the reason by this is the fact that besides the fact that in S&M you still had the truly awesome talents of the group, but Metallica also had the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra backing them up!

In the end though, this song should not entirely be dismissed, it is a good song, and was well made, and if you get a chance to listen to it, then you might find that you like it as well!

http://youtu.be/FP5p_RbXL00

Metallica - Master Of Puppets: Master Of Puppets (1986) Song Review

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="307"] Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Believe it or not, when I was a kid, even though I was a fan of Horror & Science Fiction Movies (and I suppose that you could say, the darker side of entertainment, but believe it or not until I was around 14 or 15 I was really in to the more easy listening style of music... I know kind of odd right?

Well that was until one day when I was visiting a friend when I was about 14 or 15 and my friend happened to be playing the Load album by, 'Metallica', (Listen I know most fans tend to consider that Metallica sold out at that point but the truth is, is that Load and Reload were good albums, but misunderstood just because of how different they were from the rest of their music,)

Regardless, after listening to a few of the songs from, Load, I really enjoyed heavy metal music, and especially Metallica... there is something about their Music which has been known to have post-apocalyptic (but so in what I believe to be a tasteful non over the top sort of way), but besides that, they have taken heavy metal music in directions that a lot of other musicians never really did to much of... Including creating an album with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, as well as doing some really bad ass country'esque style music on one of their albums as well!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Lead singer, 'James Hetfield' as he is playing with the San Francisco symphony orchestra at the concert hat they did together![/caption]

With all that in mind, one of the first albums that I purchased of theirs, that I have still to date found to be one of their better albums was the album, Master Of Puppets (1986), which I would say has one of their most popular songs in their catalog... the title name of the album... Master Of Puppets!

What made this song so great in my opinion? Well a few things, first off this song gave off the tone and attitude of what I would consider to be a greath thrash metal album (which I always kind of attributed to some of their earliest works... And which it seems like they have tried to re-capture with some of their later albums,) Their first album was a great example of this, but besides that, this album tonally I believe gave the listener a hint of the more dusty, (almost country-esque) style of heavy metal that would keep them going through out the 1990s... Although I will admit that this song is more thrash metal then the more easy, but still bad ass almost (country-esque) style of music...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Cliff Burton with the rest of the Metallica crew back in the 80s.... It has been said that Cliff always thought that the song, 'Master Of Puppets' was the best song on that album![/caption]

Another thing that I wanted to say, is that for this album, that this would be the last album that bassist Cliff Burton would do with the band, which was quite unfortunate because he would end up passing away after this album was released (for those of you who are new to Metallica, Cliff Burton was the bassist for Metallica from it's first album all the way up till he passed away in 1986... And he is also the bassist that most Metallica fans (myself included) consider to be the best that Metallica ever had!) Which makes not only this song but the album in the whole a little anti-climatic...

This award winning song is so good and was so popular by fans (myself included), that it was re-produced for Metallica's album, S&M, as well as having been sang at other live performances many times, as well as having been re-produced by other musicians such as, 'Limp Bizkit', 'Anthrax' and even, 'Ugly Kid Joe' who ended up using it as one of the songs for the Metallica tribute album!

In the end, this is an awesome song, and if you are a metal fan, then give it a try, you might find that you really like it!

Please enjoy this live segment from Metallica's, 'Cunning Stunts' concert that Metallica released in 1998!

http://youtu.be/K_WPYZQ5N98

An Interesting Look At The History Of Metallica's Bassists!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] From left: Kirk Hammett (Guitarist), James Hetfield (Lead Singer), Lars Ulrich (Drums), Cliff Burton (Bassist).[/caption]

Just about everyone knows about Robert Trujillo and his role as Metallica's bassist... The truth is, is he is not bad... But he is just not a Cliff Burton or Jason Newsted.... But then again who really is?

Since Metallica came in to existence one of the weird facts about Metallica is the fact that they have not had a permanent bassist!

The first bassist that they had was bassist Ron McGovney... He came on when the group first formed back in the early 1980s, but due to clashing with Lars Ulrich (Drummer), and Dave Mustaine (guitarist)... After that though Metallica really started to come in to it's own!

You see after Ron McGovney left Metallica, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich found Bassist, Cliff Burton! Now for those of you who don't know who Cliff Burton is, (Well you should... Joking! ;p)

With that in mind Cliff Burton became one of the best bassists that Metallica ever had (most people who are long term fans of, Metallica (myself included), consider him to be one of the best bassists that Metallica ever had!)  The reason that I think he maybe one of the best bassists that they ever had, is not just the fact that he plays (or unfortunately played), one kick ass bass guitar... But you can tell in the old concert footage of Metallica's, that Cliff Burton and the Metallica team really jelled amazingly well!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Cliff Burton was one of the most kick ass bassists that Metallica ever had![/caption]

Unfortunately though, the truth is, is that back in 1986 Cliff Burton would pass away in an accident when the band was touring in Sweden...

In my opinion... (and for you Cliff Burton fans, don't worry I am still with you on the fact that he is one of the better Metallica bassists,) but after Cliff Burton passed away Jason Newsted took over the bassist position!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Jason Newsted tearing it up on his bass![/caption]

And the truth is, is that Metallica grew up with Newsted as the bassist (considering the fact that unfortunately Cliff Burton ended up passing away with in the first 5 years of Metallica's life), and so I can't really say that Jason Newsted was particularly a bad bassist... He just was no Cliff Burton!

The truth is though, and this maybe the biggest failure... (but in some way the biggest plus point for me) is the fact that not long after ...And Justice For All (1988) Metallica's sound started to change (don't get me wrong their older work is some of my favorite albums, but a lot of the stuff that changed after, ...And Justice For All came out that I did find that I really enjoy!)

I can't really explain it except to say that the work during this time (which i would say is mostly work that they did together in the early 1990s was some of the best work that Jason Newsted did with the band! Especially when they did the, Black Album (I know that, 'The Unforgiven' is probably one of the most plagiarized names that Metallica has ever used... Considering the fact that this song already has 2 sequels attached to it!)

The truth is, is that the, Black Album was a truly amazing album... And admittedly some might say that, 'The Black Album' was the last truly great album that Metallica ever did (certainly the best album that Jason Newsted did with Metallica), but the truth is, is that it wasn't!

A lot of fans claim that with the release of, 'Load' and 'Reload' that the band had sold out, and that the rest of their albums since then have been crap! That's a fat load of crap... (pardon my harsh language...)

[caption id="attachment_706" align="aligncenter" width="444"] After the release of, 'Load' and, 'Reload' fans began to consider that Metallica had, 'Sold Out'![/caption]

But they did not sell out... The truth is, is the music that they produced with, 'Load' and 'Reload' was different... But different doesn't always mean bad! The music from this album definitely did not for the most part match their early work, but they still did a great job... (and in my opinion, in some extent I would say that Jason Newsted did some of his best work on these 2 albums)!

The truth is though, is that after that the work that Jason Newsted did was just not as good... And in January 2001 Jason Newsted ended up leaving the group due to frustrations with the group...

in 2003 Robert Trujillo came on to replace Metallica as the current bassist for Metallica... The only thing I can say is that his work with Metallica is alright... I mean he did a good job with, St, Anger (2003), but I feel like comparing Robert Trujillo with those that came before him is a little unfair... I mean St. Anger was good, but, Death Magnetic (2008) just was not what it should be!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Robert Trujillo - The current bassist for, 'Metallica'![/caption]

In the end, fortunately Metallica is still around, and we will see what sort of goodies are to come!

Please enjoy this compilation of some pretty awesome solo guitar riffs from Cliff Burton:

http://youtu.be/6O9zMnwD65Q

Please enjoy this segment from Metallica's, 'Cunning Stunts' album featuring: Jason Newsted:

http://youtu.be/K_WPYZQ5N98

Check out this music video that Metallica did for: St. Anger (2003) featuring: Robert Trujillo!

http://youtu.be/3rFoGVkZ29w