Am I the only one...

Heresy · 11-09-2003 9:46am #1

Lads, am I the only one in Ireland who things 'St. Anger' is a brilliant album.
Justed want to hear from a few of ye that concur.

Reasons why I like it:

1.) It's back to the old days of Justice & Kill, two of my favourite albums.

2.) Lar's drums.

3.) There's no let off. No slow, soft 'Nothing else is forgiven' type of stuff.

4.) They've gone somewhere (yet again) that've never been before, despite the fact that it reminds me of their 80's hay days.

Fav song: 'The unnamed feeling' or 'my world'

padraigmyers · 11-09-2003 9:48am

Originally posted by Heresy
2.) Lar's drums.

To b honest with you, this is the main reason I don't like the album, the drum sound
is like a bad demo, sounds like a stick hitting paper, awful.

Heresy · 11-09-2003 10:02am

If you listen to every album you'll notice that the drum sound has changed alot over the years.
The albums can be lumped together as follows:

Kill/Ride/Puppets: Great sound, no complaints.

Justice: The best - the kick drum at the start of One is as true and clear as can be. Pity they forgot to make more of an effort with the bass and vocals.

Black/Load/Reload: Different again, but v. good.

St. Anger: Like nothing I've ever heard. Reminds me of the sound that Slipknot produce with the beer kegs.

As the lines in Frantic go: 'keep on searching...'
And that's what they do, when it comes to music...

Lemming · 11-09-2003 10:06am

Personally, I think it's their weakest album. I don't dislike it, but it doesn't do much for me either. There's one or two songs that have potential, but other than that, it's quite a difficult album to "get into".

It's very much like a concept album rather than anything else.

They can do better ......

padraigmyers · 11-09-2003 10:06am

**** it, I'm going to have to just compltly disagree, I think that the drum sound on
Justice is the worst bar St.Anger. What does everyone else think? Any drummers
opinions?

cournioni · 11-09-2003 12:44pm

Originally posted by Heresy
Pity they forgot to make more of an effort with the bass and vocals.

Emmm... St. Anger is quite bad in that respect too. No solos either. Their sound in general on that album just annoys me.

Doctor J · 11-09-2003 1:00pm

St. Anger is a steaming turd in every aspect. The snare drum sound is possibly the worst I've ever heard, it sounds like someone banging a wrench off an empty oil drum. I can't believe they did it on purpose. The bass is terrible, no depth to it at all (check Shoot Me Again for proof). As for the vocals... well the day Hetfield learned to sing, Metallica lost a great singer. The guitars are just too nu-metal sounding. I won't even start on the "songs". It's Metallica's worst album by a long shot, and I never thought I'd say that after I heard Load for the first time.

The black album was about as close as Metallica got to a good sound (though the drums are too loud), though that doesn't stop the genius of the first four albums shining through. St. Anger though... christ it's so bad it's embarassing.

Heresy · 11-09-2003 1:22pm

Yep, it looks like i'm the only person in ireland who likes it.
A friend of mine once remarked that if metallica produced an album that sounded like abba i'd still like it. That's not true, I always call things the way I see them.
If I was to nominate their worst album, i'd go for reload. Some good songs, but in general I hate it.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 11-09-2003 1:26pm

I just don't see anything good about this album at all, I've tried.. lord help me I've tried to like it. but .. I can't

Doctor J · 11-09-2003 2:02pm

I've tried.. lord help me I've tried to like it. but .. I can't

That's it in a nutshell. It's a sign of how bad St. Anger truly is, so many people approached it with an open mind, wanting it to be good, wanting to like a Metallica album again... it's just a really bad album.

I first saw Metallica in the Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire in 1988. They were the best. I wan't mad on the black album and I just lost interest after hearing Load. I didn't bother picking up ReLoad because I just knew it would stink. With all the buildup to St. Anger being that they'd returned to their roots, they were playing old tunes like Phantom Lord, Motorbreath, and the like I finally thought they might be back... but was I wrong. I think St. Anger was even more of a disappointment than Load was.

padraigmyers · 11-09-2003 2:13pm

Yeah, I agree. I really did want to likethis album, and I tried very hard to find some good points that might grow on me, but from the off, the production annoyed me, then the songs began to annoy me, finally after about a month of listening to it I just gave up. I can't see it ever being put on my stereo again.

Pugsley · 11-09-2003 3:49pm

The whole feel of the album reminds me far too much of System of A Down (whom I think are pants), particularly the drumming, very samy the whole way through. The first time my brother put the CD on he skipped through random songs for about 10minutes checkin out what the general sound of the album was - I honestly thought he only looked through one song.

Cianan2 · 11-09-2003 4:42pm

I, honestly,also love this album The song Shoot Me Again is by far the best on it. It did take quite a while to grow on me though.

one-angry-dwarf · 11-09-2003 6:34pm

I'm a drummer and although I'm not a Metallica fan, I've never heard a Metallica song with a drum track that didn't just annoy the hell out of me. (With the possible exception of nothing else matters, S&M version). Lars Ulrich is a technically great Drummer, but he's just got no idea how to write fitting drums for a song.
Musical masturbation at it's worst.

Karl Hungus · 11-09-2003 8:09pm

Lars Ulrich is seriously one of the worst drummers alive, whether you're a fan or Metallica or not. He's easily out-classed by the likes of Gene Hoglan, Richard Christy, Nick Barker, Tony Laureno, or just about any other drummer working in metal today. I wont even get started on some of the non-metal drummers out there... Because held up against most drummers out there, he's nothing.

Honestly, listen to his solo from Live ****. Talk about pre-rehearsed, he even goes into the heavy part of 'One' during it. And this is meant to be a frigging solo ffs!

I'm not going to bother commenting on St. Anger myself. I've actually never heard it, and I dont ever plan to either. But Lars is by no means a good drummer.

Heresy · 12-09-2003 8:25am

Lars Ulrich is seriously one of the worst drummers alive

How come then, in 1998 he was voted 2nd best drummer of all time by the readers of Metal Hammer? (that Cavalera lad got first)
You're fully entitled to your opinion, I respect it, but totally disagree with it. (The same applies to your opinion of Metal Hammer)
Give these guys a chance to settle down into a 4 piece band again (and maybe lose Bob Rock), you might be suprised by what they produce.
I'll agree, this is by no means their best work, but still, I think it's a road they feel comfortable on and they will certainly improve their skills in this type of sound.

Doctor J · 12-09-2003 8:37am

The readers of Metal Hammer? What do they know about drumming? Lars Ulrich is average at best. If you listen to St.Anger the song, you can hear how they dropped in the faster double-bass drumming section in the chorus using Pro-Tools. Even Newsted said he had lost his technique through being lazy. Ulrich the second best drummer in metal? No chance.

If you want to hear good drumming pick up Death's incredible "Human" album. Sean Reinert redefined what metal drumming is on that cd. I saw them play in McGonagles in support of that album and he came on just before their set to warm up and it was possibly the greatest drumming I've ever seen. I won't even start on that guy from Dream Theater.

Ph3n0m · 12-09-2003 4:22pm

I havent heard St Anger, apart from a couple of songs, and I will hae to say - without question, it is the worst offering Metallica have ever insulted their fans with.

Even when they played the VMA's (yes I watched it) - when they played the little intro of covers of other songs, collectively was much better then the actual song they played (I think it was Frantic).

That song itself is an absolute mess - and the vocals are simply a goddamn joke

There is a parody St Anger mp3 floating around, I wont post the link as that is a Neddy No-No, but if you happen to find it, I think it describes what St Anger is down to a "T"

Originally posted by Doctor J
If you want to hear good drumming pick up Death's incredible "Human" album. Sean Reinert redefined what metal drumming is on that cd.

I endorse that event or product - simply some of the finest drumming I have heard - must go off and give Human another playing

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 12-09-2003 4:45pm

ROFL
it's "matt smith - st anger tribute"

it's ****ing hilarious

Ph3n0m · 12-09-2003 4:47pm

Originally posted by Mordeth
ROFL
it's "matt smith - st anger tribute"

it's ****ing hilarious

indeed, but do you think it aptly desribes St Anger??

Karl Hungus · 12-09-2003 5:30pm

Originally posted by Heresy
How come then, in 1998 he was voted 2nd best drummer of all time by the readers of Metal Hammer? (that Cavalera lad got first)
You're fully entitled to your opinion, I respect it, but totally disagree with it. (The same applies to your opinion of Metal Hammer)
Give these guys a chance to settle down into a 4 piece band again (and maybe lose Bob Rock), you might be suprised by what they produce.
I'll agree, this is by no means their best work, but still, I think it's a road they feel comfortable on and they will certainly improve their skills in this type of sound.

Of course, the readers of Metal Hammer MUST be right! As, they are well versed in all forms of drumming, have a broad range of taste, and certainly aren't a bunch of 14 year olds who probably haven't heard a drummer other than Lars Ulrich, or Igor Cavalera, or whoever else you'd like to mention...

How come Buddy Rich wasn't in that poll?

And I honestly dont think, that if you're a decent and skilled musician that you'd need time to settle down, or improve after you've been in the business constantly for 20 years.

Crucifix · 12-09-2003 6:12pm

Originally posted by Doctor J
..... I won't even start on that guy from Dream Theater.

Huzzah! Loads of people say he's crap, and seem think a good drummer is just someone who pounds out double bass constantly.
Whether he is technically skilled, I suppose I can't give a very educated opinion, but I just love those strange timings.

cournioni · 12-09-2003 10:07pm

Originally posted by Crucifix
Huzzah! Loads of people say he's crap, and seem think a good drummer is just someone who pounds out double bass constantly.
Whether he is technically skilled, I suppose I can't give a very educated opinion, but I just love those strange timings.

Mike Portnoy is a class drummer alright. He doesn't go over the top in songs to show off his skill, but when there is a song where he has the chance to he fairly lets rip.

Lars Ulrich is one of the worst drummers I've ever heard ***. When you put him up against the likes of Vitek from Decapitated and Pete Sandoval from Morbid Angel, he sounds like a little kid kicking around a can... Oh wait, he was doing that on St. Anger...

feylya · 12-09-2003 10:23pm

I actually think St Anger is a ****ing good album. So it doesn't have any solos. Who cares? You want solos, go listen to Malmsteen. It has a different drum sound. You fear change it would seem. People have been putting Metallica down every single album they've released since Master Of Puppets. Hears a word of advice - if you don't like Metallica, don't ****ing listen to them and then post ****e about them. ****, how many people in this thread like punk, jazz, classical, dance or blues? Just because you don't like them doesn't make them ****e. Reminds me of 14 years old gob****es saying Satriani is ****e cos "he doesn't use power chords". The lack of musical diversity in country is ****ing ****e ***.

cournioni · 12-09-2003 10:48pm

Originally posted by feylya
I actually think St Anger is a ****ing good album. So it doesn't have any solos. Who cares? You want solos, go listen to Malmsteen.

14 years ago if you wanted to hear solos and good riffs and good bass work then you probably would listen to Metallica, sadly none of those three things exist within Metallica nowadays.

feylya · 12-09-2003 10:55pm

I hate to break this to you Pornapster but it's not fourteen years ago.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 12-09-2003 11:04pm

i don't hate st. anger because it isn't "metallica", i don't hate it because it isn't metal (although I would hesitate to actually call it metal), I don't hate it because of a lack of solos or whatever, I simply hate it because i think it is a very.. very very bad album.

the songs are terribly written, the drumming is ****e (i don't know anything about drumming technically but it just sounds ****E), the lyrics are something that you'd expect to see in a black felt notebook in some 14 year old american teenagers bedroom with "angsty poems" written on the cover. i mean come on
"fran tic tic tic toc " ffs, what the **** was james thinking. The guitars are something you'd expect to hear from a local band just starting out, not a bloody established and "distinguished" set of 'rockers' as Metallica.

simply put, it is a bad bad album.

feylya · 12-09-2003 11:06pm

Originally posted by Mordeth
simply put, it is a bad bad album.

Your opinion. Yours. Not Mine. Not the thousands that bought the album and enjoyed it.

RicardoSmith · 12-09-2003 11:10pm

Have to admit I don't like the single off it. Maybe the album will grow on me the more I hear of it. Not getting much airplay though. At the moment I don't have an interest in buying it. I'd prefer to get an older album on CD than the new one.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 12-09-2003 11:11pm

Originally posted by feylya
Your opinion. Yours. Not Mine. Not the thousands that bought the album and enjoyed it.

thousands of people buy backstreet boys albums too,, it doesn't make them good.
it's marketing, image and reputation.

feylya · 12-09-2003 11:14pm

Doesn't make them bad either.... No, I don't like them but thousands do.

RicardoSmith · 12-09-2003 11:20pm

Originally posted by feylya
Doesn't make them bad either.... No, I don't like them but thousands do.

Exactly. Like I said in the other thread. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". You can say you don't like some music and how much you dislike it. But you can't put a value judgement on it. Well you can but its has no meaning.

feylya · 12-09-2003 11:37pm

Exactly. Couldn't put it better.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 12-09-2003 11:49pm

i dunno..

you can argue about a singers voice, about how good their singing is..
you can argue the quality of a guitarists guitar playing, or the skill and quality of the drumwork.
what you can't measure is how much you 'like' the album, but that isn't a measure of how 'good' the album is.. only your personal opinion of it..

it is quite possible to rate an album as 'good' or bad, looking at style of play, skill with the instruments, vocalists, how it blends with the music...

art is personal, fair enough but it also has a er.. constructed element to it.. it can be taken apart an analyzed.

RicardoSmith · 13-09-2003 12:03am

Sure you can if you treat music as a technical exercise instead of an artform for which people empathize with. Even if you judge it on purely technical details like BetaMax > VHS. At the end of the day it doesn't matter how good technically it is, if no one likes it, or if people DO like it

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 13-09-2003 12:07am

true, but at least this way I can actually say that it's a bad album

RicardoSmith · 13-09-2003 12:17am

Originally posted by Mordeth
true, but at least this way I can actually say that it's a bad album

Thats like saying blue isn't a nice colour and that you MUST colour inside the lines.

cournioni · 13-09-2003 12:26am

Originally posted by feylya
I hate to break this to you Pornapster but it's not fourteen years ago.

So thats the reason why they got rid of the only attributes that made them great?

feylya · 13-09-2003 12:38am

No, it means that people get bored shredding like a mad bastard. Even I get bored of playing For The Love Of God sometimes and start playing Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja. It's just a nice, simple song to rock on. ****, St Anger is at least slightly heavier than Load (which I also thought was a bloody good album)

cournioni · 13-09-2003 1:56am

No one ever gets sick of hearing anyone shred. Take a look at Slayer for example. They still have a great fanbase, after playing basically the same stuff for years. I'll never get sick of hearing them riff like crazy.

I think it is just dumb, what Metallica are doing right now. Tuning down 4 steps, and having a trash can for a snare just to try and be original. What they were doing pre-Black album was original, and everyone liked it. They had their own sound (and no one took it off them). Then Bob Rock came along and fucked it all up. All I can say is bring back Flemming Rasmussen. Now there is a decent producer for you.

feylya · 13-09-2003 2:09am

Each to their own.

Repli · 13-09-2003 2:09am

When i first heard i thought i was listening to slipknot..its very very heavy.. but having said that for metallica it is original material and for whoever said theres no riffs on the album.. listen to the start of Frantic..
I think people were just expecting another s&m or master of puppets but times have changed.. and theyre disappointed with this album

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 13-09-2003 10:17am

I think it's all well and good to try to be original with each new release and i respect them for taking a new direction with the album, I'm just sad it didn't work.

I wasn't expecting anything with this album, the start of frantic put a smile on my face as it was a good start to the album.. sadly there was no variation in the album. every song sounds the same, i think they just got lazy and know that their fans will buy any old ****e they push out so they don't have to try any more

nesthead · 13-09-2003 10:38am

album is a big pile of poo. this has been discussed SOO many times who brought up this thread?

its nu-metal, and nu-metal is ****. enough said.

feylya · 13-09-2003 12:09pm

Define nu-metal.

RicardoSmith · 13-09-2003 12:10pm

Originally posted by nesthead
album is a big pile of poo. this has been discussed SOO many times who brought up this thread?

its nu-metal, and nu-metal is ****. enough said.

So if you don't like it, then it must be carp. Smart. ww)

feylya · 13-09-2003 12:16pm

Originally posted by RicardoSmith
So if you don't like it, then it must be carp. Smart. ww)

Damn those pesky fish.

RicardoSmith · 13-09-2003 12:18pm

Originally posted by feylya
Damn those pesky fish.

cournioni · 13-09-2003 8:10pm

Originally posted by feylya
Define nu-metal.

http://www.entertainment.inuk.com/music/numetalguide.html

It's definately not the thrash metal that they started out with.

Heresy · 14-09-2003 4:47pm

album is a big pile of poo. this has been discussed SOO many times who brought up this thread?

Ok so you hate the album, who cares?? Maybe if you actually read the first post on this thread you:

a) might see who brought it up.

b) realise that I was interested in hearing from people who concur with my opinion.

If people have a problem with dealing with the same topic cropping up again and again, then the best policy would be to ignore it and the thread would quickly disappear. 'Nuff said.

Lukin Black · 14-09-2003 5:16pm

Originally posted by Mordeth
ROFL
it's "matt smith - st anger tribute"

it's ****ing hilarious

Sure is

I love the 'drums'. Got it spot on

Am I the only one...

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