WHY it's the worst Metallica song ever
My sleeping schedule is a bit different from most, so I'm just now seeing the reaction to the little blurb I posted very, very late last night about "My Apocalypse," the disastrous last song from Metallica's new album, "Death Magnetic."
I concede that my post last night had nothing in the way of constructive criticism, which I admittedly did on purpose just to see what kind of reaction it would get. So here comes some actual criticism.
Why do I call "My Apocalypse" the worst Metallica song ever? Because it encapsulates everything that could go wrong with the band. There are individual songs that are probably worse, musically ("Purify," "Poor Twisted Me," and "Better Than You" come to mind), but I'm calling this one worse more on principle. Specifically:
• The "St. Anger" trash-can drums are back. I do not understand this, since Lars Ulrich himself has criticized the drum sound on that album.
• The vocals, lyrics and overall style of the song is straight out of "St. Anger." Don't be fooled by a solo and a few "Justice"-era flourishes; this is a mess.
• The main riff is, as Lars would say, "STOCK," and doesn't even make musical sense. The riff is almost happy, with its ascending and descending hammer-ons, and doesn't complement the content of the song.
• Where is the bass? Now Rob Trujillo knows how Jason Newsted feels.
• Nothing about this track feels genuine. It seems like a blatant attempt to win back fans who were shocked -- SHOCKED! -- the band would try playing something other than thrash metal on the "Load" and "Reload" albums. This doesn't seem like Metallica's usual M.O., but I can't help but feel that way when hearing this.
• Rick Rubin's production on this track is an embarrassment. The treble is turned way up just like every other pop record in the world, allowing no depth of sound. This song will kill your speakers at half volume, and that is just not a good thing. If the album comes out in two weeks and proves that this is an unfinished track, as many have insisted, then I'll eat my words. But I seriously doubt it.
To answer a few of the barbs hurled my way: No, I don't get paid to write this blog. I maintain this in my down time. My job at the Daily Herald is to design pages and edit copy.
Yes, I am a fan of "Load" and "Reload," because I am able to compartmentalize the different eras of Metallica's career. A thrash metal band should be commended for making hits out of some bluesy, Southern-tinged, sometimes-experimental hard rock records. Instead, they are crucified for it.
Yes, it is far, far worse than "Fixxxer." In fact, "Fixxxer" is among my 6 or 7 favorite Metallica songs of all time. It is densely produced and well-written -- maybe James' best lyrics ever about his father. It's better than everything they've released post-rehab, that's for sure.
Look, I'm still excited about this album. I still plan on buying it at midnight on Sept. 12. But something tells me I'll be shutting it off after Track 9.
I didn't even know Metallica was still together.
just have to disagree with your opinion. But its yours and you are entitled to it. Even though a majority of Metallica fans or metal fans, in fact probably 99.9% would think you are dead wrong on this.
It sounds nothing like St. Anger. No downtuned nu-metal sounding guitars. Even though Lars is beating the hell out of that snare, its no St. Anger trash can lid. The Itunes version sounds 10X better than that youtube link btw. The lyrics of this song are something that could have been thought of on the first 4 albums. James voice may sound similar to St. Anger but lets face it.....a 25 year old Hetfield is not walking through the door. And out of the 3 songs released so far I actually like the vocals on this one the most. And it lacks the typical Hetfieldisms like YEAAAAAAHHHHHH and WHOAAAAAAAA that do get tiresome after a while.
You know, I would have been satisfied If this was another Load sounding album because I loved them. But being a bigger fan of thier first four albums, My Apocalypse put a big ass grin on my face.
ok i get your point, but I still think it´s stupid to go all haywire b4 u know the end result.
The author of this blog -- me -- and the commenter named "Sean T" are two different people.
I suppose I am "blatantly un-metal." I wear a shirt and tie to work, I like watching "Project Runway," my favorite place in the whole world is Disneyland, and I have Christina Aguilera and Billy Joel on my iPod. But I do like metal -- the last few concerts I went to were Iron Maiden, Nightwish and Sonata Arctica -- but I guess that's just not enough for the majority of Metallica fans. I have to be metal.
Davepaul: You're right, I don't know anything about the music industry. I'm just reacting to what my untrained ear hears, and what I personally like and dislike, which is all that really matters where music is involved. I like Bob Rock's huge sound on TBA, "Load," et al. I liked the Flemming Rasmussen records. But I don't like what I've heard so far of the Rick Rubin era.
To all: Ask anyone who knows me: Metallica is my favorite band in the whole world. But I hate "My Apocalypse." I'm sorry that's all you apparently need to know about me to hate me.
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If I was going to put together a 2-disc compilation of my favorite Metallica songs that represented each period in the band's history, it would go a little something like this:
DISC ONE
1. Battery
2. No Remorse
3. Creeping Death
4. Master of Puppets
5. Disposable Heroes
6. One
7. Fade to Black
8. Orion
9. Blackened
10. Harvester of Sorrow
11. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
12. Am I Evil?
DISC TWO
1. Enter Sandman
2. The Unforgiven
3. No Leaf Clover
4. Devil's Dance
5. Wherever I May Roam
6. Bleeding Me
7. Carpe Diem Baby
8. Invisible Kid
9. Mercyful Fate
10. Where the Wild Things Are
11. My Friend of Misery
12. Fixxxer
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You are an idiot. Move out of your mother's basement and get a clue about the band.
You got clowned. Hahhahha.
From: An 'uneducated Metallica fan"
Nice one Sean, how long did that take you to think of??
This is whole discussion is just ridiculous....both sides of it.
I've never understood the concept of criticizing, or rather, arguing about music. If you like it, you like it. If you don't, you don't. Who the hell cares? It's just a freaking song. There's millions of songs in the world. They can't all be good, and not everyone is going to like the same ones. Gain some perspective, please.
Sweet Jebus
Arguing about pop culture is great because there is no right or wrong answer.
...that Metallica fans make up some of the most uneducated people in america.... well maybe that would be ICP fans, but some of these posts have me thinking Metallica is in that category. Or maybe that's just all internet posters?
Don't you know you aren't a true Metallica fan unless you hate 15 years of their catalog?
It doesn't matter what your justification is to this man, you are right in my age category and if you think "My Apocalypse"is lacking in any way , not only are you not a real metal fan , but you were clearly missing the chaotic brilliance of everything prior to "The Black album".
1st of all, the snare that made St.Anger horrible was far worse then it is on this track, not to mention you can't judge the production quality when it has been pre-released because you know it was not the final polished cut (I could get into this for ever but I can see you are not interested in actual music industry standards).
2nd of all there is a major difference between the overall sound and style between this song and St.Anger, one is pre-packaged "Nu Metal" courtesy a la Bob Rock to try and "fit in' with the direction metal appeared to be taking at that time, this is no bones straight up thrash metal , guitar solo's and all with a few varied (new is still good) rhythm guitar riffs thrown in to actually make it different.
3rd : James voice is actually back to sounding gruff on this track , WAY WAY better then the cheesy METALLICAT lounge sound they had going on in the late 90's.YOU CLEARLY LACK THE KNOWLEDGE TO DESCRIBE A MUSICAL MESS.
4th: Again.... YOU DO NOT HAVE SOUND ENOUGH MUSICAL JUDGMENT TO DESCRIBE A STOCK RIFF, plus thrash metal gracefully utilizes basic riffs to create a greater more aggressive sound if you are talking about rhythm guitar, however again you are lacking clarity on that subject.
5th:Bass is complimentary to rhythm guitar, SOMETIMES it is only used in thrash metal to set the pace and deepen the tone of the already frantic tempo, again depending on the speed of the track in question.
6th:Artists need to be free to change and experiment , such is the meaning of the word artist, however again you showcase your lack of knowledge of the genre that made Metallica what they are , STRAIGHT AHEAD,KICK ASS, BONE CRUSHING METAL!!!!!!(By the way , if your suggesting that trying to keep the fans that put them where they are today by releasing the material they actually WANT to hear is not genuine, do not consider a career in the music business or any other business for that matter)
7th: Do not get me back into lambasting you about the quality of production of an album (or a song) that has not even hit the shelves yet.
8th:What this blog should be about is how blatantly un-metal you are and that you actually appear to like a band that founded thrash metal for playing sell out cover tunes to please the record companies they were being paid by at the time , rather then liking them for the very thing they helped create and are actually know for.
OUCH