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