Three decades ago Metallica’s fifth album was released, turning the world of music upside down. Sharp, energetic vocals, unique and brave sounding drums, mind-blowing guitar solos, excellent work of the producers – thanks to this the band became mainstream titans for brought the money through royalty free music and remains so to this day. The record appeared in the right place at the right time and influenced the metal genre as a whole. To commemorate this event, the band released an updated version of “The Black Album” on September 10, and also presented an additional compilation in which thirty artists re-sang their songs.
Holier Than Thou.
A song about being annoyed with those in the music industry who constantly point out other people’s mistakes. Such people tend to jump to conclusions too quickly and start gossiping. They should learn to keep their mouths shut. “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged,” Hatfield sings. The energy and rhythm of the track evokes many emotions and reflects Metallica’s aggressive style.
César Vigouroux is a rock and metal singer from Chile. He is the lead singer of the groove-metal band SOBERNOT and also participates in opera rock projects and is into science. Together with musicians from other bands (All Tomorrows, Wild Rage, Mackinger, Perro Loco) César recorded a cover of “Holier Than Thou”. All the parts are performed professionally. You can feel the drive of the musicians through the screen. In general – put these guys on stage and they will rock just as hard as Metallica.
The Unforgiven.
“The Unforgiven” is a song about those who miss a chance and live life without initiative, suppressing their true desires and emotions. The explosive verse, melodic chorus, inimitable guitar solos and strong message all make the ballad a worldwide hit. Later the band released the sequels “The Unforgiven II” and “The Unforgiven III” to the delight of the fans.
Violet Orlandi is a musician from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She covers and writes her own songs. Skar Productions, from Norway, plays bass and sings in the band Equilibrium. Bold, mesmerizing female vocals and powerful guitar parts make their version of “The Unforgiven” memorable.
Of Wolf and Man
Producer Bob Rock thought writing about the wolf was pretty silly at first, but the lyrics turned out to be meaningful. The track can be interpreted in different ways, depending on what is the “wild side” for you and drives you crazy – parties, alcohol, music or worse things. Everyone will find something interesting, such as Kirk’s “howling” guitar solo.
On self-isolation, the guys from Brazil decided to get busy and recorded a cover of “Of Wolf and Man”. Alexandre Grunheidt does the guitar and vocals, Antonio Araújo does the solo, Jorge Anielo plays drums and Paulo Anhaia plays bass. The musicians have a lot of experience, so they approached the recording of the song thoroughly. The neighbors were lucky to listen to their live performance.
Wherever I May Roam.
The Metallica guys can compose guitar riffs all day long. The riffs and solo parts of this song are some of the best on the Black Album. The story is about wanderers. This way of life is familiar to almost all musicians: they are constantly on the road, touring, coming home only in between tours and recording an album. It can be exhausting, but there’s a special appeal to it. The sitar and gong give the song an unusual sound, and the “crackle” is added by the 12-string bass guitar. Now Metallica have released as many as three versions of this song.
It’s not a cover, but a real collab of professionals. Steve Terreberry and Rudy Ayoub are on lead guitars, Hiram is on rhythm guitar, Gigi Zimmer is on bass, Wienerdrums is on drums, and the inimitable Anthony Vincent is on vocals. The guys decided to liven up the song and did a cover in a modern metal style, adding new tricks and diversifying the melody.
Nothing Else Matters
Thirty years ago Metallica proved there was room for ballads in metal. James didn’t want to show his creativity to the band at first, as lyrics are a sign of weakness, and he wanted to be a tough, confident guy (feelings are irrelevant). When Kirk Hammett heard the composition, he said: “Did James really write a fucking love song about his girlfriend?” Despite the preconceptions and stylistic differences from the overall concept of the album, the song was grand and unlike anything written in the ’80s. Hatfield was able to tell the story of love in his own way, and that takes a lot of courage.
Smith & Myers are a musical duo and members of the band Shinedown. The guys recorded a cover of the legendary song “Nothing Else Matters”. The musicians managed to convey the atmosphere and character of the ballad and not to go to another genre.
