The last proper Metallica album.
Discussion
Ooh, the Metallica debate, this'll be fun 
For me, the last "proper" album was And Justice For All. The Black Album has their most popular songs, but it's just too contrived. They didn't write One, Harvester of Sorrow, Dyers Eve and Blackened to sell records, whereas that's exactly why they wrote Enter Sandman, Wherever I May Roam and Nothing Else Matters. Bits of Death Magnetic were very good, but new EP isn't anything to write home about. I'd still walk over broken glass to see them play live, as on form I don't think many other bands can touch them, but I'm no longer excitied when they announce new records, as there's always that worry it'll be another pile of self indulgent midlife crisis toss like this exercise with Lou Reed.
For me, the last "proper" album was And Justice For All. The Black Album has their most popular songs, but it's just too contrived. They didn't write One, Harvester of Sorrow, Dyers Eve and Blackened to sell records, whereas that's exactly why they wrote Enter Sandman, Wherever I May Roam and Nothing Else Matters. Bits of Death Magnetic were very good, but new EP isn't anything to write home about. I'd still walk over broken glass to see them play live, as on form I don't think many other bands can touch them, but I'm no longer excitied when they announce new records, as there's always that worry it'll be another pile of self indulgent midlife crisis toss like this exercise with Lou Reed.
...And Justice for All is my choice too
The Black album has to be lauded for not a single bit of filler and the production was simply staggering at the time (Bob Rock take a bow) but as I came into Metallica with Master of Puppets (still their best album) and as a massive thrash fan And Justice it is.
Strangely, I absolutely loved Reload, but that was like Black album-lite. Death Magnetic was great in parts, but the production sucked and there was too much rock rather than metal. St Anger should be consigned to the bin - absolute garbage - and I cannot see Metallica writing a decent album to compare with the quality of Master, And Justice or Black ever again.....
The Black album has to be lauded for not a single bit of filler and the production was simply staggering at the time (Bob Rock take a bow) but as I came into Metallica with Master of Puppets (still their best album) and as a massive thrash fan And Justice it is.
Strangely, I absolutely loved Reload, but that was like Black album-lite. Death Magnetic was great in parts, but the production sucked and there was too much rock rather than metal. St Anger should be consigned to the bin - absolute garbage - and I cannot see Metallica writing a decent album to compare with the quality of Master, And Justice or Black ever again.....
S&M was IMO their best album - I suppose you could call it more of a live concert compilation than a proper album, but if I had to pick one Metallica album to sit down and listen to on repeat, it would have to be S&M. (after that it would probably be a recording of Cunning Stunts - if only for the dirty Bad Seed intro ) Metallica are one of those bands that to me sound a bit strange in the studio, sounds a bit neutered compared to the live recordings.
St. Anger was horrible - the lack of snare drum made it hurt my brain, wasn't blown away by Death Magnetic and was kind of turned off the new stuff after that. Pretty much everything before it (St. Anger) had some redeeming features - Ride is always under appreciated (because it is excellent), and while Load and Re-Load aren't great, they aren't as horrible as the "OMG, The Black album is awesome, anything else is crap" brigade make out.
) Metallica are one of those bands that to me sound a bit strange in the studio, sounds a bit neutered compared to the live recordings.St. Anger was horrible - the lack of snare drum made it hurt my brain, wasn't blown away by Death Magnetic and was kind of turned off the new stuff after that. Pretty much everything before it (St. Anger) had some redeeming features - Ride is always under appreciated (because it is excellent), and while Load and Re-Load aren't great, they aren't as horrible as the "OMG, The Black album is awesome, anything else is crap" brigade make out.
drumsterphil said:
traffman said:
Justice trebley? Nooo what have you been playing it on ? That album , well on vinyl was pretty damm good.
Puppets was so far ahead of its time.
Trebly because a certain Mr Hetfield threw a strop and had Jason's bass track removed from the final version (ah diddums....)Puppets was so far ahead of its time.
It isn't all that. The bass is super twangy.
Tbh not that fussed that the bass was wiped off, just trying to explain why it And Justice sounded "trebly" - I was never that bothered about all the hype surrounding Cliff Burton - guess because I only ever saw Metallica live with Jason - and he was a very, very good bass player imo
the songwriting on justice was as good as anything on master albeit a bit doomier sounding (but i suppose a change in the tuning of the instruments will do that!).i think they lost a lot of texture without cliff to be honest and the overall mixing on justice was just ridiculous.you can't just drop the basslines down to nothing and simply reduce the treble on the guitars to compensate because all you get is imbalance and a wooly sound.
the best 2 albums were ride and master, and so to answer the op's question.....master of puppets was the last great metallica album.the black album was ok i suppose but everything since has been a poor facsimilie of what was once a pioneering great of metal.
here's a controversial one for you...up to,what, 1992?? who's body of work was more impressive, metallica's or megadeth's?? for me, mustaine and co. had better production and better songs for the most part.
the best 2 albums were ride and master, and so to answer the op's question.....master of puppets was the last great metallica album.the black album was ok i suppose but everything since has been a poor facsimilie of what was once a pioneering great of metal.
here's a controversial one for you...up to,what, 1992?? who's body of work was more impressive, metallica's or megadeth's?? for me, mustaine and co. had better production and better songs for the most part.
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