New Metallica!!!!

[VitaminG]

there might be something to that, Steve. I'm into a lot of new metal, but I still dig my old stuff, and even new "old school" stuff. I still listen to a lot of melodic stuff too - Soul Sirkus, everything Jorn Lande has been involved with, TOOL, Living Colour - old and new, Army of Anyone, Conception, Edguy. So it's not like I have any issue with Metallica not being as "hard" as they used to be. If the music is good, it's good. But this album just sounded tired & uninspired to me. Not bad by any stretch, but after 3 listens I don't care if I never hear it again.

[khabibissell]

there might be something to that, Steve. I'm into a lot of new metal, but I still dig my old stuff, and even new "old school" stuff. I still listen to a lot of melodic stuff too - Soul Sirkus, everything Jorn Lande has been involved with, TOOL, Living Colour - old and new, Army of Anyone, Conception, Edguy. So it's not like I have any issue with Metallica not being as "hard" as they used to be. If the music is good, it's good. But this album just sounded tired & uninspired to me. Not bad by any stretch, but after 3 listens I don't care if I never hear it again.

I've heard alot of people say that the music is uninspired. I don't get that at all... I hear alot of energy coming from those tunes. I guess you could make an argument that Hammett's solos are a bit off the cuff and just thrown out there, but if you listen to their old releases, that's just how he plays I think we tend to forget that because the bar has been raised pretty high. Honestly, I don't think the songs would have the same vibe if say Jeff Loomis played on them. Yeah, Loomis is an excellent player, but that super clinical soloing wouldn't fit the vibe.

I think the song writing is interesting, there's alot of variety, Hetfield's rhythm playing is great, and the lyrics are pretty good. It is classic Metallica... It is what I expect to hear from them and that's a good thing.

I should mention that I'm still having a hard time adjusting to more modern metal styles. Maybe the focus is too much on being rhythmic rather than being melodic and rhythmic? I dunno... I haven't really worked too hard to find new stuff either I suppose.

[thetroy]

I should mention that I'm still having a hard time adjusting to more modern metal styles. Maybe the focus is too much on being rhythmic rather than being melodic and rhythmic? I dunno... I haven't really worked too hard to find new stuff either I suppose.

You're not alone. Modern metal is more about bassists than guitarists or (in many cases, cough Meshuggah...) guitarists who really should be bassists.

[horns666]

Guys, and gals..

I'll be promoting quality new metal on my thread. I'm determined to convert friends to having more faith in metal. First impressions mean everything, so much thought is required. Many of you will be pleasantly surprised and will have new favorite bands.

But I need references what you love most in metal. I can depend on a few to assist me with suggestions. I'm determined to make believers of you. The music will speak for itself. Its too good to deny no matter what your taste. This will opne doors and help your own creativity..I promise to make it worth while!!

Steve, Troy..guys, be patient..give me this chance. It takes time to find the exact stuff to impress. Keep a watch on my thread..they will be posted there. Sources as youtube, is a good start for exposure. So, Watch for that soon!

You will finally understand my perception and why I feel the way I do. I'm not just some dickhead that takes joy talking shit ..even tho it appears that way at times. There is reasons to my madness.

Yours in Metal,

Bill Z Bub

[Endrik]

You're not alone. Modern metal is more about bassists than guitarists or (in many cases, cough Meshuggah...) guitarists who really should be bassists.

Nu Metal was pretty bass oriented... that being said I don't hear any modern metal guitarists playing like bassists... the most rhythmic and bass driven era in rock music was 60's and 70's and that is that.

[VitaminG]

I've heard alot of people say that the music is uninspired. I don't get that at all... I hear alot of energy coming from those tunes. I guess you could make an argument that Hammett's solos are a bit off the cuff and just thrown out there, but if you listen to their old releases, that's just how he plays I think we tend to forget that because the bar has been raised pretty high. Honestly, I don't think the songs would have the same vibe if say Jeff Loomis played on them. Yeah, Loomis is an excellent player, but that super clinical soloing wouldn't fit the vibe.

I think the song writing is interesting, there's alot of variety, Hetfield's rhythm playing is great, and the lyrics are pretty good. It is classic Metallica... It is what I expect to hear from them and that's a good thing.

I should mention that I'm still having a hard time adjusting to more modern metal styles. Maybe the focus is too much on being rhythmic rather than being melodic and rhythmic? I dunno... I haven't really worked too hard to find new stuff either I suppose.

When I say uninspired, I'm not referring to Kirk's playing. Plenty of players wing it on their solos and do fine. I didn't even really pay much attention to his solos, except to note that it seems to be a lot of the same pattern-based stuff I've heard from him before, only a bit sloppier now. But slop's not an issue. There are plenty of very cool sloppy guitarists whose playing I dig.

I guess I can relate the whole thing to that self-titled album Ratt released a few years back. All the bits seemed to be there (apart from The King, of course), the songs weren't bad, Warren's playing is always good, but the whole thing was a bit.... meh.

It sounds to me like the boys in Metallica sat down in pre-production and brainstormed up a checklist of all the stuff they felt they needed to include in this project. They've ticked all the boxes, but it still seems flat to me. And that's not in comparison to anything they've done, because not being an old fan, that stuff didn't hold a lot of interest for me anyway. I had the album in my car for about a week and left it on in the spirit of fair play to give the album a proper chance. I just couldn't wait until I'd felt I'd given it a fair shake so that I could turn it off. And today, I can't recall a single riff or chorus that I heard.

I guess what it all comes down to is, I'm just not feeling/hearing that energy that you do, Steve.

[thetroy]

Nu Metal was pretty bass oriented... that being said I don't hear any modern metal guitarists playing like bassists... the most rhythmic and bass driven era in rock music was 60's and 70's and that is that.

I wouldn't call the modern metal bass driven, but it just seems like a lot of these "brutal" riffs are just chugging along on the low Z flat string with hella fast drumming, then the drummer slows down for a bit and they chug in some random-ish pattern for a "sick breakdown", then they go back to what they were doing before.

Oh yeah and on top of all that they do caveman impressions.

[VitaminG]

wow, you've just summed up all modern metal in one run-on sentence! Well done

[AdRock]

Metallica needs to go back to the way they used to write the music. Lars and James write it all and then teach it to everyone else. Then Kirk throws the solos on it. Once they stopped this way of writing... I haven't really liked much since. Now since Trujillo is there I was hoping he'd throw in some Suicidal influence 7 possibly steer them back into the old school thrash direction. As much as people hated St. Anger, I bet it would have been much more well received had they not recorded on a tape recorder sitting in the middle of the garage. St. Anger with Black's production quality would have probably been a great listen.

I loved everything up to AJFA, then when I bought Black I had this reaction

[thetroy]

I think the second sentence is vital to the definition too, though I could always add it to the end of the run-on for an Epic Sentence.

[Endrik]

I wouldn't call the modern metal bass driven, but it just seems like a lot of these "brutal" riffs are just chugging along on the low Z flat string with hella fast drumming, then the drummer slows down for a bit and they chug in some random-ish pattern for a "sick breakdown", then they go back to what they were doing before.

Oh yeah and on top of all that they do caveman impressions.

yeah, many players seem to do that and that's why I'm saying it's far from bass playing as it possibly can be
Guitarists who play like bassists are Jimmy Page, Joe Perry etc.

[thetroy]

True - when calling them wannabe bassists I was referring mainly to the ultra-low tunings.

[horns666]

That is true..very percussive players that stay in the pocket..and dance around it.

James Hetfiled, Jon Shaffer, Eddie, Scott Ian and contrary to belief Jeff Loomis..His palm muted tom foolery is fuggin' nuts. That's what caught my attention about him. But he told me he got that kinda from early Meshuggah!

[dimobag]

Damm! I ended buying new Metallica. Not bad, better than ST.Anger way better.

[horns666]

Guys..can someone please find the Cirith Ungol song called "finger of scorn" and post it here..I can't seem to find it, and it's NOT on youtube...and I think I know why.