Metallica, Metallica Review

Good Points
The best album of all time, so it's quite good.

Bad Points
There are none. None at all.

General Comments
Metallica is a superb album, deservedly acclaimed & the peak of Metallica's recording career

1. Enter Sandman: kicks off the album with one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time (it came to Kirk Hammett in the middle of the night when he was fooling around on an acoustic guitar). Top class wah-driven solo. Metallica's greatest ever song? 10/10.

2. Sad But True: VERY HEAVY song, it's rock music defined. Another great solo, and superb rhythm playing by James Hetfield. 10/10.

3. Holier Than Thou: another terrific heavy song, Hammett again providing a wah pedal solo to brilliant effect and vocals with aggression and focus fom Hetfield. Takes the album into classic status after only 3 tracks. Shortest song at 3:47. 9/10.

4. The Unforgiven: the greatest guitar solo OF ALL TIME. Has to be heard to be believed. Beautiful opening lick and great drumming from Lars Ulrich. 10/10.

5. Wherever I May Roam: marks new ground for Metallica, leaving behind the barriers of heavy metal and moving into the more-diverse hard rock genre, with a sprawling guitar solo. Slow build up to an amazing riff and then a slowed down verse, then another great outro solo from Hammett. 9/10

6. Don't Tread On Me: a cool song, contains a good riff and one of the album's best guitar solos. 9/10.

7. Through The Never: a decent song, not an all-time classic by the album's high standards but as a stand-alone track it's a great rock song, with good drums & lyrics. 7/10.

8. Nothing Else Matters: new territory for Metallica, the attempt to write a conventional rock ballad works superbly. A lyrical masterpiece, top-noch drumming and then a Hetfield solo that takes it into overdrive. One of rock music's finest moments. 10/10.

9. Of Wolf And Man: back to the heaviness of the first three songs. The guitars sound incredible, the solo is excellent (as usual) and a great chorus tops it all off. 9/10.

10. The God That Failed: opens with a cool bass line and twin guitar licks. Has a brilliant riff and vocal melody. The best part of the song, however, is Hammett's solo. 9/10.

11. My Friend Of Misery: another of the standout guitar solos, with a quiet build-up and another go on the wahwah pedal for Hammett. Good solid riff and a chance for Hetfield to show his improved vocals. 9/10.

12. The Struggle Within: the album closes with a metal throwback, a very heavy song with a fast riff and great backing vocals from Jason Newsted. And a superb solo of course. 9/10.