’’Greatness is an exaggeration, and all exaggerations of dimension it reflects necessary Corollary of emptiness.’’
There are occasions when one is force to acknowledge the promise of an approach, close to what we relate to greatness. Such a promise I saw in much talked release of Metallica’s new Album St Anger. Leaving the still loyal fans, those gifted with discrimination would foresee the destruction of a talent and end of an era.
St Anger is perhaps the biggest piece of thrash I’ve had the misfortune to listen to. And not prolonging the agony as I try and execute a lame attempt in penning my thoughts you will see how they have failed to deliver.
APPROACH
Reasons for releasing this album as stated by Bob Rock and James himself were plainly to show a new direction for the band. Which was justified with inclusion of new bassiest, new production and new logo? Ok fair enough, so Mr. Ulrich wanted to make out a statement ...’’We aint *uckin sellouts, this release gonna be heavy baby ...’’ yeah right, let me save that to contradict later in the review. So aftermath of napster fiasco, Jason quitting & James drinking problem and not to mention that playboy interview they wanted to be vindicated by releasing something symbolic and giving the fans what they wanted...a classic metallica album , does that means going back to the roots? Ahh not quite cause no where in the album you’ll get the feel they going back to basics, worse the so called progressive groove Metallica had been whining of since release of Load has mysteriously disappeared. Where’s the love for doing ballads gone MR Hedfield ?sheer abandonment of the progression they said they wanted to do. Even a mediocre album as ’’Reload’’ had little hints of promises when you hear ’’memory remains’’ and ’’Unforgiven2’’ but oh my freaking god not one track showing where they trying to take their music too. It’s to sluggish to be said as progressive
Now on to the details.
You slip the CD in the player and here comes the first track ’’FRANTIC’’ ...ahh yes Hedfield screaming or say looping his lyrics by ’’frantic tock tick tock tick tock tick tock’’ ..ahh how long the torment it’s already making my head tic toc.Track 2 and ’’St Anger’’ clouds my mind and I start contemplating is this how Hammett is suppose to play his guitars ? And this is the so called naked display of bands defiance? Ahh although this track got its moments and I’ll be very forgiving to say this was an exhaustive song.
After that most tracks is sheer waste of talent so I’ll just walkthrough and talk of the ones I thought really stand.
’’Dirty window’’ a total monster magnet riffege packed depicting Hedfields psyche on his trial and anger over his struggle. Although I do admit it was a head banger of a track but still what James trying to sell in this song I didn’t bought it, for the pain he was showing I just couldn’t feel it and that makes him a freaking idiot. He just can’t sell his pain, ah well not to me at least, am better off taking the Anathema and Pantera dosage ;)
You might want to give some of the songs a better listening of likes Invisible Kid, ’’ ’’Sweet Amber, ’’ ’’The Unnamed Feeling, ’’ ’’All Within My Hands, ’’
what I thought
With all the hype I was expecting a Masters of puppets styled confrontation and what it materialized in to was a 75 min of monolithic slab of noise ranging 11 tracks too vague and confused in it’s orientation.
What makes the CD worth buying is the DVD of St Anger video which might cover-up to your regrets for blowing 450 bucks on nothing.