TheRustonRifle#7

The Black Album by Metallica is pretty groundbreaking. Just to hear James Hetfield actually sing vs shout or growl. They toured for like 2 straight yrs across the globe just off that release & it took those guys to a whole new stratosphere of fans. Never seen anything like that before in heavy metal. That level of frenzy, adoration, & popularity inside that genre overall. 

The weird thing I remember about that whole time period is this: It was like a mutiny among Ride the Lighting fans who hated this more mellow, ballad centric album like they feared Lars, James, Kirk, & Jason had lost their edge & gone soft. 

I was like what? Can't these fans see how revolutionary the Black Album is? Very bizarre. 

I agree @southwest1…."The Black Album" showed their range and ability and it didn't sit well with the fans from the beginning...evolve or perish...

@TheRustonRifle Well said brother! When I heard "Nothing Else Matters" for the first time, I was blown away that James could actually do that. Like you said his range was unbelievable. And "Sad But True" was a mixture of ballad plus metal too, so when some fans rejected this new sound; I knew that they just wanted copycat material that they had grown accustom to & they had no idea how landmark the Black Album really was. Sad really. 

I really respect your knowledge of music RR7 as well as Lollygager8's & CC1's too.  

Also, I know that Metallica used the movie "Spinal Tap" as inspiration for their Black album. I still LMAO when I see that scene when they unveil their new black album & nobody can see the album cover because of the glare coming off it like a shiny mirror. Rob Reiner was so hilarious chronicling those guys on tour in the movie.