THIRTY YEARS OF METALLICA'S SELF TITLED ALBUM
The bigger you are, the more people will complain about you. That means the more popular you are, the more people will hate you. "The Black Album" or Metallica by Metallica, is the biggest metal album of all time. You can debate this all you want, but it is the biggest selling album since the early 90s and continues to move thousands of units to this day. I often hear "who's just finding out about this album now?" How about people like my kids that are 8 and 10 listening to some of these songs for the first time now. And adding the album, or songs off of it to their regular rotation.
Conversely you could also argue that this album has been the gateway for millions of musicians over the last thirty years to pick up an instrument. Whether they want to admit it or not, or if they have since discovered any other album in their catalog and replaced "The Black Album" as their favorite.
I have been listening to the band's podcast about the album, and thoroughly enjoying it. There a lot of amazing introspective stories that are discussed, from why ...And Justice For All sounds the way it does. How both albums were recorded in the same exact studio. To them not wanting to accept Bob Rock initially. It's a pretty cool listen if you're into music documentaries.
Whether you like this album or not, it changed the landscape of what ended up on rock based radio stations. Before "Enter Sandman" blew up, you hardly heard anything remotely hard rock on the radio, except for a few songs by maybe Guns N Roses, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Deep Purple or Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC.
Once "The Black Album" blew up, the floodgates opened. We started to hear songs by Kiss, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and others. It also ushered in a long forgotten era where bands like Faith No More, Sevendust, Korn, Godsmack, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Limp Bizkit, and others that rose to the top in the 90s on rock radio. You no longer had to stay up for a metal show or after 10 to hear these bands as you did in the past. Metallica by Metallica changed the musical landscape of terrestrial radio. You could also argue that this album had as much to do with fourth generation glam/hair metal bands going away.
Over the years, I've heard people say "this is the album where Metallica sold out". Especially when it is mentioned that it's the biggest selling album of the Soundscan era. I've always thought that this is the wrong attitude to take. You could easily say "it's not my favorite album by the band, but I'd prefer it be this album than say Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, or Michael Jackson." Or if you're a die-hard that's only waiting for Master Of Puppets II, would you prefer to listen to Thriller over this album?
People are very selective in their judgement of things. So Metallica sold out because of what "Nothing Else Matters" and "The Unforgiven"? I've never heard anyone say Testament sold out because of "Return To Serenity" which came out after. I've heard people say Anthrax sold out because of "Black Lodge", but I've never heard anyone say Metallica sold out with "Fade To Black". For that matter, I've never heard anyone say Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, or Black Sabbath sold out for putting ballads on albums way before Metallica did it.
This circles back to my opening statement. The more popular you are, the more people complain. The more fanboys of other bands turn their nose up at you, while they're giving their favorite bands a pass.
For everything people have done to crap on the band, their boxed sets have always been amazing. Below you have links to the boxed set on both Spotify and Apple Music. If you choose to pick the album up, please use the Amazon Affiliate links below.
Thank you Metallica for being part of the soundtrack of my life.
Here is Metallica with the remastered version of The Struggle Within.
https://youtu.be/C16znwXvcUE
Want to check out the Remastered Deluxe Box Set Version Of Metallica's "Black Album"?
Pick your poison, check out the album on either Spotify or Apple Music here.
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RELATED: Check out the Patron curated 2021 playlist here.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER NEW RELEASES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
Andrew W.K. - God Is Partying
Hawkwind - Somnia
Hawthorne Heights - The Rain Just Follows Me
Steve Hackett - Surrender Of Silence
Mastiff - Leave Me the Ashes Of The Earth
Twiztid - Unlikely Prescription
Anette Olzon - Strong
Inglorious - Heroine
Lvcifyre - The Broken Seal
Mägo De Oz - Bandera Negra
Between Worlds ft. Ronny Munroe - Between Worlds
The Dead Deads - Tell Your Girls It's Alright
Seven Spires - Gods Of Debauchery
Chrome Waves - The Rain Will Cleanse
Starless - Hope Is Leaving You
Headcharger - Rise From The Ashes
Hunted - Deliver Us
Nobody's Straight - Transition
EPs
MC Roads - No Nostalgia
April 21st - Courage Is Born From Fear
REISSUES
The 3RD And Mortal - Memoirs
The 3RD And Mortal - Tears Laid In Earth
The 3RD And Mortal - EP's And Rarities
LIVE ALBUMS
Gwar - Scumdogs Live
Gamma Ray - 30 Years Live Anniversary
COMPILATIONS
Various Artists - The Metallica Blacklist
Escape The Fate - Chemical Warfare: B-Sides
Support the site and the bands you love by picking up any of the albums listed above.
Here are the various Amazon stores I am affiliated with: US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, and Spain. When you make a purchase via one of my Amazon Affiliate links, know that I may be eligible to receive a small kickback for any purchase I send their way. You don't pay anything else, while I make a small profit. Win/win for everyone!
https://www.marsattacksradio.com/2021/09/new-releases/sept-10-2021-metallica/
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