Metallica is embarking on a journey which will either write them off as has-beens or reincarnate them as forces of twenty-first century metal. 'St. Anger' comes on the back of years of controversy, soap opera dramatics and the kind of flaccid releases which have die-hard fans wondering if the band will finally drop the soap, so to speak.

With 1991s 'Black' album successfully taking the band into the mainstream, Metallica had successfully made metal a re-invigorated commodity with over seven million units shifted in the USA alone. The band hit the road for a couple years, winning over both critics and ordinary music punters in the process.

One problem with this momentum was that it was hard to escape the gravity of expectation. Fans wanted more Metallica, louder Metallica, faster Metallica, catchier Metallica and why not?

The band followed up with 1996s 'Load', which some fans regarded as a real load of *%^&^$&^. The band simultaneously softened their image with haircuts and 'cool' white singlets. While the album went to #1 stateside, internally the band was divided over the direction Metallica should take. 'Re-load', a second bite at the cherry, featured new material as well as surplus stock from the 'Load' album. However, it was a critical failure.

Just as some elements of Metallica's fanbase thought the band was scraping the barrel, they released 'Garage Inc.' - which featured b-sides, covers and rarities. It redeemed the band in the eyes of many, but Metallica was still far from re-capturing their glory days of the early 1990s. With the 'S&M' live album, featuring the San Francisco Symphony, Metallica decided to take their live show to a new dimension and it was one which won respect from critics and fans alike.

But just as Metallica had started to claw their way back to the top of the pile, Napster loomed large. Lars Ulrich became the public face of the corporate machine that wanted to crush Napster and its file-sharing ilk out of existence. The band had around 300,000 people booted off Napster and an online backlash flourished against Lars and company for most of 2000. Then Jason Newstead (bassist) decided to leave the band after 14 years of valuable service.

Guitarist James Hetfield threw a spanner into the works by going into rehab for alcoholism in 2001. By the time Hetfield returned, Metallica was re-defined. The band worked with a group therapist. They hit the studio without a masterplan and worked on new songs as a team (a change from the ego-driven past). Bob Rock took over bass duties for the recording sessions. And fans started to question whether the three-piece had lost it for good.

So far the reviews for 'St. Anger' have been positive, hinting at an album which finds the band leaning more towards a thick metallic, cadent edge. Reviews have been generally supportive because Metallica sounds angry, mad and out to prove a point. Even Metallicasucks.com has give the new album cautious thumbs up.

Official site: http://www.metallica.com/

MetallicaSucks.com

Encyclopedia Metallica

Over 200 Metallica links on the GuitarSite!