Before the “Black Album”, Metallica was already a mainstream band thanks to the “Master of Puppets” and “And Justice For All” albums that helped get them there. After “And Justice For All”, they were in the process at beginning work for the self-titled album which is better known as the “Black Album”.

Believe it or not, the band used to record their demos on a small 4 track recorder machine at Lars’s house, in his basement. That’s where they used to write and rehearse. Even Metallica have to start somewhere, right? Back then, they couldn’t afford their own studio so they recorded demos first and then they would make the official recording at a studio they would pay studio time for.

A 4 track machine is just a small recorder with 4 tracks on it, I know ’cause I used one before.

I’m sure Metallica never expected the “Black Album” to become an important album in metal. Love Metallica or hate ’em, they’re the ones that helped metal become a little more mainstream. I’m sure the boys in Metallica never expected “Enter Sandman” to be a huge hit either. MTV played the video for “Enter Sandman” throughout the day pretty much and that song was all over FM radio and you heard it everywhere you go. The same with the other Metallica hit singles on that album: “Wherever I may Roam”, “Sad But True”, “Nothing Else Matters” and “The Unforgiven”. That album had 5 smash hits.

That album was huge in the 90’s and still is a pretty huge album even after 30 years. It’s still an amazing record overall, though. There’s other great songs on the album that aren’t hits like “Holier THan Thou” especially and also “Don’t Tread On Me” and “Of Wolf and Man” are kickass songs too. The whole album is great.

Metallica are in celebration for the 30 year anniversary of “The Black Album” so in celebration of that, they are releasing a re-issue expanded edition with more songs and they are also releasing a picture book titled “Metallica: the Black Album in Black and White” and I’m probably gonna buy both of these. Why? Because I love Metallica.

I’ve always been a huge fan. I’ve got every studio album they’ve put out even “Garage Inc.”, “St. Anger”, “Lulu” and “Load/Reload”. I’ve also got Metallica’s “Some Kind of Monster”, “The Big 4” live DVD and their “Through the Never” film on BluRay. I also got to see them live in concert once so you can say that I’m a die hard Metallica fan.

I’ve always defended that band whenever they are in trouble and when they’re being criticized for something. They’re the biggest metal band of all time and yes, they are metal and can’t wait for their next record too.

Kev