Product Description

Originally released in 1991, 'Metallica' (also known as the'Black Album') was the band's fifth studio LP and the one which gave them their first taste of commercial success. Along with producer Bob Rock, the band had defiantly walked awayfrom the progressive thrash metal they had become known for, choosing simplified arrangements with a more mainstream sound. Includes the singles 'Enter Sandman', 'Nothing Else Matters' and 'Sad But True'.

Track Listing

1. Enter Sandman
2. Sad But True
3. Holier Than Thou
4. The Unforgiven
5. Wherever I May Roam
6. Don't Tread On Me
7. Through The Never
8. Nothing Else Matters
9. Of Wolf And Man
10. The God That Failed
11. My Friend Of Misery
12. The Struggle Within

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #357 in Music
• Released on: 1991-07-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 62 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Called "the Black Album" by many (due to its monochrome cover), Metallica marks the group's entrance into the mainstream, with shorter songs, simpler song structures and slower tempos overall. That said, this is an excellent album, featuring some of the best songwriting Metallica has ever done. "Enter Sandman", "Wherever I May Roam" and "God That Failed", despite being slower and more groove-oriented than the band's earlier work, feature the same heavy riffs and heavier rhythms that have always been a feature of Metallica's music. The band goes introspective with "Unforgiven" and proves that they can write a ballad with "Nothing Else Matters", which succeeds better than one might expect. Overall, this is a high-energy album despite its laid-back approach and is in many ways superior to the previous ... And Justice for All, which was weakened by overly complicated song structures and mediocre production. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews

Quite simply, their Classic Album
With well over a hundred reviews for this album, why should I add another? There is nothing more to be said other than
1) When they next get together to get another series of 'Classic Albums - The Making Of' DVD's, this should definitely be one of them, and
2) Every 'serious' rock fan's collection should have this album, it is absolutely essential!!
Say No More!!

Not bad but not their best
Metallica's Black Album is a self-indulgent effort. Perhaps a couple of descent songs, they do after all still play Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters live, but the rest of it forgettable. Really only worth purchase of entire album for hard core fans who have to own everything. Apparently, it had a difficult making and it doesn't feel spontaneous in the way the early albums do. Bob Rock is really responsible for creating the Metallica sound from this album to St Anger, he even plays guitar on tracks for them, presumably since better able to play what he had in his mind for them with regards musical direction. I think that says a lot, and probably marks the fact that creatively Lars and James were dry, yes I know: smile at that metaphor, and were paying others to generate their music for them. Still they are impressive live in their stadium tours and sell/package their merchandise well.

Irrefutebly a classic
I came to Metallica late, this was the first album I bought after seeing them on the 'Freddie Mercury Tribute' at Wembley in 1992. I was already into metal, but at that time it was Faith No More, RHCP, that sort of thing. What got me the most was the sound, that heavy brutal metal sound but with a real attention to structure and attitude. And the musicality (sic) of it too. In 1992, being just 17, Metallica's Black album defined an entire year for me - it was the year I left school and the summer before I went to college. I have fond memories of discovering Metallica, so for me this album will always be more about how I feel about it much more than the actual songs on it.