Metallica has always been my favorite band for years ever since I was a young kid and still love that band now. I’ve heard everything they’ve done and love everything they’ve done. I never got to see Metallica live in concert until they came to Albany for the “Death Magnetic” tour… that was the only time I got to see them live and it was a great experience.

During their thrash metal era between “Kill ‘Em All”, “Ride the Lightning”, “Master of Puppets”, “And Justice For ALL” and the “Black Album”… fans love them. Everybody loved them back then but I believe all the hate and controversy with Metallica started during the “Load/Reload” eras. I remember when those two albums first came out… the band was in a major backlash. Due to their change of sound and their image. That’s when the band completely ditched “thrash” metal ’cause they grew so tired of it and they decided to cut their hair for their albums too. Even their haircuts sparked a lot controversy which was crazy.

I can understand why Metallica did that ’cause they were trying to fit in with the times, ya know? In the 90’s, the alternative rock era was exploding and Metallica wanted to fit in there. They got tired of playing thrash metal all the time and wanted to go for something different. I believe they wanted to focus on songwriting more which is why they did it. They wanted to be looked as songwriters too, not just a bunch of guys banging on power chords and headbanging. They wanted to show people that they are more.

But the controversy with Metallica’s music didn’t stop there… it happened even more when the album “St. Anger” came out in the early 2000’s. People trashed that album like crazy. The two biggest complaints about that album was Kirk having no solos on it and Lars’s weird sounding snare drum throughout the record.

Ya know, I didn’t have a problem with “Load/Reload” and “St. Anger”… actually, I find those three albums pretty fucking amazing and I mean that. “Load/Reload” they showed they can be great songwriters and “St. Anger” was a real heavy and tight album. “St. Anger” was pretty heavy, admit it but no one will. I thought it was a fun album.

The band continues to get criticized for staying away from thrash and heavy stuff. They tried to bring thrash and heavy stuff back when “Death Magnetic” came out. They gave what the fans wanted but sure enough, they’re still complaining. Yes, they brought the thrash back with that album but a lot of fans were saying some of it sounded like the Black album and Load/Reload still.

Then in 2016, Metallica released their latest album “Hardwired To Self Destruct”… with this album they definitely brought back their 80’s thrash and finally, this album got a lot of positive reviews from fans & critics. Many were saying this is Metallica in its true form. This album took the band years to make ’cause they wanted to make it sure was going to be a good one and it was.

Metallica continues to get a lot of hate and negativity even to this day, though. They haven’t been forgiven for their Napster battle and they continue to shit on “St. Anger”. Now that Metallica did that album with Lou Reed “Lulu”… people were shitting on that album like mad ’cause they didn’t get Lou’s singing. I thought it was a great album myself and still listen to it once in a blue moon. I thought it was cool to see Metallica work with someone else and it proved they could make music other than their own stuff.

People should respect Metallica more ’cause love ’em or hate ’em, the band accomplished a lot. They are hit makers too. While it seems like James Hetfield wrote a lot of the bands songs, not really ’cause Lars did most of the work. Lars is pretty much the leader of the band ’cause he directs every aspect of it. Watch all the Metallica footage in youtube for proof on that especially their studio sessions. Yeah, James, Kirk and Rob write together it’s Lars that writes all the songs and put the arrangements together. He’s the one who picks all the riffs that James and Kirk writes. If Lars don’t like the riffs, he’ll trash ’em and would only use the stuff that Lars likes. If Lars doesn’t like what James and Kirk plays, Lars will get onto them about it and try to improve their playing. Watch the videos for proof. Lars does all the work in the songwriting.

You may ask, how does a drummer in a band writes the songs? Well if you’re good with timing and rhythm which Lars is good at, you can make any music you want. It is Lars who is responsible for all of Metallica’s hits… James just provides rhythm guitar, lyrics and vocals. So technically Lars does most of the songwriting and he’s the primary songwriter. Not James.

Lars is in charge of everything… that man works hard and people want to trash the band still. I don’t get it. Lars not only works hard in the studio, he’s also in charge of the marketing/promoting of the band, in charge of the rehearsals and concerts. All of it. That’s because Lars started Metallica years ago himself and he was the one who recruited James first. Lars formed Metallica himself and all it took was that he posted an ad in a newspaper asking that he was looking for members to form a band and James was the first to reply. James and Lars been together ever since. From posting an ad in a newspaper to becoming the biggest metal band of all time. They didn’t get where they are overnight that’s for sure.

This band should be respected more ’cause they put on the best live shows. They kill it every time. They don’t fake anything. They played all over the world even Antarctica. That’s another reason to respect ’em more.

Metallica just released the new live album, “S & M 2” and it’s freaking amazing. The album backed by a live orchestra. Hearing Metallica backed by a live orchestra, just makes their music sound even better especially their hits. “S & M 2” really sick album, gotten around to listening to it this week. James is such a great singer too and his singing is pretty strong on this album. “S & M 2” way better than the first one

Metallica just confirmed they are at work on another new album but who knows how long it will take for them to release it. They are working on new riffs and stuff, though. They have tons of riffs so it will take a while for them to pick which ones they like.

Long live the Mighty Metallica… I’ll always love them no matter what the haters say or think and I’m definitely looking forward to their next record whenever they get it out.

Kev