for the next review

Metallica - Self Titled / "The Black Album" Review
Hey all! Like I said in one of the previous posts here, I’ve been gone for a while mainly because of school, but now I’m back. I said I was gonna review all Metallica albums, and now it’s time to review their famous self-titled fifth album. This album is essentially what got Metallica out of the underground scene and into mainstream music, and is hated by a lot of thrash fans and elitists for that reason. It is also their most famous album. Without further ado, let’s get to the review.
The Review
I think this is a good album! I don’t think it’s as good as any of the first 4 albums, but I think it’s pretty solid in its own right. This album simplified Metallica’s music for a more mainstream audience, switching from a thrash metal sound to a “traditional” heavy metal sound, and as said previously, is hated by some for this reason, especially some thrash fans and elitists. Still, the songs are pretty memorable and catchy. The songwriting and production still holds up pretty well to this day. Another thing I like about the album is that the bass is actually audible this time around, in contrast to the muted bass of AJFA. Jason Newsted is a great bassist which I think Metallica could’ve utilized better in general. I couldn’t find a general theme from this album as I did with others. There’s enough variety and the songs are pretty memorable. I think some of the solos had too much wah pedal use, but I wouldn’t say they’re bad solos nonetheless.
The riffs are pretty good, as well as the vocals. Personally, I wish Metallica kept going in a thrash direction, but I do like this album.
Overall, the black album is a fine album. Is there better stuff? Absolutely, but this is a really good entry level album filled with catchy and memorable songwriting. You’re definitely gonna see some elitists and the like trash on this album and say Metallica “sold out” because of this, but don’t mind them. Not everything has to be complicated, simple music can be very good and memorable. If you want to get into metal but think some of the other stuff is too heavy, this is an amazing starting point. I definitely recommend this to anyone who hasn’t heard it and is looking to get into metal.
FINAL VERDICT: 7.5/10

Album Review - Master of Puppets by Metallica
Brief Introduction
Hey all! As you know I’ve been reviewing Metallica albums recently, and I said I might review all of ’em. Yes, including St. Anger and (though there’s no way in hell I’m listening to the entirety of it) Lulu. I’m thinking that I probably will. Anyway, last time I reviewed Ride The Lightning, and now it’s Master of Puppets, their third album, released in 1986. This album might be my favorite album, the other contestant being RTL. Anyway, to the review.
The Review
Master of Puppets is another album that is PERFECT for me. It retains the complexity of Lightning and pumps up the aggression a notch. The album has variety, while maybe less so than Lightning but that’s more due to RTL being a really varied album than MOP not being a varied album. It’s filled with emotions and no two songs sound the same. It kind of feels like a mix of RTL and KEA, if that makes sense – and it’s glorious. When I first started listening to it I was thinking Lightning may be better but I’m torn apart between them now. I don’t have a lot of other stuff to say about MOP. It’s aggressive, it’s fast, it’s complex, it’s varied and it’s simply phenomenal. I have nothing bad to say about this album!

Overall, Master of Puppets may be my favorite Metallica album. It’s one of the best thrash metal albums as a whole. It mixes the unfiltered aggression from KEA and mixes it with the complexity and variety of RTL, being the best of both worlds. I strongly recommend anyone who’s into thrash metal, metal or thinking of getting into metal in general to have a listen to it.
FINAL VERDICT: 10/10

Album Review - Ride the Lightning by Metallica

Brief Introduction
Hey all! Like I’ve said before, i’ve been listening to a lot of Metallica’s first 4 albums recently so I took the decision to review each of the first 4 albums. That, and the site’s still got a serious lack of entertaining posts. If I feel like it, I might also review ALL of their studio albums. Including St. Anger and Lulu. Though, don’t expect me to listen to the entirety of Lulu. That album fucking sucks. It might as well be among the worst music I’ve ever listened to.
Anyway, Ride the Lightning is the second studio album of Metallica released in 1984. Lets get to the review.
The Review
Ride the Lightning is an album that’s perfect for me! My main (and basically only) complaint with Kill ‘Em All is that it’s a bit too raw and that it’s repetitive, and Ride the Lightning definitely improves on those aspects. Ride the Lightning is still pretty aggressive, but has a more complex and less raw sound. It’s not as aggressive as KEA, but it still is really aggressive. Along with that, the album is a pretty varied one, too. The album is filled with emotions, from the aggression in Fight Fire With Fire, to the sadness of Fade to Black. No two songs sound too similar. The instrumental and vocals (aside from Call of Ktulu which doesn’t have vocals) convey the emotions of the songs very nicely. This album may be my favorite Metallica album ever, the other contestant being Master of Puppets, which I will review soon.

Overall, Ride the Lightning is a phenomonal album that answers all my problems with its predecessor. It retains the aggression, but has a more refined and complex sound than KEA. I strongly recommend anyone who’s into thrash metal or metal in general to listen to it. 10/10

Album Review - Kill 'Em All by Metallica
Brief Introduction
Hey all! This is a new group where I review stuff I’ve read, watched, listened to, etc. Recently I’ve been listening to the first 4 albums of Metallica a lot so I thought I’d talk about their first album, Kill ‘Em All, for a bit. While this is basically me yapping about music that was released 40 years ago, I decided to still write this because of a) boredom and b) the serious lack of actually entertaining posts on the site recently. Anyway, let’s get to the review.
The Review
Kill ‘Em All is a pretty good album to me! Especially for a first album, it’s pretty solid. It’s fast, it’s aggressive, and it’s full of just raw energy. Very raw energy, in fact. While it’s an awesome album, that’s my main complaint with it. It doesn’t have the more refined sound of the later 3 albums. And when I listened to it a few times and then compared it to albums like Master of Puppets, And Justice For All and Ride the Lightning the difference becomes pretty clear. That’s not to say it’s bad, though. This album was a pretty good baseline to start from and develop. The other albums also have more variety in general, I feel like KEA’s sound is a bit more repetitive if that makes sense.

Overall, Kill ‘Em All is a good album. Not as good as the 3 albums that came after it, but it still offers a pretty good listening experience if you like thrash metal. 8.5/10