Ask around some millennials about heavy metal and they will come up with different answers for what the latter is or how it sounds like. Try and mention 'Metallica' to them, there's probably a good chance that some of them will say they have heard 'Enter Sandman' at one point or another. Well why not. It's the most listened to single from Metallica. I mean, even Nightwish takes some cues for their epic title track Endless Forms Most Beautiful. Plus, it's a good song to jam to when you are just getting started in metal. Add to the fact that it also happens to be the band's most accessible works to date; gone is the technicality from And Justice for All in favor of straightforward, commercial songwriting.
Well then, what's with the 0 per cent? I let you in on a little secret that is not so secret; Enter Sandman is an absolute rip-off of Excel's Tapping into the Emotional Void from the album Joke's on You which was released in 1989. Fans may have known this for years but some choose to dismiss it as pure coincidence. However, knowing Lars and James penchant for incorporating suspicious ideas into their songwriting, this may not come as a surprise at all.
Again, this is not the first time they did it.
Let's backtrack a little bit to 1986. Most seasoned metalheads whether or not they like Metallica will immediately remember the chilling opening of Welcome Home (Sanitarium). Casual listeners may not immediately notice that the riff is taken from Rainbow Warrior which was recorded in 1980 by Bleak House; a NWOBHM band that not many people today will know. Call it what you will, inspiration, an homage but let's face it, this is stealing.
Some of us may consider Ride the Lightning as the only Metallica album that matters and it's for a few good reasons too. However, I'm not going to explain what those reasons are. The record is not without its merits. But let's not forget that solo part in For Whom the Bell Tolls is strikingly similar to the lead guitar in Black Sabbath's Fairies Wear Boots (which by the way was released in 1971). Similarly, Fade to Black has Iron Maiden's Children of the Damned written all over it as well.
So, where does that leave us? Here we have a mid-paced banger with significantly heavier bass and clear production altogether. You can hear the instrumentation loud and crystal. It also reveals Lars Ulrich true nature as a drummer that he can't play for shit as he used to. This also marks the beginning of James' foray into "yeah yeah" vocal shit that would drag the whole band into just another dad's rock outfit that is no longer relevant to metal as a whole while Kirk obstinately clings to his wah wah pedal for dramatic effect. At first, it was enjoyable to listen to but this song alone loses its credibility after realising that it is a blatant rip off.
Good luck with trying to enjoy Metallica's rendition of Stone Cold Crazy. It's annoying as fuck. I'd rather listen to the original than this travesty. Enough said.
I consider myself to be a fan of Metallica. At least I used to. Nevertheless, this utter crap doesn't deserve all the hype and respect. It's piracy. You want to know what robbery in broad daylight sounds like? This is it. Because of songs like these Metallica's popularity is overblown to the point that other thrash bands have trouble trying to make an impact when they should. Metallica doesn't even deserve a place in the Big 4. Morbid Saint wrote Assassin and to this date is pretty much one of the most brutal, balls out thrash anthem that actually embodies the genre in one song. Toxik blows everything out of the water with Doors to Hell. A song that is technically more complex and challenging to listen to but fun at the same time. History of a Time to Come contains far more riffs than all the tracks in Black Album put together. Have you ever come across thrash hall of fame where bands like Forbidden, Heathen, Toxik, Morbid Saint, Rigor Mortis are mentioned in one breath as Metallica? Ten out of ten it's a nope. Metallica is to thrash metal what Justin Bieber is to pop. It's a case of corporate advertising, selling to us products that are easy to digest and consume. Products that prevent us from putting in extra effort in trying to appreciate what good music sounds like or in this case, good thrash metal. To think that Metaliica steal riffs here and there and got away with it is treacherous. Yet they have to guts to file a lawsuit against Napster for copyright infringement and illegally sharing their songs online. It's hypocrisy of the highest order.
Stop lying to yourself. This is no longer a go-to song if you want to explore thrash or heavy metal in general. Well, it's probably too late to say that anyway.
Well then, what's with the 0 per cent? I let you in on a little secret that is not so secret; Enter Sandman is an absolute rip-off of Excel's Tapping into the Emotional Void from the album Joke's on You which was released in 1989. Fans may have known this for years but some choose to dismiss it as pure coincidence. However, knowing Lars and James penchant for incorporating suspicious ideas into their songwriting, this may not come as a surprise at all.
Again, this is not the first time they did it.
Let's backtrack a little bit to 1986. Most seasoned metalheads whether or not they like Metallica will immediately remember the chilling opening of Welcome Home (Sanitarium). Casual listeners may not immediately notice that the riff is taken from Rainbow Warrior which was recorded in 1980 by Bleak House; a NWOBHM band that not many people today will know. Call it what you will, inspiration, an homage but let's face it, this is stealing.
Some of us may consider Ride the Lightning as the only Metallica album that matters and it's for a few good reasons too. However, I'm not going to explain what those reasons are. The record is not without its merits. But let's not forget that solo part in For Whom the Bell Tolls is strikingly similar to the lead guitar in Black Sabbath's Fairies Wear Boots (which by the way was released in 1971). Similarly, Fade to Black has Iron Maiden's Children of the Damned written all over it as well.
So, where does that leave us? Here we have a mid-paced banger with significantly heavier bass and clear production altogether. You can hear the instrumentation loud and crystal. It also reveals Lars Ulrich true nature as a drummer that he can't play for shit as he used to. This also marks the beginning of James' foray into "yeah yeah" vocal shit that would drag the whole band into just another dad's rock outfit that is no longer relevant to metal as a whole while Kirk obstinately clings to his wah wah pedal for dramatic effect. At first, it was enjoyable to listen to but this song alone loses its credibility after realising that it is a blatant rip off.
Good luck with trying to enjoy Metallica's rendition of Stone Cold Crazy. It's annoying as fuck. I'd rather listen to the original than this travesty. Enough said.
I consider myself to be a fan of Metallica. At least I used to. Nevertheless, this utter crap doesn't deserve all the hype and respect. It's piracy. You want to know what robbery in broad daylight sounds like? This is it. Because of songs like these Metallica's popularity is overblown to the point that other thrash bands have trouble trying to make an impact when they should. Metallica doesn't even deserve a place in the Big 4. Morbid Saint wrote Assassin and to this date is pretty much one of the most brutal, balls out thrash anthem that actually embodies the genre in one song. Toxik blows everything out of the water with Doors to Hell. A song that is technically more complex and challenging to listen to but fun at the same time. History of a Time to Come contains far more riffs than all the tracks in Black Album put together. Have you ever come across thrash hall of fame where bands like Forbidden, Heathen, Toxik, Morbid Saint, Rigor Mortis are mentioned in one breath as Metallica? Ten out of ten it's a nope. Metallica is to thrash metal what Justin Bieber is to pop. It's a case of corporate advertising, selling to us products that are easy to digest and consume. Products that prevent us from putting in extra effort in trying to appreciate what good music sounds like or in this case, good thrash metal. To think that Metaliica steal riffs here and there and got away with it is treacherous. Yet they have to guts to file a lawsuit against Napster for copyright infringement and illegally sharing their songs online. It's hypocrisy of the highest order.
Stop lying to yourself. This is no longer a go-to song if you want to explore thrash or heavy metal in general. Well, it's probably too late to say that anyway.
Note: Originally written for http://metal-archives.com/ but was rejected due to lack of content and substance.
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