Metallica are that band that almost everybody knows. They formed in '81 and in a way have become the face of metal in America. I'm kind of annoyed about this for a number of reasons, for a band that started American Metal off so well, they've just fallen on their faces and people just keep expecting them to put out oldschool thrash. Well, what happened? What has happened to the "timeless" monsters of metal?

Frantic
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This song opens up and sounds absolutley nothing like Metallica. If you played this to somebody who grew up in the 80's they wouldn't have a clue what band it was. The opens with one riff that is played abuot 100 times in this song (I'm serious that's not exagerating). Lars comes in with his new snare sound that just alienated all Metallica fans. They've clearly just looked at what is making it in the mainstream metal business and said, "let's do that". It's a shame really.. I must say it's nice to see many fans still supporting them and kind of turning a blind eye to this album. It may have the odd good bit, but it ain't Metallica. James's voice has lost the edge it used to have thanks to his "helpful singing lessons". His voice was perfect! Now he's gone and ruined it. Anyway. First time I listened to this I was listening out for some of Kirk's solos but it just didn't come! No solo? Really? James also sounds like a chicken at the last chorus his voice goes so high...

St. Anger
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Another drop tuned riff that get's repeated about 10,000 times in the song. Lars comes in with those annoying pounding drums. I kind of feel sorry for Robb (their new bassist) He's a really good bassist and suits the old Metallica style and unfortunately often gets blamed for the changing style of music. People don't realise, it was actually Bob Rock that wrote and recorded the bass for this album. James includes a ton of swearing in this song which is just not needed really. Ok the music I listen to has it's fair share of swearing, but Metallica have always sort of stayed away from that which is kind of admirable. Anyway this song is pretty generic. No solos either. I guess some parts are OK and listenable but you just have to forget that it's Metallica you're listening to.

Some Kind of Monster
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This song opens with another riff that you know will just be repeated over and over. It's probably the best riff on the album mind you and I would say this song is one of the best. Now I guess I have given this album quite a lot of flak, but I guess I could take those comments back if I was only listening to this in the background and forgetting that it wasn't the Metallica that I grew up with. I was pretty annoyed to see that Metallica seem to have gained the lower string disease where they make riffs using almost only the bottom string (which is drop tuned to B I think?) As for the lyrics, they're pretty awful and just make no sense at all. They talk about being the god that is not pure, then suddenly starts saying "Are we the people?", then jumps to "some kind of monsterrrrr!". It makes no sense?

Dirty Window
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The intro of this album sounds like some kid is bashing on a tin can. The riff also sounds really like Some Kind of Monster. This is probably the thrashiest song on the whole album, and would have potential if that snare was turned down.

I'm trying to listen to it to write this review and honestly all I can hear is the snare. I can't even make out they lyrics?!

After that painfull first set of verses and awful lyrics they break down to a generic acoustic style verse with more awful lyrics that were chosen for no reason but to rhyme. After this features some of the worst vocals on the entire album. They just don't seem to know how to harmonies vocals at all, and there's a random laugh in the middle of it that makes no sense.... This has got to be one of the worst songs on the album and that's saying something.

Invisible Kid
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More extremely bad editing here... everything has been so processed it sounds sounds like a mess of Bass and that annoying snare. You have no idea how difficult it is to actually make out what's happening with that snare ringing through the entire thing. I wonder if lars listened to Chris Adler or something and liked his snappy snare so decided to copy it (badly). This snare could work if they just turned it down! Please! The lyrics are awful in this song again, riffs are used over and over and consist of pretty much nothing but the bottom string. Actually it just occured to me this sounds kind of like a Slipknot song? But worse.

My World
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Another intro pretty much identical to the rest on the album. One or two of these would be ok but... you get the picture. We're STILL missing guitar solo's from this album and sorry to break it, but that's not going to change. I can't quite work out what this song is about (once again) But it seems to be able people getting into his head? Dancing devils and angels way? What does that mean?! More pointless swearing trying to sound "big" and "badass" rather than just a good thrash band (like they used to be). The end of the song ends with more catchy phrases that makes no sense with the rest of the song or album. I don't get how "it feels like it only rains on me" fits in with the theme of people being in his head. And with random a "sucker!!" in the middle of it... it's just comical. The last words of this song sums up the album. "enough is enough (x100)"

Shoot me Again
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Hmm.. this is what I'm thinking right now having to listen to this. Anyway the introduction of this song is just like the other ones. Drop tuned riffs with annoying drums pounding in the background. How did Kirk agree to this anyway? He's basically given up his entire job in the band for this album. The vocal harmonies are pretty good in the first verse and show potential, until it goes back to an annoying riff again... The bridge leading up to the chorus is unbearable! It's just James screaming "shoot me again shoot me again!" to an annoying riff. The chorus itself is alright I guess. Right now I just want to give up on this review but I guess I'll have to keep going... This is just not my style of Metal.

Sweet Amber
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Probably the best song on the album! The riff in this one is actually remotely Metallica. It's pretty difficult to listen to a band that I grew up with play this... music... but I guess some parts are acceptable. The lyrics are once again just rubbish and consists of catch phrases that do not tie together at all. "wash your back so you don't stab mine". Really? Sounds like something my first band would write. And we were 12!

The Unnamed feeling
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That intoductory riff sounds like something KoRn would write... Kind of funny this groundbreaking thrash band is now sounding like Nu Metal. This slow to start song is pretty much just like the rest. Consists of 3 riffs that are used over and over again in the song. And they're all written on the bottom string of course... Where is the lead dudes! This is so disappointing. James sounds like a country singer or something in this song, not the legendary metal singer that I grew up listening to! One listen to Master of Puppets after listening to this is heartbreaking. Around 5:55 I actually thought we were getting a solo! But nope... just back to a generic riff and a generic variation of the chorus to top this song off.

Purify
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Just after I thought these guys had exhausted every single riff they could use in these introductions they pull another one out from the darkest reaches of their songwriting capabilities. More rediculously annoying drums and awful lyrics. You have to listen to the chorus (if you could call it that) just to get an idea of how bad it is. Thankfully we're approaching the end of the album much to my relief. Of course lars is pounding on with that 4/4 beat that seems to be the only thing he's capable of.

All Within My Hands
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This song kind of sums up the entire album. It starts with the drums JUST doing that 4/4 beat on that annoying snare. Ahhhhh!! I don't know what they were thinking. The song starts off with more drop tuned riffs. I can almost picture Kirk just sitting in a corner somewhere bored out of his head whilst James and Lars try to satisfy their egotistical motives and the desire to make more money. You would make money if you just made a new thrash album guys! There's nothing special about the entire middle of this song (or the intro) however, the ending is just the straw the breaks the donkeys back. It consists of about 2 minutes or James just saying "Kill kill kill kill kill!! Killllll kill kill" I just kind of sat in amazement at how awful this was! It's completely out of time too! The only thing that makes the kill kill kill worst is that there's that fricking 4/4 beat behind it. Ahhh! This album makes me want to kill my collection of Metallica CD's.

To sum this album up... well... it's different... very different... and in my eyes it's just awful. Boring riffs, lyrics that make no sense. The most annoying snare in the history of music. Awful vocal harmonies and just an atempt at becoming mainstream that fell flat on it's face. Sorry Metallica, I really don't like this. The only slightly saving grace is that the band has started to get heavier in comparison to Load and Re-Load but they're not out of the fire yet.