Product Description

Anybody who's anybody in rock has been in a cover band. Although "cover" has a negative connotation, it is the playing of others' material that forges the identity and agenda of future superstars. Every recorded cover tune from Metallica plus 11 newly recorded covers are included in this double-CD set. They combine to give fans a glimpse into the wide variety of influences that have shaped metal's mightiest band.
Disc one is the new material, and Metallica place their undeniable stamp on each track. Transforming Bob Seger's midtempo "Turn the Page" into a real rocker, and converting Nick Cave's "Loverman" into sheer brutality. Closer to the mark ofMetallica's style, a Mercyful Fate medley retains the spirit of the original. James Hetfield's growls give an extra dose of attitude to Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey In The Jar", while anacoustic radio station jam of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone" is a southern delight. Disc 2 contains GARAGE DAYS RE-REVISITED, which had been out of print and heavily bootlegged. Rounding out the package are B-sides and one-offs including four Motorhead covers the band rehearsed for Lemmy's birthday party.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Free Speech For The Dumb
2. It's Electric
3. Sabbra Cadabra
4. Turn The Page
5. Die, Die My Darling
6. Loverman
7. Mercyful Fate
8. Astronomy
9. Whiskey In The Jar
10. Tuesday's Gone
11. The More I See

Disc 2:

1. Helpless
2. The Small Hours
3. The Wait
4. Crash Course In Brain Surgery
5. Last Caress / Green Hell
6. Am I Evil?
7. Blitzkrieg
8. Breadfan
9. The Prince
10. Stone Cold Crazy
11. So What
12. Killing Time
13. Overkill
14. Damage Case
15. Stone Dead Forever
16. Too Late Too Late

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #596 in Music
• Released on: 2007-07-02
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Explicit Lyrics
• Running time: 137 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
This double-CD, all-covers release could come to represent a vital turning point for Metallica. While Disc 2 is a straightforward collection of every cover the group have recorded in its 16-year history, Disc 1 comprises 11 new selections drawn from the oeuvres of such exciting and diverse artists as punk rockers Discharge and the nefarious Nick Cave. The heavier songs, such as the Mercyful Fate medley, Black Sabbath's "Sabbra Cadabra" and the Misfits' "Die Die My Darling", prove that nobody delivers a crunching riff better than these metal veterans. But it is vocalist-guitarist James Hetfields's confident approach toward the likes of Cave's "Loverman" and Bob Seger's "Turn the Page" that delivers the most electricity; here his raw, heartfelt vocals are largely untouched. Given that the recharged group spent only three weeks in the studio recording these tracks, it appears that these guys have remembered the value of studio spontaneity over laborious pontificating. Hopefully, that mindset will resurface in future projects. --Steffan Chirazi

Customer Reviews

ESSENTIAL DOUBLE CD OF REALLY GREAT COVERS! A MUST FOR METALLICA FANS!
Ironic, just how good this band are at covers! This is far more than just a completist's release, it's essential for the Metallica fan!
Some very good covers, all really well played and on the whole, well produced, especially on Disc one which is the more recent covers as produced with Bob Rock. The production here leans far more towards the Black album, than St Anger, with a fat snare, and thumping bass, and sharp, clear guitars. Hetfield's vocals are excellent, with the man unafraid to dabble in a myriad of styles.
Also, Jason Newsted really shines here with some cool bass guitar!!
Highlights are Turn The Page, Loverman, Sabbra Cadabra, Astronomy, Helpless, Crash Course In Brain Surgery (LOVE the bass work here!), Am I Evil, The More I See, The Prince etc.
It's a good intro to some of the original artists and I'd recommend the Full Metal Garage - Songs That Drove Metallica Double CD so you can hear many of the original tracks by the original artists!

Back to Basics
Kym Fletcher's interesting review below (written before the release of "St. Anger") sees "Garage Inc." as a symptom of Metallica's decline. I agree with much of Kym's argument, but while it's fair to attack "Load/Reload" and "S&M" for looking overdrawn at the ideas bank, the same cannot be said for this fantastic revisitation of Metallica's metal roots.

Metallica seems to have been torn in two competing directions: the world-conquering mainstream rock of "Nothing Else Matters" and the purist thrash of "St. Anger". As a band that actually still seems to enjoy playing, there's no doubt that Hetfield & Co. enjoy the thrash material better, and they are on top form on these covers, with the new recordings equalling anything that they seem able of writing on current form.

There is little indication that Metallica is likely to release another album as significant or rewarding as "And Justice For All.." or "Metallica". On the evidence of "St. Anger" they are also unlikely to regain their early ability to land a killer punch as a thrash band. If they never do, "Garage Inc." can only gain in significance: a swaggering, unrepentant reminder that this band can rock.

Best covers album EVER!!!
Let me start by saying that this album is amazing!!! I've owned it for what must be in the region of 6 years and I still love it to bits.

This is the album that got me into Metallica. The first song I heard from this album was "Die Die My Darling", a cover of the old Misfits song.

Other notable tracks include the fantastic "It's Electric", a glorious version of "Astronomy" and a huge 11 minute Merciful Fate medley. Metallica also show their softer side with a beautifully soulful version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Tuesday's Gone" taken from a BBC radio session and including guests (such as Alice In Chains quitarist Jerry Cantrell).

The first CD comprises of tracks recorded for the album. The second CD features B-Side cover tracks and rarities recorded through the years.

I cannot reccommend this album enough. I still listen to this album quite regularly and still vastly enjoy it.

Garage Inc. is unmissable to any fan of Metallica or rock/metal music in general. Absolutely fantastic!!!!