Metallica's Black Album was my introduction to thrash metal and it made me want to check out their other releases. I admit that Metallica have had some bad moments, like St. Anger or the joke recorded with Lou Reed, but I have faith that Death Magnetic will not be the last great album from them. Load and Re-Load showed that they could incorporate hard rock elements with their original sound without losing their identity. I have no problem with a band experimenting with different styles as long as they don't go Alice in Chains or industrial. The Black Album should be looked at the same way as Master of Puppets or Ride the Lightning, instead of being called the end of Metallica.
"Enter Sandman" kicks off with with a dark, heavy intro, which is scary in a good way. The kid repeating the prayer after James adds a lot to the song's effect. "Wherever I May Roam" has a sitar that blends very well with the guitar. The ballad "Nothing Else Matters" is a surprising change in lyrical content, since it is about love. This does not take anything away from the listening experience and those calling it a sellout may want to listen to the killer solo. "The Unforgiven" is another ballad with excellent guitar solos and some of the best lyrics from James. Kirk and Jason really let it rip on "Sad but True," proving that they found a suitable replacement for Cliff. Lars beats his kit mercilessly without sounding like he joined Slayer or felt like playing trash cans.
If you like metal with memorable lyrics you can understand and strong instrumental work, this is the album for you. I would also recommend this to anyone who wants to experience Metallica beyond the songs heard on the radio. The first 4 albums and Death Magnetic are good ways to introduce people to them too.
