Metallica’s Back In Black

    This is Gen Z Talks Rock Music, the home of the latest rock stories and the generation Z’s opinion on rock music. Today’s blog will be about an album released on August 12, 1991, and how it is celebrating it’s 30-year anniversary this year. I will go over why I think this is the band’s best album and how it is the “Back In Black” of albums. I will talk about my favorite song on this record and how it was written. My review on the anniversary album, where artists from all genres and the world did covers of the band’s songs on the 30-year-old album.

     The album took 8 months at One On One Studio in Los Angeles for the band to record and release their record. It was released under Elektra Records and produced by new producer at the time, Bob Rock. The first album by this band that had charted on the top albums charts as it was number one in 10 different countries and spent four consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200. Rolling Stone magazine ranks it 235 on their “500 Greatest Albums Of All Time” list. It has the artist’s best-known songs including “Nothing Else Matter,” “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” Whenever May I Roam,” and “Sad But True.” One of their best-selling albums in the United-States and the world. This is the rock band, Metallica and their album known as the “The Black Album.”

Gen Z Opinion On Metallica’s “Black Album”:

     I think Metallica’s “Black Album” deserves every positive feedback from critics and it to be known as one of Metallica’s masterpieces. This is my favorite record by Metallica, but to other Metallica fans, it is a betrayal to their thrash metal sound. Metallica fans think Metallica abandoned an unpopular sound that is only loved by metal fans to be a commercial success to the public. I think these fans are wrong, because the producer, Bob Rock, helped Metallica be more dimensional and experimental with their sound and songwriting. Metallica always had producers that let the band record their albums their way. This made Metallica too comfortable in recording their albums in a certain way and arrogant to any changes. Rock was the first producer of theirs to challenge the Metallica way.

    Rock wanted a Metallica album to match their insane live performances that he felt previous Metallica albums were lacking. Metallica became uncomfortable with rerecording and rewriting songs because they weren’t used to do these things. However, Metallica was able to be adventurous and creative because they tried new ideas than the same ideas that they have done before. Metallica for the first time, recorded in a different guitar tuning for two songs as they always recorded in standard tuning. “Sad But True” was in drop D and “The God That Failed” was in E flat. The songs on the album weren’t all heavy, which was a usual Metallica album. Metallica mixed in power ballads like “Nothing Else Matters” and “The Unforgiven” with the harder songs.

    The album had more of balance to it, than a typical Metallica album that was dominated by heavy rock songs. This album had new elements from Metallica that made it different and fresh from Metallica’s previous records. The final product of the album became what Rock wanted in his Metallica album. The guitar and bass had a polished sound, but these instruments were amplified and powerful. The drums were played forcefully and loud. The vocals were sung with intensity and emotion. Metallica finally captured how they were live on this album. Rock was the best thing to ever happened to Metallica as they stopped being stuck up in their ways and they became open-minded to trying new techniques and skills.

My Favorite Song And The Story Behind It:

    My favorite song on this album is “Nothing Else Matters,” because it is the unexpected power ballad that I never thought Metallica could write. I am used to Metallica writing a song that someone can bang his or her head in a mob pit. Metallica wrote something that actually had powerful heartfelt emotion and meaning to this piece. It’s a beautiful song about loving someone in a long-distance relationship. I love this song, because Metallica’s lead singer, James Hetfield, who always sung in a scream singing style, finally showcased his amazing singing voice in this masterpiece. Hetfield after this song surpassed being one-dimensional because he proved he can sing as well as scream.

    Also I love the instrumental arrangement on the track. Hetfield is playing the main riff on acoustic guitar and Metallica’s lead guitarist, Kurt Hammett, is complimenting Hetfield’s playing with a melodic lead guitar intro. It’s a Kurt Hammett specialty as he played this on different Metallica songs. Then, I like the part of the song, when it goes to acoustic to electric for the chord break and the solo, because it is a nice reminder to the listener that it’s still a Metallica song.            Then, I like how the song has an excellent build. The song starts slow with acoustics, then Hetfield’s vocals led the way for the increased intensity. He sung every new verse with more strength and energy creating this massive build as the song was progressing. This helped the release of the song, which was the chord break and solo, have greater effect on the listener. I think this is one of the best

songs ever written in rock n’ roll.                  Next, the story behind this song is fantasying. Hetfield had a personal journal that he hid from the band, where he had poems and song lyrics. He was afraid to show any of this to his band mates as it made a tough lead singer of a metal band seem vulnerable. One of these song lyrics were the lyrics to the song, “Nothing Else Matter.” He wrote it, when his girlfriend and him were in a long-distance relationship, and his life of being a musician.

    He sacrificed his personal life to be s full-time musician, which meant being on the road, in the studio all the time and being far from loved ones to make a living. Hetfield didn’t want this to appear on the new record as it was too personal of a song and Metallica’s drummer Lars Ulrich convinced him to record the song for the album. When Hetfield showed the rest of the band and Bob Rock, he got full support to have it on the upcoming record, even if it abandoned Metallica’s thrash metal sound. One of greatest songs ever written was almost never released to the public, because it showed the greater than life band Metallica as human and helpless. Metallica showing feelings made them relatable to the public. Here’s a video link if you want to learn more about this story. Metallica's BIGGEST 90s Hit Was Also Their Biggest RISK? | Professor of Rock - YouTube

The Metallica Blacklist:

    In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Metallica’s “The Black Album,” musicians from all over did their own versions of Metallica’s songs on this album. This was amazing collection of songs to listen to, because the covers brought a new spin on these classic songs.

    First key highlight was a cover of “Nothing Else Matter” sung by Miley Cyrus featuring Elton John on piano, Yo Y o Ma on orchestra strings, Metallica’s bassist Robert Trujillo, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt on the mixing board. Miley Cyrus belted out high explosive vocals as she did a wonderful job capturing the same build as the original version. What I love most about the cover is Elton John’s piano and Yo Yo Ma’s strings, because it adds a fuller and enormous sound to the song that I think the original version was missing.     Second key highlight is the doom metal band, Ghost, doing a cover of “Enter Sandman.” Ghost took this fun icon heavy metal song about having nightmares and made it extremely haunting. The beginning is the lead singer Tobias Forge steadily singing the first verse and chorus with only a piano in the background. It gives me goosebumps as the song is terrifying to listen to.     The third and final highlight of this tribute album is the instrumental cover of “The Struggle Within” by Rodrigo y Gabriela. Rodrigo y Gabriela are virtuoso acoustic guitar players, and they bring a Latin instrumental spin on this Metallica track. As a listener, I am amazed listening to them, because their musically abilities are unbelievable. There are so many other wonderful covers on this tribute album, and I will link below to check my favorite songs on The Metallica Blacklist.

    Metallica released one of the most iconic records in the rock and metal world that it will be remembered as one of the best Metallica albums ever recorded. An album that will never be forgotten and it will be pass on from generation to generation. Bob Rock made Metallica perform out of their comfort zone and it helped Metallica become more dynamic as musicians. Let me know, what you think of “The Black Album” by Metallica and what your favorite song on the album? Also, make sure to check the songs below from The Metallica Blacklist. This is the end of other rock n’ roll blog from Gen Z Talks Rock Music, but make sure to tune in next week for more blogs about the music of rock.

Miley Cyrus feat. WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith – “Nothing Else Matters” - YouTube

Ghost - “Enter Sandman” from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

Rodrigo y Gabriela – “The Struggle Within” from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

Volbeat - “Don’t Tread on Me” from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

Corey Taylor – “Holier Than Thou” from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

Royal Blood - 'Sad But True' from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

Cage The Elephant - The Unforgiven [The Metallica Blacklist] - YouTube

Jon Pardi – “Wherever I May Roam” from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

Goodnight, Texas - “Of Wolf and Man” from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

(3883) The HU – “Through The Never” from The Metallica Blacklist - YouTube

Jeremiah The Bullfrog Rocks Out In Atlantic City

    Welcome back to Gen Z Talks Rock Music, exploring the world of rock n’ roll with news and opinions from someone who wasn’t a thought, when rock music was released. Today, I will review my first rock concert that I went to since the pandemic happened. I will go over how the band sounded instrumentally and vocally, and if the band sounded like their studio recordings. I will discuss the appearance of the band and how they interacted with the crowd. Then finally, I will have a bio section on the legendary careers, this band had as musicians.                      This rock band was a dominant force of the late 1960’s and the whole decade of the 1970’s as they wrote hit after hit. From 1968 to 1976, they had 21 singles that charted in the Billboards’ Top 40 and three of those songs were number one hits. Alongside Elton John, they were the most successful commercial band of the 1970’s. They had three strong and powerful vocalists that all could sing as the lead vocalist, and they could sing beautiful harmonies with each other. This act that I witness live is no other than Three Dog Night and their mascot Jeremiah The Bullfrog, who was famously appeared in their song, “Joy To The World.”

Three Dog Night Bio:

    Before I go into my concert review, I am going to give a brief synopsis on who I saw a few weeks back. Three Dog Night consist of vocalists, Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells, who all met each other sometime in the 1960’s. Hutton and Wells met in the studio as Wells was the lead singer of a band called “The Enemies,” and Hutton was the writer/producer of Hanna Barbera records. Hutton helped Wells’s band record several singles as their producer. Hutton came up with the idea to start a three-vocalist band with Wells and Wells was fully on board. Hutton and Wells needed a third singer to start this project, and they recruited mutual friend, Chuck Negron. In 1967, Three Dog Night had formed, which they named themselves after an Australian expression that means low nocturnal temperatures in the outback. They started to write and record music right away. After a few unsuccessful singles that they released to the public, they decided their music needs more of a fuller background than three singers. Mike Allsup became the lead guitarist, Jimmy Greenspoon became the keyboardist, Joe Shermie became the bassist, and Floyd Sneed became the drummer. Three Dog Night released “One” in 1968 and this led to their rein of success in the 1970’s. Here is the link below if you want to learn more about Three Dog Night. Three Dog Night Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic

Concert Review:

    On September 10, 2021, I was able to see Three Dog Night perform live at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. David Hutton and Mike Allsup were last remaining members of the band as vocalists David Morgan, and Paul Kingery, drummer Pat Bautz, and keyboardist Howard Laravea joins Hutton’s new Three Dog Night on their 2021 tour. On that night, I was antsy in my seat as I was holding the burst of excitement, when they come on stage. I could see clearly what was on the stage as I was so close to it that I could reach out and touch it. The light dimmed down, and the room was slightly dark. The loudspeaker echoed in the crowd as the announcer announced, “The Ocean Casino Resort would like to present on to the stage, Three Dog Night.” The crowd and I roared into cheering and applauding. Three Dog Night would rock out the stage playing all 21 top charting singles like “Black And White,” “Never Been To Spain,” “Shambala,” “Old Fashion Love Song,” “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” and “Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues).”     The vocals by Three Dog Night were remarkable as they sounded like they were 20 years old again. When one of them sung a lead part, they had excellent control and power in their singing voice. My favorite part of their vocals was their harmonies that rung out so majestically as it was soothing to listen to. Especially when they did their latest song called “Prayer Of The Children”, where it sounded like a choir of angels singing as it was such a beautiful piece and performance by them. It was something very special to watch because Hutton found new vocalists that he had perfect chemistry together and their singing sounded close to the actual recordings of the songs. I admire that by Three Dog Night to find the right vocalists that are very similar to the original vocalists to sing these songs. The instrumentals by the rest of the band were solid. The band was in sync with one another as they knew each song inside and out. It was almost like they have been playing for a very long time with one another and not just three years with this current lineup. Allsup had a few guitar solos during the night, they were slow hand style like all the virtuoso guitarists of the 1970’s. They were simple and melodic that crowds would enjoy, but not go wild over. Now, Laravea on keyboards had one solo during the night that the crowd went absolutely nuts over. He was just insanely playing the keys with increblibe speed and melody.

     Three Dog Night’s appearance on stage looked like the walking dead with dance moves that you would see at the annual graveyard smash called the monster mash. They sounded outstanding, but they didn’t age well at all. The only member that looks amazing for his age is Jeremiah The Bullfrog at 51 years old. Now, they might have not entertained the crowd with their dance moves, they learned from the retirement home academy, but they were fun, when they interacted with the crowd. They were making jokes all night and talking about the songs before they played them. I love the joke Hutton made before playing “Try A Little Tenderness,” where he said songwriters write these love songs, because our fans can sing to someone special how much they love them. Then turns to a couple as an example, but he saw the date wasn’t going that well, and said it was trouble in paradise over there. Then he explained he is going play the song now, before he gets himself more in trouble. Another talk between songs that I loved was before they played, “Sure As I’m Sittin Here,” and Morgan had a funny and inspiring speech about being thankfully and happy of what you have. Life is too short to complain of what don’t have and you should live your life. Then he pulled up a chair and sat in it to perform the next number.            Three Dog Night was the icon band of the 60’s and 70’s that can still put on a rocking show. They gave an energetic and fun show. Three Dog Night and the frog that I love so much and a good friend of mine, Jeremiah, entertained the crowd on a nice summer day in Atlantic City, NJ. I would totally recommend buying a ticket to see them live as it is worth to spend the money. If you want to check out the music of Three Dog Night, I have linked some songs below. Let me know in the comments below, what do you think of Three Dog Night and if you have a favorite song by them? Also, what was your favorite concert experience that you had so far? This wraps up another blog of Gen Z Talks Rock Music, until next time keep on rocking.

Joy To The World (1975) - Three Dog Night - YouTube

One Is The Loneliest Number - Three Dog Night (Lyrics) - YouTube

"Shambala" Three Dog Night - YouTube

Black & White - Three Dog Night - YouTube

Never Been To Spain - Three Dog Night - YouTube

Three Dog Night - Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) (1974) - YouTube

Mama Told Me Not to Come | Three Dog Night |- YouTube

Three Dog Night - Try a Little Tenderness - YouTube

An Old Fashioned Love Song by:Three Dog Night- YouTube

Three Dog Night-Sure As I'm Sittin' Here- YouTube