Metallica – St. Anger

Metallican’t

Few bands will ever have the mainstream success and impact on heavy music that Metallica have had over the past twenty years. Despite various lineup and stylistic changes that have occurred throughout their time together, Metallica, whose most recent albums have arguably been a bit too formulaic, have still managed to keep a nominal amount of respect from millions of fans worldwide. But rather than expanding on the sound that made them so popular, Metallica choose to play ‘catch up’ with the modern rock bands adorning the current charts, making St. Anger without a doubt the most disappointing album of the year.Metallica have always had a knack for being good songwriters; catchy hooks pulsating with edgy solos have become a staple in their music. But those traits are abandoned on St. Anger, taking favor of rapid guitar riffs, constant snare-drum hits and the quintessential ‘breakdown’ that every song seemingly must have. The result is a chaotic and muddy mixture of conflicting sounds, as if the band is trying too hard to make you believe they can still rock out with the best of them, instead of expanding on their already talented and successful qualities, leaving one to wonder if its time for the band hang up the guitars before our view of them worsens.