Metallica- Kill 'Em All

Before the release of Kill 'Em All, Metallica had already gone through their share of trials and tribulations. With the departure of guitarist Dave Mustaine, the band was left in need of a new lead for the band. They found just that in ex Exodus shredder Kirk Hammet. And this album is very much about him as much as anything else. With all the issues that people have with Mustaine writing a lot of the material for the album, and Hammet playing a bum note on Seek & Destroy, people forget how great Metallica and Hammet were on this recording.

Right after you put the album on, you notice a couple of things. The production is kinda tinny, and the music is fast and furious. Hit The Lights is one of the best opening tracks of all time. It dives headfirst into lightning fast riffing, and glorious shred solos. The second major flaw with album aside from the production is evidenced immediately also; and that is that Hetfield who we all know and love as the rough growler of a vocalist he would once be sounds like he's been inhaling helium before each song.

The album continues to move along at a very nice clip. None of the songs are too long which is nice, since Metallica had not developed their signature advanced compositional skills yet (even though they are shown in an embryonic state to an extent on The Four Horsemen and Phantom Lord). The albums longest track is probably it's best. The Four Horsemen introduces you to a fantastic riff, great atmosphere, and one of the best outros ever in metal. The way in which Hammet continually out does himself with the progressively higher pitched and faster runs is truly one of the most energetic things I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

The whole album is pretty much in the same vein as the first two tracks. Fast and furious, with excellent musicianship, relatively poor production, and too high pitched vocals. The album provides us with some very solid Metallica classics such as Hit The Lights, The Four Horsemen, Jump In The Fire, Whiplash, Seek & Destroy, and of course, Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth).

Anesthesia provides us with really the first great example of the master of bass, Cliff Burton. While his bass parts are mixed a little low this song allows him to shine through the way he really deserved to. The way in which he shreds the bass is jaw dropping. This track in unto itself is reason enough to buy this album. Instantly upon hearing Anesthesia, any disbeliever in Burton's ability should be converted. And those who aren't must not have souls.

Kill 'Em All is an iconic piece of thrash history. While it is very much a flawed speed metal album, it laid down the blueprint for Metallica's conquest of the genre in the years to come. Any self respecting metal head should own a copy of this album.

Best track: The Four Horsemen

Worst Track: Motorbreath

4 1/2 stars out of 5.

NIN to no longer perform in the US

Trent Reznor announced during Nine Inch Nails' performance at Bonaroo '09 that his legendary industrial rock act won't be performing live in the US ever again. His reasoning behind this decision seems to be that he wants to keep the NIN image fresh. How exactly it is that keeping the image of the music fresh by not playing live shows in the largest music market in the world is beyond me.

While I respect that Reznor has really never made any serious blunders in his career as a musician; I am somewhat upset by this move. NIN has alot of fans. And many of these fans (including myself) are highly devoted to the music and to Reznor. Now an entire new generation of fans may not be able to ever see the band live. Reznor has made a point in the past to be good to his fans. Like the release of The Slip for free via the NIN website. So leaving millions of fans out in the cold as far as live shows go seems totally foolish to me. You know better Trent; don't deprive your loyal fans of what they want.

AC/DC- Black Ice album review

Ah AC/DC. You've given us so many great songs since your Australian debut in 1973. However since 1981 AC/DC have had a chronic inability to release an album that in any way shape or form equalled the raw energy, and greatness of their first albums. Despite the fact that they survived their lead vocalist dying in 1979 they released one of the most revered, and best selling, rock albums of all time in 1980. With Brian Johnson (formerly of Geordie) AC/DC came out with the best comeback album of all time. Almost 30 years later, Back In Black has sold an excess of 40 million copies worldwide. After one more excellent release, To Those Who Are About To Rock, in 1981 however. They started to lose their edge. Rapidly. They fired their longtime drummer Phil Rudd in 1983 after recording their 9th album Flick Of The Switch. Which signaled the extremely rapid decline of the rock greats. Eventually, after releasing mediocre album after mediocre album AC/DC re-hired Rudd for their 1995 album Ballbreaker (produced by comeback great Rick Rubin). The album recaptured some of their early fire and energy. And was significantly more critically acclaimed than their last few efforts. But AC/DC has yet to hit such a high note as even the weakest of their first 8 studio albums. Can Black Ice bring them back to greatness?

Black Ice marks the longest amount of time in between releases for AC/DC in their 36 years history. This break from making music seems to have been highly beneficial to the band. As they come back with hits such as Rock N' Roll Train and Big Jack which bring to mind some of their great songs of the past. The album has all the ingredients for a great AC/DC album. Driving riffs, pounding drums, raspy vocals about beautiful women, tough guys, money and drinking and all forms of revelry, and Angus Young shredding away on guitar. After all these years Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd are just as great as ever at creating and performing memorable and rock solid music. Angus Young is actually the weakest part of the album. His solos seem dry compared to his previous efforts. He employs the use of slide guitar in Stormy May Day, but it goes almost without note. Brian Johnson is truly the high point of the album. His vocals are powerful and catchy.

Black Ice is a rock solid album from a sleeping giant of Rock. Easily the best album to come out of the Aussie band in over 25 years. The band may not be able to see the moral shortcomings of their business model, but they have gotten their musical spark back.

4 stars out of 5.