Was Metallica looking to cater to this new era of rock music? Or were they looking to redefine it in their own way? Well, either way, Metallica was changing, and it was a good change, but it also led to something of a decline later on. I feel that the Black Album marked a certain polarization amongst fans of the heavy metal act. Some thought this new album was too "mainstream", feeling that Metallica was abandoning its hardcore past. Others felt it was an epiphany. Either way, it was a monumental success and launched the band into the the stratsophere. I never felt that this album was an abondonment of their previous work, but rather a new direction and a new brand of expression.

     Throughout the 1980s, Metallica established a signature sound that consisted of tremendously intricate guitar work and dark themes. The dark themes remain in the Black Album, but the guitar work, and ultimately the rest of the bands sound is taken down a few notches. The melodies are simpler and a lot less technical. By rock standards, they were still more advanced than anyone else, but, for Metallica, it was a significant change in sound. It was certainly more appealing to the radio, as this album featured some of the most iconic and endearing songs of the 1990s, many of which are still hugely popular today. "Enter Sandman", undoubtedly their most famous song to date, has become a staple in their concerts and is played in every one of their concerts since. It's also popular amongst baseball fans as it is the entrance music for New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, as well as former New York Mets closer Billy Wagner. "Sad But True", "Wherever I May Roam", Holier Than Thou", and "Nothing Else Matters" are all included here in all their glory. I simply must mention "The Unforgiven", which is arguably Metallica's finest hour.

     It's amazing that so many incredible tracks are all on one single album, but such is the case for the Black Album. An effort that was a rather laborious one for the band. The recording process was lengthy, leaving the band physically and emotionally drained, so much so that after its tour, the band took a five year hiatus from the studio.

     So, yes, this album has a tremendous arsenal of killer songs, but outside of its most popular, some of the tracks, particularly in the latter half of the album, stumble. The lesser known tracks on here are certainly not as compelling as the more famous ones, something that was not the case in Metallica's previous records. In for instance, Master of Puppets, each song was strong, and the album had a very complete feeling to it. Not to imply that the Black Album was a rushed work, as it certainly wasn't, but perhaps the attention and emphasis was placed on some songs rahter than all. However, there is no doubting the brilliance here - this record is a treat and a pleasure for the ears.

     Ultimately, it is an album that should not be missed, but it is likely that you have heard many of these iconic songs already because this work was so impactful on the industry. Following this album, Metallica would continue to make plenty of great music, but more flaws have become evident in their more recent works (with the exception of Death Magnetic). Some consider the Black Album as the beginning of the end, but for me, it wasn't. It's certainly a landmark album, and one that has stood the test of time, and one that propelled the band into a very interesting direction, and it wasn't for the worse.

     1991 was indeed a great year for music, as well as many other things in the entertainment industry. If you'd like to see more, check out my Ethos Video Review on entitled "1991: The Year of Stuff", just click on the Ethos YouTube Channel to see it. Metallica's Black Album was perhaps the biggest album of that year, and is one of the most memorable of the entire decade. Listen to it and hear for yourself.

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"The Unforgiven"

"Enter Sandman"

"Sad but True"

"Wherever I May Roam"

"Nothing Else Matters"

"Holier Than Thou"

"Through The Never"

-Kurt L.

_______________________________________________________