Metallica Reissues

Well, there is anti-war, and then there is war-set nihilism (a la Slayer).

Skimming some old interviews, looks like they just got inspiration where they found it. Books, the news, etc. I found a 93 interview with James where he says they were "scared" when people started labeling them a political band, and wanted to change direction. This was post "Justice."

xp

and even more so in US hardcore at the time,
which is the context that I first heard them.

Cliff was definitely the one pushing Lovecraft.

The most pointedly ideological (or more accurately autobiographical) song that James wrote was "The God That Failed" IIRC. xp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vSDTA-oKXw

Then there was Hetfield's drug-addict takedown "Master of Puppets." "I just went to this party in S.F. and there was a bunch of sick freaks shooting up, and it made me sick," Hetfield said in 1986 of why he wrote it. "It's not about any drug in general but people being controlled by drugs and not the other way around."

So yeah, maybe not that deep.

Most 80s metal, Nuclear Assault and a handful of others aside, focused on commentary rather than actual activism. Storytelling.

This is a crazy old (and datedly offensive) interview. Also: touches on activism!

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/06/metallica-classic-interview

hetfield and jim marshall from faith no more had some kinda unreleased side project that was pretty offensive i think

i had never listened to the bonuses on the Master of Puppets reissue, but the version of "Damage, Inc" from James's riff tape is hilarious.

he (or someone, might not even be him) just goes "duh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh" for the melody over the riff.

i had a Japanese CD single that had a demo of One where he did the same thing over the chorus

the live recordings on those reissues are straight fire, worth picking up for those alone

wow, the version of Master of Puppets (live) on this, one of the two (probably Kirk) completely fucks up the harmonized lead in the interlude for what feels like a full minute, like he can't find his place on the fretboard. they frequently made mistakes but that's probably the worst I've heard them play that part!

like unless he was making a bagel during that part, I don't know how he fucked it up. it's of moderate difficulty at best!

Maybe he couldn't hear himself in the monitors and thought Jaymz was fucking up

the AJFA remasters are masterful. high quality recordings of like three shows on cd, the SEattle show from Live Shit: Binge and Purge on vinyl, three live DVDs, some shot with home video camera which is fun.

I'm 5 minutes into the first DVD and the entire band is jamming and laughing in a room....except Jason, who is sitting in the other room alone, looking forlorn. sums things up perfectly.

(I should say I mean the deluxe boxed set)

you can totally see some rockstar-ism coming with James during this performance.

at one point, he stops the band who comes in sooner than he wanted them to on Harvester of Sorrow after a dropout.

he also forgets some words to "Phantom Lord". but they hadn't played it in forever at the time.

it's a home video so you can see people in the crowd with battle jackets and it's kinda like being transported. granted I was in 3rd grade and listening to Chicago and Paul McCartney.

he screamed the first few words of "Fade to Black". just about made me jump

now they asked if anybody knew the words to "No Remorse", brought a kid on the stage that claimed he did, and he shouted/rapped in places that were supposed to be instrumental, then didn't come in when the vocals were to start, and they kicked him off the stage and called him a loser.

next guy up didn't know the verse, but knew the chorus

just realized this show seemed very diff than other shows on the Damaged Justice tour, and it's cos it was in a 1,000 person club when they were playing arenas! (Stone Balloon)

The RTL and MOP reissues also had DVD's, do you know if those liveshows were any good?

RTL one is great. I've watched it twice. Even has them debuting "new song" Disposable Heroes for the crowd.

Idk about the MOP one.

when is the Death Magnetic remaster coming out

Remaster, remaster
Where's the dreams that I've been after?

Load/Re-Load FULLY LOADED

Featuring the 57 minute version of The Outlaw Torn featuring Ry Cooder on bouzouki

Blackened (None More Black version)

…And 401ks For All

Ride the 10 for 1 split lightning

Short ‘Em All

Boiler Room Days Re-Revisited

the Lulu demos is what I want