Here’s my take: Metallica had been writing and touring since the eighties. Alcohol-fueled chaos, the fallout with Dave Mustaine, the death of Cliff Burton, the burning of James’ left arm, and finally the quitting of Jason Newstead. This band had been recording, playing, and touring almost nonstop for the better part of twenty years. Now, once again, they had to find another bassist. James’, Lars’, and Kirk’s patience and creativity had been stretched beyond it’s breaking point long ago. Fans were desperate for a new album, ever since “Metallica S&M”. James’ family life was struggling due to his alcoholism, and the monolithic presence that is Metallica demanded that they keep pushing forward. James went to rehab, the band had meetings with mediators, and they auditioned for a new bassist. They choose Rob Trujillo, thankfully someone with gigging and touring experience, and offered him a million dollars (for many reasons) to join the band. Now what? Everyone’s burnt and the press is jumping down their throats for that “the future of Metallica” story. They need an album. They need to get back out under the lights. Do they need ten minute songs with blistering solos, melodic ballads, and months in the studio? No. They need to let “Metallica” go for this one. They need to get in the garage and jam. They need to just let whatever happens happen and that’s just what happens. They need to let the frustration and anger carve the path. They need to let St. Anger fuel the fire. New and experimental tunings, different sounds, a new input in the writing process, no backup vocals, and freedom. This album was yet another new start, much like the Black album, Load/Reload, and even S&M. Metallica needed to just be free to play what felt good and felt right. So they strapped on some axes, loosened up the heads, and mic’d up the practice space. This album wasn’t for the fans that wanted Metallica to be something they weren’t; it was for Metallica. It was to let everything out and that was it. Was it a betrayal? No, not in my opinion. Metallica is the most recognizable name in metal, a presence that demands well-earned attention, but there are still human beings at the helm. This was four guys doing what they loved, and that was making grungy, gritty, grimy metal. To the ones who walked away; you won’t be missed. To the ones that stayed; you are why metal got off the ground in the first place. Hell yeah 🤘
St.Anger is a hellish brutal album. The speed and ferocity of the riffs is crushing. Listen to the fraction in Hetfield’s voice and lyrics. The album is real, the pain is real, the anger is real. It was channeled and came through the other side in the form of electrocution. I love this album.
I bought the DVD, but postponed watching so I could watch it on TV, (didn't have DVD player or something) and didn't want ot watch on PC, so I never watched it
After I saw Some kind of monster I gave St. Anger another oportunity and man, it isn't the worst album of all times, it is...different, with some cool stuff. Also live Versions of frantic and St. anger are just amazing!
With the guitars mostly chugging out downtuned riffs, and there not being guitars solos, the snare's ringing fills out a lot of the higher end of the mix. It has no other sounds competing for its place, which also means the ringing stands out abrassively. So, its not surprising many hate it. Thing is, I don't think Metallica cared about how it sounded, but how it felt. The songs were written in a "garage jam-session" type environment, and that noisy harsh tone takes on a different life when its loud and surrounding you. I recall just how different it was hearing it blasted through my friends home stereo system, then trying to listen to it on my cheap little boombox. One was pure insanity, the other... rough. Lol
I'm with you on this one, while this album has a lot of things to dislike, be it the snare, lack of guitar solos or general production. It certainly also has a boatload of great riffs on it. Maybe some songs could've used some trimming but overall I still really like it.
I feel that this albums is just a take on what happens when everyone is fucking bored or stressed with all their shit, instead of settling things down for good... I mean, the movie showed how pissed they were at everything to the point that Bob was also stressed out and experimented in the worst way possible...
i kind of dislike james' voice on the album compared to his voice in master of puppets, ride the lightning, the black album etc. he sounds so different in st. anger
My two cents on this album. I'm really greatful for St Anger. It's a once in a lifetime album and a snapshot of Metallica giving way to the musical trends at the time
I wouldn't really say metallica was going the way of the trend, but rather giving their metallica spin on some of the tropes, while still having that clearly metallica sound for most of it (this isn't a linkin park one more light situation).
I've always loved the St. Anger snare sound and I will forever do. - In the end, it makes this album unique. If you really think to hate it, it proves this albums point, on hating and frustration, being different, not fitting in, fighting for a living, not feeling well, suffering from anxiety and drepression and such. It's not about comfortable listening, it's about ANGER.
Two things actually - the sound they choose (not just the snare, the guitars and bass too), and the endless repetitions in songs - Frantic could EASILY be half the length.
You are everywhere ! I think the Album IS hated because It's not the Metallica everyone want's to listen to because that's Nu Metal and mit Thrash ( the Same With Load and Reload )
Samuel Jacobson Lol um. No. It’s not. You go look through the Metallica catalogue again, CHILD, and come back with an educated mind and then we will talk about overstatements and understated worth.
Also, writing it out more for myself than anything else: Root, tritone, root, major third, minor sixth, root. Root, up a tritone, up a tritone, up a major third, up a major third, up a perfect fourth. That’s a very different tuning.
it's just Eb standard with the D string raised up a whole tone - not too weird and was probably to facilitate certain shapes that would have been impossible in normal Eb standard
They should have dumped the recording when Rob joined and re-done it with him. The dvd with live-in-rehearsal recording is awesome. And then fixed the drums, of course.
The DVD has absolutely killer energy. It’s a really good sounding album in that environment, so it’s an even bigger shame the album sounds like it does.
st. anger is my favorite album and i was absolutely Destroyed by one of my friends for liking it. i'm glad i'm not the only one who likes it. it might be the heavy tuning that draws me in
Your friend has no taste. There’s a lot to love in this album and knowing what was happening to them at the time and how it makes you feel while listening is amazing.
I like the album. I even like the snare (though I think if they didn't use it everywhere people would have reacted better). Frantic is one of my all-time favorite Metallica songs.
@@abbadon9408 Me too... at first i was not bothered by the snare sound but over the years, they have given me a headache. Now whenever i wanna hear St. Anger, I hear the unofficial remastered one although it is a little muddled. The songwriting on the album is class to me!
I completely agree. The snare only sucks if you think about it technically, but it matches the conceptual idea they were trying to convey and sonically it suits it IMO. It was a creative choice. When I was a kid, before I became more knowledgeable about music, when I listened purely to LISTEN, I remember loving it, and thinking it was the most aggressive, raw albums I'd heard, because of the sound of the guitars and drums.
Like said before, Lulu is a Lou Reed album that Metallica served as his band. Honestly, if you're a musician, and a legend like Lou Reed asks you to work with him, why not?
Zaharya lol true, I saw them in Warsaw last summer and the snare sounded like a Fuckin GUNFIRE. I suggest to everyone to watch it on UA-cam. When the the red fist came on the screen people Lost their shit and startem to cheer
Hot take: A lot of the albums problems are Bob Rock’s fault, as producer he should’ve gotten the project back on track rather than becoming embroiled in the drama with the band at the time. That said I do enjoy the album for what it is, Metallica’s other classics haven’t gone anywhere, and I love that we got Some Kind Of Monster out of it, brave of Metallica to release at the time.
I like how you look at it. When I hear a band go a different direction I just think of it as a time capsule. It's just where the band was at that point in time. Take it for what it is and listen to it a lot, occasionally or never...up to you. But I never feel like an artist has a duty to appease me. They do what they do and I am free to love it or move on & wait to see what they do next.
Rock himself said he quit being the band's producer because he had gotten to know them so well that he considered them friends, and that's why he couldn't effectively be their producer anymore. Your producer is supposed to kick you in the ass and challenge you creatively to bring out the best possible version of your sound. And Bob just didn't do that during the St. Anger fiasco.
First time I've heard St. Anger, I was confused. I was thinking, like, what the hell is this? That's not Metallica! Even Load\Reload sounded more metal than this... Then... years passed by... I was in depression, my fathers 10 years death anniversary (2011), couldn't find a job, broke relations with a girl... damn, I was pissed off to the whole world... that time I've remembered this album. I've remembered that Metallica was struggling with this album, with whole Napster thing, Jason's leaving... first I've put on title song... daaamn, that was f**king good!!! daaaaaaaamn!!! what a passion, what an anger!!... like a demon fire, burning you inside.. then - SKOM.. ohh those riffs... mama!!!... I totally changed my opinion of this album! even now, when I've whatched this video - I get goosebumps! this album is not thrash metal, in its classical meaning, but it's very heavy, punk, groovey... there was a project, couple of guys totally replayed whole album, it was pretty good though, but! Your version, mr. Cottrell, is awesome! damn! now I would love to hear the whole album in youк performance! P.S. sorry for a lot of letters))
As much as I hated the drums....I could tolerate them cause that album had some heavy ass riffs. The unnamed feeling and sweet amber are 2 of my favorites. Lulu was far worse than St. Anger We are all the table
haha even metallica jokes about lulu there was a facebook post where they said: 'today ... years ago everyone's favorite album _lulu_ came out' enough said haha
I love this album insanely much, even though I can understand why others might dislike it. It is a whole mood and some of the lyrics are surprisingly amazing. The riffs of course are sublime. Also, great for working out.
I think the trashcan snare could've worked if Lars used it sparingly - just throwing it in for a chorus or breakdown here and there. The snare in this vid is so, so much better and gives these songs a lot more power.
I love this album, it's emotional, brutal, and experimental. I wish their following records could have... Don't know... even 10% of that courage. Now we stuck with the good old Metallica as the majority of fans was too disappointed to here something different from the previous 20 years. Also I can imagine how painful it was for the band to see how the fans didn't wanna accept 'em at that moment
I think that openness was largely why people reacted negatively. That album (& the Monster doc) took away the mystique and showed the world they weren't Heavy Metal demigods but actual flawed human beings who could be insecure, stupid & petty (like most of us) and I think people wanted to hold onto their illusions. I have a lot of respect for artists who let themselves be that exposed and I think they should have been praised for their brutal honesty, but metalheads aren't famous for appreciating vulnerability.
Honestly, I don’t get how people can hate this album. Just read up on it cause I never knew why exactly it was disliked so much. The snare sound is what makes it great for me, it sounds like it was recorded in someone’s garage using an empty beer barrel instead of a drum-kit.
St. Anger is one of those albums which feels like four friends, pouring out all their anger(pun intended) getting into a garage and mending all their differences by putting all the energy into the music. I am a huge Metallica fan and have travelled all the way to SFO from India to see them live for two hours and St. Anger has allowed me at times to help channelise my anger or frustration. The album was made to sound and created just the way they wanted it to sound in my opinion. SKOM helps a lot in getting this perspective.
There was actually a pretty decent period of time where I was obsessed with St. Anger. It was the sort of album that really only comes around every now and then, and it was pretty clear that they were trying to be as honest as possible with it. It stood out from the rest of their discography, especially coming after Load and Reload, so for a hot minute I was hyperfixated on finding out why it was the way it was, how it came to be, learning the songs, all that sort of thing. That being said, and aside from the points of contention you mentioned, the songs are bloated as hell and could have stood to be at least half the lengths they ended up being. Some Kind of Monster is pretty much exactly as long as Master of Puppets is, but without any of the sort of progression and forward momentum. The drumming works against the riffs in most cases, and for the most part the structures of the songs tend to make no real sense. So in the end what you're left with is a bunch of great riffs that they kindof tossed together haphazardly. It's a beautiful trainwreck.
The original snare rings a long time after the initial transient with at rather high pitched note. It's functions as a drone tone and replacing it with a regular snare is a rather large change. I actually have more of a problem with the hideous sounding guitar effects on the record. I understand they ar (too) intentional, but it sounds to me like someone bought a copy of a Behringer pedal, broke it and proceeded to run in with a near empty battery.
Album turns 20 this year! I remember falling in love with it back in 8th grade and falling back in love with it again this year. It really got me through a tough time in my life so I have some respect for it.
St. Anger wasn’t terrible, but compared to their earlier iconic albums, it just doesn’t hold up well. For me, time is the best judge. While I enjoyed St. Anger when it came out, I don’t think I’ve listened to it in its entirety in quite a few years. I just listened to Master of Puppets a few days ago. There is also the issue of expectations. Being a long-awaited album from the world’s most famous heavy metal act, people were expecting more. If any other band had released St. Anger, expectations wouldn’t have been so high and it probably would have been well received. What we got was probably the best reflection of the turmoil that was going on in the band at the time. We know they are capable of better, but it was the best they could do at the time. For what it’s worth, their last two albums have seen vast improvements in composition, songwriting and production, though still not a return to their glory days.
One thing I’ve learned, if you were a child or early teen when it came out, you tend to like it more. If you were older or younger than that when it came out, you hate it. I never choose to ever listen to it. even though I think one or two songs are ok. I skip it more than listen.
The more I’ve listened to St Anger the more I’ve started liking it, the main reason it probably gets hate is because a lot of older Metallica fans would have seen it as very sellout as Nu Metal was on top then.
I see nothing nu metal about it tbh. Its rough as fuck maybe like early nu metal. But by the time of its release high production nu metal like linkin park ruled the airwaves. Its problem stems from long songs that went nowhere. Trim them and sort out that snare and it's good. Eg some kind of monster. Killer riff even though it's simple. But the song is way too long. At least 4 mins too long. Metallica can't let go of intros either.
For me, the best part of the album is the lyrics. James' fight against alcoholism made the lyrics so heavy and sad at the same time. It's a truly feeling in the songs.
Everything about the sound works together with the lyrical themes. Self loathing, self destruction, facing your own inadequacy and hypocrisy, addiction. Maybe it's because I was in a similarly shit mindspace to James when I first listened to the whole album, but it's one of my favourite albums all time.
I love this album. People dont like it cuz the songs dont have solos, the drums or cuz the songs are too long. I think it captures what they were going through at the time. And it's still a good album 17 years later
I was the same as you mate. I was 14 when the album dropped. Went and bought it straight away and enjoyed it, even though I was then familiar with their early stuff. But like you this album means a lot to me as it was the first Metallica album to release when I was old enough to go to a store and buy it, and listen to it amongst everyone world wide for the first time. Good times.
To me, it’s just Metallica trying too hard to be Korn. And also the lyrics are really edgy and forced. I don’t know. If I wanted to hear nu metal, I have a bunch of great bands like Slipknot, Static-X, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Roots era Sepultura and early Soulfly. Not to mention bands that weren’t native to NuMetal like Fear Factory and Rob Zombie gave the sound a try and did it better, in my opinion. Also, I just really prefer Metallica’s thrash sound, and I think them trying new stuff like the weird, funky guitars on Load and ReLoad was a weird mess. And don’t even get me started on Lulu and those weird S&M albums they put out. But anyways, to me St. Anger was just really showing that Metallica was behind on trends. In the 80s, they were at the forefront of thrash, and they pushed people to be better play harder, faster, meaner riffs. But in 2003? They were starting to get over the hill.
My problem with Korn. They've experimenting with sound etc. and I love that but Jonathan Davies song writing declined. It's receptive and boring. From 1994 to 2002 Korn was just unstoppable and insanely creative.
I’m with 13yr old you…Love this album! Honestly nothing I don’t love about this classic album! Different sounds are a band progressing….be grateful there creating music!
It was a crucial point in music history. There was a small window of time back in the early 80's and 90's before Limewire came around that enabled overrated bands like Ozzy and Motley Crue to monopolize the radiowaves and record stores. This album felt like a giant crack in the armor that was the music industry, and even though I was only like 12 or 13 I could feel that The Big Five backed bands like this couldn't ignore the fact they actually were only selling albums due to lack of competition and a manufactured market that was slowly turning against them
I had a strikingly similar experience to yours. St. Anger got me into metal as a youngin, and I LOVED it. Even revisiting it now, I enjoy the majority of it. And honestly, in regards to the snare, there's a million albums with a traditional sounding snare. I'm all here for the production experimentation, and personally, PERSONALLY, I think it added to the raw kinda gross feel of the album that resonated with me as an angsty boy.
I was in my early '30's when I heard it, and it was one of the rare new (then) albums that gave me the feeling I had when I WAS an angsty boy, hearing Master of Puppets for the first time.
The raw emotion of the album is something we can all relate to at some point in our lifetime. Going back and jamming to this record makes me reflect on where I have been and where I am now.
I was a huge Metallica fan those days when it was released and couldn't listen it in one take. I found it extreamly borring and pale. I still hate it. (I was 24 back then)
I remember the day I got that album. I wanted to throw it out the window on my drive home. There are a couple good songs on there, and a few choice riffs for sure. I do appreciate the experimentation and willingness to take risks on the album. Overall, however, the songwriting, lyrics, vocal performances, and mix made that album trash. I have given it several more chances over the years, and I am always disappointed.
lapinus How is it close minded to admittedly continue to give it a chance after not liking it time and time again? That’s the complete opposite of close minded. It doesn’t make you open minded to like everything that everyone releases. I personally cannot stand 95% of St. Anger and have listened to it tons of times to try and find more value in it. It’s far and away the worst album they’ve created in my opinion. And it doesn’t make me or anyone else close minded for saying that either.
Brent Fox Feel the exact same way man. I was so excited for this album release and it broke my heart to hear the outcome. Almost 2 decades later and still cannot enjoy it from start to finish. Lots of cool riffs but honestly the whole album could be condensed to a 5 minute track like Pete just did and it would say everything it ever could have said. I still give it a chance once a year or so and it just always leaves me disappointed. It’s not even the snare. It’s everything you mentioned. The lyrics are apprehensively bad. Letting anyone other than James write a line was one of the worst decisions they could have made on this album. Even catchy riffs get destroyed by ridiculously amateur and juvenile wannabe songwriter type lyrical lines. And to make it worse James sounds off singing most of them. It’s a shame because James was only a few years removed from being at what I consider the peak of his vocal ability. James in the ReLoad-Garage Inc era of time was absolutely on top of his game. He fell quite a lot on St Anger in my opinion. Shouty and out of tune all over this thing.
I didn't overly enjoy it when it first came out, i couldn't get past the snare piercing my ears (everything was listened to on ear phones at that point in my life) I've listened to parts of it live without that horrible snare and i definitely think i would've had a different opinion back when i was about 18, I used to say it would've been an awesome album if Korn released it (I was never a fan of Korn) and by that I mean I would've paid more attention to korn as a whole if i heard this from them, but i guess my metallica 'standards' were extremely high for an angry teen haha
I think the reason SO many people hated St. Anger is because it felt inauthentic. It felt like it was just a lame attempt to capitalize on the new metal trend while trying to WAY to hard to capture an underground sound with the low-quality recording. there’s good riffs on there and even some good song ideas, but most feel incomplete.
I think it was an album James and Metallica needed to make to get out of their system but the snare, lack of guitar solos etc and of course the fan base and what we were expecting were what affected the the way the album was initially received. As you came into Metallica with this, you perhaps weren't a 'die-hard'. The Black Album wasn't initially well received by the die-hards - it was a sell out. And Justice had its criticisms for the Bass but it was also the first after the loss of Cliff and making a video for 'One' was a sell-out. Load and re-load were often seen as 'low' points too despite the number of great songs that came from those albums. Even through all of this though, there was some 'expectations' for St Anger based on their back catalogue and fan base and it is a bit of an outlier musically. To me, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are their greatest work and the only Album that comes close to that musically in recent years is Death Magnetic. With quite a collection of different songs/albums/eras now behind them, I guess people will have different opinions - some may prefer the more raw Kill 'em All and others may prefer the more commercial Black Album so you will get albums that will divide the fan base...
The good thing is that as times goes on, new generations of fans start appearing, which might be completely new to metallica's sound, and with streaming services like youtube and spotify, anyone can look up any point of their discography, regardless of what circumstances the band were going at that time or if they were "selling out", a new fan can start listening to them comalthough I think one of the greatest thinks about metallica is how different everyone's opinions are to their music. For example, my top 3 albums are Justice, Load and Ride The Lightning, I love the themes of Justice and its sound is by far my favorite out of any metallica, I love how different Load is with it's ballads, lyrics and absolutely beautiful songs like until it sleeps, hero of the day or mama said. And Ride The Lightning really needs no explanation. What I'm trying to say is that regardless, people will enjoy metallica, even for albums like st anger.
They spent so much money and time to create an album to sound like it was jammed out in a garage. James’ voice was horribly out of tune quite a bit and EQ’d pretty poorly. The mix overall was muddy and just plain bad. Especially coming from Metallica and Bob Rock. And for a lot of older fans, it was yet another step following the mainstream instead of blazing their own trail like they used to. Plus, watching “Some Kind of Monster” at the time didn’t help our feelings for the album.
Tbh I kinda love St Anger. It's just so funny to me. Especially if you have seen the documentary, you know how this is exactly a reflection of what went on in the band: playground drama. And I love it
Would also like to add, class this album as a stand alone album. It’s James’ recovery album. You never fully understand and appreciate it until you’ve seen the documentary.
Back in middle school, this was my first Metallica album I've ever got & first album I've heard of them. Loved this album so much, no matter how many people dislike it, it's still the album that got me into metal. Always will love this album, always will hold a place in my metal journey heart.
St. Anger was my gateway to everything metal and Metallica. I remember where I was (on my couch) watching MTV when the music video for St. Anger came on. Life changing
As always Pete ypu NEVER fail to deliver the goods, changingbthat snare made it sound soooooo much better, love hearing you play brother....stay safe 🤘🏼😈🤘🏼
I love the album. Having gone through a bunch of shit in my life, I found myself being more connected with this album. It’s got such a raw guitar tone and aggressive style of playing. When I play the rhythm guitar part I can feel myself being emotionally connected as if I was experiencing what James was going through. It’s hard to explain but it’s definitely such a surreal feeling.
My Metallica fandom started in 1986 when a friend pushed Master of Puppets on me. It shifted my musical spectrum and I began to love heavier music. I've loved every release for different reasons, but my favorite sound was on the $5.98 EP, so raw and perfectly mixed, which was the only problem for me with their albums. St. Anger brought in that awesome mix that I loved so dearly, raw, passionate and not overly produced. The snare was never a problem for me and I wasn't even aware it was an issue for others until years later. Every song has so much power and heavy grooves unlike any other album they have and with no solos, it gave the songs more room to breath and flow, more of a jam feel; honestly my least favorite aspect of Metallica is the wah-wah solos but I tolerate it just fine. I proudly still stand firm that this is my favorite Metallica album, not to be contrary, but because I genuinely love it so much. And as a favorite album by a favorite band, this qualifies for at least Top 20 all time album for me personally. It's not just my opinion, it's the truth - for me. And I couldn't care less what everyone else thinks, it doesn't influence or change my connection to this music.
St Anger felt like those shitty demo tapes we use to record in the 90s and I loved it for it =) One of my favorite things back then was getting a hold of demo tracks from my favorite bands. St Anger really reminded me of that in a way.
St. Anger was actually my first "rock/metal" CD i bought :) Love the riffs, and the songs are actually pretty good :) Even though your medley sound awesome with the regular drum ;)
I don't know about others, but it took me years to finally get it. Back in 2009-2013, I was in very bad episode of my life. In 2013, St. Anger sounded sooo good all the sudden. I guess you need certain mood or the right moment to really appreciate it.
Until the last year or so I always thought st. Anger wasn't even worth listening to since the internet always said it was trash. But on my 3rd listen through it really clicked. I went back and listened through load and reload and found some songs that are now some of my favorite Metallica songs. Fixxxer, attitude, devil's dance, Outlaw torn, bleeding me, house that jack built, sweet amber and the unnamed feeling are really some hidden gems and are frequents on my playlists
I have a similar experience. I watched the some kind of monster doc thousands of times. I love the snare and the mixing. The story behind the album is “a band getting together for the first time to jam, but the bands metallica”. To me, I hear that and I hear the anger and the release of that.
I enjoy the album, it's not my favorite album but it holds a special place in my heart because my little brother ( RIP ) and I watched them in 2003 in Charlotte NC during Madly In Anger With The World Tour. we wore this album out for months ! I also tend to like the live versions better than the studio, mainly due to the snare sounding better.
Unpopular opinion: I always thought the song St. Anger has one of the hardest riffs they've ever done. And Frantic is one of their best songs, period. I don't care what anyone says.
Honestly, if the sound of the album was recorded similar to your versions, I'd have loved it. Otherwise, that darn snare drum killed it for me. My first Metallica album Kill 'Em All (cassette) was purchased as a Banzai Records release back in the early 80's from a bin along with a few more bands such as Anthrax, Slayer, Raven and Exciter. That Canadian record company no longer exists, but it cemented my love for 80's metal. Loved the Metallica album and have been fan since. Keep up the great work Pete!
St. Anger was their music therapy album, plain and simple. Let's be honest -- after a long and hard day, the first riff we're going to play is probably going to be something sludgy, rough, drop-tuned, and not very technical. For those who hate on the snare, just watch the rehearsal DVD, because it features a regular snare.
For me, I liked it. It wasnt anything like their earlier work but I love change and their direction worked. However, it's just that snare for me. I wanted to return the CD back then and ask for the mythical alternative with a normal snare lol. Great playing here btw. Loved that!! 💪🏻
I remember hearing Bob Rock say he wanted the album to sound like it was band recorded in a garage jamming, and that band happens to be Metallica. If you think about it that way the sound makes sense. I remember my snare drum ringing similar to this album when I played in my garage as a kid and the garage amplified the sound and made it more bright and treble. Each environment makes the drums and other instruments sound different. For example I played in a professional theater with sound treatment and my drums had this perfect low to mid punch and the guitars sat just right but in the staging area out back of the theater was loud and obtrusive. People need to remember things like this. The album was just a stylistic choice. They also mentioned they were burnt out especially with solos on every song and having to do certain things. I am too with certain bands following a formula.
I grew up watching Fuel on TV and found their older albums soon after. When St. Anger came out it was cool and funny to hate on it because of how different it was. I've been on a St. Anger binge recently though, and it's probably how Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell or Rainbow with Dio/Rainbow without Dio is - two rocking bands with some/all the same people.
The fact that so many fans ‘hated’ Metallica and felt St.Anger ‘betrayed’ them sounds just so fucking entitled to me. Did they sell out to a big label and start making pop music? Fuck no. They perhaps did the opposite, which was trying something radically new. It wasn’t ‘traditional Metallica,’ but it was real to what they were going through. That’s art. People evolve. Music evolves with them, and so do their views upon the world and who they are. I keep coming back to this album even decades after its release and that should say something. It’s gotten me through a lot of pain of my own, and James communicates that struggle eloquently in the lyrics. It’s deeply personal, and it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be real. In an era where music is auto tuned and processed worse than the meat you get at the super market, I’d rather take a messy, aggressive, grungy, but real Metallica every day above the other bullshit.
About the snare: With the guitars mostly chugging out downtuned riffs, and there not being guitars solos, the snare's ringing fills out a lot of the higher end of the mix. It has no other sounds competing for its place, which also means the ringing stands out abrassively. So, its not surprising many hate it. Thing is, I don't think Metallica cared about how it sounded, but how it felt. The songs were written in a "garage jam-session" type environment, and that noisy harsh tone takes on a different life when its loud and surrounding you. I recall just how different it was hearing it blasted through my friends home stereo system, then trying to listen to it on my cheap little boombox. One was pure insanity, the other... rough. Lol
Here’s my take: Metallica had been writing and touring since the eighties. Alcohol-fueled chaos, the fallout with Dave Mustaine, the death of Cliff Burton, the burning of James’ left arm, and finally the quitting of Jason Newstead. This band had been recording, playing, and touring almost nonstop for the better part of twenty years. Now, once again, they had to find another bassist. James’, Lars’, and Kirk’s patience and creativity had been stretched beyond it’s breaking point long ago. Fans were desperate for a new album, ever since “Metallica S&M”. James’ family life was struggling due to his alcoholism, and the monolithic presence that is Metallica demanded that they keep pushing forward. James went to rehab, the band had meetings with mediators, and they auditioned for a new bassist. They choose Rob Trujillo, thankfully someone with gigging and touring experience, and offered him a million dollars (for many reasons) to join the band. Now what? Everyone’s burnt and the press is jumping down their throats for that “the future of Metallica” story. They need an album. They need to get back out under the lights. Do they need ten minute songs with blistering solos, melodic ballads, and months in the studio? No. They need to let “Metallica” go for this one. They need to get in the garage and jam. They need to just let whatever happens happen and that’s just what happens. They need to let the frustration and anger carve the path. They need to let St. Anger fuel the fire. New and experimental tunings, different sounds, a new input in the writing process, no backup vocals, and freedom. This album was yet another new start, much like the Black album, Load/Reload, and even S&M. Metallica needed to just be free to play what felt good and felt right. So they strapped on some axes, loosened up the heads, and mic’d up the practice space. This album wasn’t for the fans that wanted Metallica to be something they weren’t; it was for Metallica. It was to let everything out and that was it. Was it a betrayal? No, not in my opinion. Metallica is the most recognizable name in metal, a presence that demands well-earned attention, but there are still human beings at the helm. This was four guys doing what they loved, and that was making grungy, gritty, grimy metal. To the ones who walked away; you won’t be missed. To the ones that stayed; you are why metal got off the ground in the first place. Hell yeah 🤘
Peepee Poopoo
Still that album is 1 of the worse album in metal....(if we can called that metal)
@@maclord1988 you mean st anger is not metal?
Lmao
Draken0023 Well said mate
Trujillo went after the recording of Saint Anger. Bob Rock did the bass on the album and some lil' gigs during this transition.
St.Anger is a hellish brutal album. The speed and ferocity of the riffs is crushing. Listen to the fraction in Hetfield’s voice and lyrics. The album is real, the pain is real, the anger is real. It was channeled and came through the other side in the form of electrocution. I love this album.
Watching Some Kind Of Monster made me appreciate the album more
I bought the DVD, but postponed watching so I could watch it on TV, (didn't have DVD player or something) and didn't want ot watch on PC, so I never watched it
Yes, 100% agree
For me it made me *never take it seriously again*. The album sounds like what was going on in the band: playground drama
Yup totally agree...
After I saw Some kind of monster I gave St. Anger another oportunity and man, it isn't the worst album of all times, it is...different, with some cool stuff. Also live Versions of frantic and St. anger are just amazing!
Tbh the snare ties the album together for me, I’ve always felt that way. Just gives the album more of a filthy and raw vibe which to me is more metal
totally agree
Absolutely does. The people pissed off about the snare are probably normy fucks who really don't listen to heavy music outside the "bIg FoUr"
The reason i searched for this vid is to figure out if I'm really weird liking this album and yes including the snare.
Agreed. I think it adds to that whole dirty heavy sound of the album
With the guitars mostly chugging out downtuned riffs, and there not being guitars solos, the snare's ringing fills out a lot of the higher end of the mix. It has no other sounds competing for its place, which also means the ringing stands out abrassively. So, its not surprising many hate it. Thing is, I don't think Metallica cared about how it sounded, but how it felt.
The songs were written in a "garage jam-session" type environment, and that noisy harsh tone takes on a different life when its loud and surrounding you. I recall just how different it was hearing it blasted through my friends home stereo system, then trying to listen to it on my cheap little boombox. One was pure insanity, the other... rough. Lol
I'm with you on this one, while this album has a lot of things to dislike, be it the snare, lack of guitar solos or general production. It certainly also has a boatload of great riffs on it. Maybe some songs could've used some trimming but overall I still really like it.
I feel that this albums is just a take on what happens when everyone is fucking bored or stressed with all their shit, instead of settling things down for good... I mean, the movie showed how pissed they were at everything to the point that Bob was also stressed out and experimented in the worst way possible...
i kind of dislike james' voice on the album compared to his voice in master of puppets, ride the lightning, the black album etc. he sounds so different in st. anger
That snare and not having guitar solos are the exact points that makes it special.
My two cents on this album.
I'm really greatful for St Anger. It's a once in a lifetime album and a snapshot of Metallica giving way to the musical trends at the time
I wouldn't really say metallica was going the way of the trend, but rather giving their metallica spin on some of the tropes, while still having that clearly metallica sound for most of it (this isn't a linkin park one more light situation).
St Anger is the Nickleback of Metallica albums. Everyone loves to hate on it, but it has its good moments.
Davis Wood tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tock hahaha
I wanted to hate your comment but actually you are right
No, it sucks and so does Nickelback
It has exactly 11 good moments at the very end of each song.
You spelled the black album wrong....
I've always loved the St. Anger snare sound and I will forever do. - In the end, it makes this album unique. If you really think to hate it, it proves this albums point, on hating and frustration, being different, not fitting in, fighting for a living, not feeling well, suffering from anxiety and drepression and such. It's not about comfortable listening, it's about ANGER.
St.Anger isn't bad. It's just that trashcan snare. Look up Frantic - Copenhagen. That made me give the album a second listen.
Yes.
Two things actually - the sound they choose (not just the snare, the guitars and bass too), and the endless repetitions in songs - Frantic could EASILY be half the length.
@@andrewplck And Justice for all can easily be half the length. The song is 10mins long. What's your point???
@@DavidNwokoye Yes, exactly. That could've been shorter too. Your point?
You are everywhere !
I think the Album IS hated because It's not the Metallica everyone want's to listen to because that's Nu Metal and mit Thrash ( the Same With Load and Reload )
The snare makes the album feel alive with how the drum rings. Anytime someone "fixes" the snare it sounds totally lifeless
maybe you're deaf, and you need that snare, but a normal person doesn't need to hear anomalies
@@acidspit14 L
the unnamed feeling is one of their best songs period
Intro to Some Kind of Monster, absolute fire
The breakdown with hetfield yelling is a pretty spot on representation of anxiety imo. its a great song
Best songs ever? Holy overstatement of the decade. Lol. Glad you found something you like at least.
@@ronsin9490 calling it a holy overstatement is a holy overstatement
Samuel Jacobson Lol um. No. It’s not. You go look through the Metallica catalogue again, CHILD, and come back with an educated mind and then we will talk about overstatements and understated worth.
2:27: Eb, Ab, Eb, E natural, Bb, Eb. I think my brain just melted trying to comprehend that
F# is actually Gb, but istg I will stand by sharps until my dying breath.
Also, writing it out more for myself than anything else:
Root, tritone, root, major third, minor sixth, root.
Root, up a tritone, up a tritone, up a major third, up a major third, up a perfect fourth.
That’s a very different tuning.
If you tune a semi tone up its E-A-E-G-B-E. So basically the bottom four strings are an open minor chord. Still seems very weird
it's just Eb standard with the D string raised up a whole tone - not too weird and was probably to facilitate certain shapes that would have been impossible in normal Eb standard
They should have dumped the recording when Rob joined and re-done it with him. The dvd with live-in-rehearsal recording is awesome. And then fixed the drums, of course.
I would kill for that version on Spotify, light years better than the original release.
The DVD has absolutely killer energy. It’s a really good sounding album in that environment, so it’s an even bigger shame the album sounds like it does.
Yeah I totally agree. The live DVD was a million times better.
st. anger is my favorite album and i was absolutely Destroyed by one of my friends for liking it. i'm glad i'm not the only one who likes it. it might be the heavy tuning that draws me in
St.Anger is also my favourite Metallica album ;)
Your friend has no taste. There’s a lot to love in this album and knowing what was happening to them at the time and how it makes you feel while listening is amazing.
I like the album. I even like the snare (though I think if they didn't use it everywhere people would have reacted better). Frantic is one of my all-time favorite Metallica songs.
@@abbadon9408 Me too... at first i was not bothered by the snare sound but over the years, they have given me a headache. Now whenever i wanna hear St. Anger, I hear the unofficial remastered one although it is a little muddled. The songwriting on the album is class to me!
All Within My Hands is the most incredible shit ever
"Shadows of the Cross" was a fuckin' epic riff and song that didnt make the album - Google it you'll see!
I agree. Also, they changed this riff a few years later and it's lowkey present in "All Nightmare Long"
+1 to that! I used to spend hours on YT trying to find a fully produced version lol
That crushed! Shadows and Temptation was killer too.
I really wish that they’ll re-record this for its anniversary and make it more listenable, it’ll get so much more love.
I'm working on a reimagined St. Anger with shorter songs, better production, some changes here and there, and even some guitar solos. Keep an eye out.
the album is literally fine as it is
@@Natrack1 It's really not. It has good ideas, that's about it. It wouldn't be so universally disliked if it was actually fine the way it is.
To be honest the rawness of the album is what makes it underrated
They're very unlikely to. They wouldnt even give And justice for all a desperately needed remix
Damn, i realize i kind of miss the snare drum when you played those riffs without it
It's not the same without the snare, specially if you listened to the album a lot lol
I feel the opposite XD I couldn't ever listen to st anger because of that snare, I would gladly welcome an official remix or re-recording :)
@@Skeware St Anger 2015. A Cover of the entire Album by some dudes with a little better production. Check it out.
@@salkii62 yeah, I think I did listen to 2 different of those :) But I would really like to see an official release by Metallica
I completely agree. The snare only sucks if you think about it technically, but it matches the conceptual idea they were trying to convey and sonically it suits it IMO. It was a creative choice. When I was a kid, before I became more knowledgeable about music, when I listened purely to LISTEN, I remember loving it, and thinking it was the most aggressive, raw albums I'd heard, because of the sound of the guitars and drums.
“A medley of Metallica’s worst album”
I thought we were talking about St. Anger here not Lulu
Lulu is a tribute, not their album.
It's not a metallica album
Lulu is a Lou Reed album in collaboration with Metallica, not the other way around.
Load is even worse imo
Like said before, Lulu is a Lou Reed album that Metallica served as his band. Honestly, if you're a musician, and a legend like Lou Reed asks you to work with him, why not?
When they play them live these days, songs from St. Anger sound so awesome.
Zaharya lol true, I saw them in Warsaw last summer and the snare sounded like a Fuckin GUNFIRE. I suggest to everyone to watch it on UA-cam. When the the red fist came on the screen people Lost their shit and startem to cheer
Hot take: A lot of the albums problems are Bob Rock’s fault, as producer he should’ve gotten the project back on track rather than becoming embroiled in the drama with the band at the time.
That said I do enjoy the album for what it is, Metallica’s other classics haven’t gone anywhere, and I love that we got Some Kind Of Monster out of it, brave of Metallica to release at the time.
I like how you look at it. When I hear a band go a different direction I just think of it as a time capsule. It's just where the band was at that point in time. Take it for what it is and listen to it a lot, occasionally or never...up to you. But I never feel like an artist has a duty to appease me. They do what they do and I am free to love it or move on & wait to see what they do next.
Rock himself said he quit being the band's producer because he had gotten to know them so well that he considered them friends, and that's why he couldn't effectively be their producer anymore. Your producer is supposed to kick you in the ass and challenge you creatively to bring out the best possible version of your sound. And Bob just didn't do that during the St. Anger fiasco.
First time I've heard St. Anger, I was confused. I was thinking, like, what the hell is this? That's not Metallica! Even Load\Reload sounded more metal than this... Then... years passed by... I was in depression, my fathers 10 years death anniversary (2011), couldn't find a job, broke relations with a girl... damn, I was pissed off to the whole world... that time I've remembered this album. I've remembered that Metallica was struggling with this album, with whole Napster thing, Jason's leaving... first I've put on title song... daaamn, that was f**king good!!! daaaaaaaamn!!! what a passion, what an anger!!... like a demon fire, burning you inside.. then - SKOM.. ohh those riffs... mama!!!... I totally changed my opinion of this album! even now, when I've whatched this video - I get goosebumps! this album is not thrash metal, in its classical meaning, but it's very heavy, punk, groovey... there was a project, couple of guys totally replayed whole album, it was pretty good though, but! Your version, mr. Cottrell, is awesome! damn! now I would love to hear the whole album in youк performance!
P.S. sorry for a lot of letters))
Man, hope you're okay now
@@vermillion2023 thnx, I'm good now))
Even though you've used a proper snare in this video, I can still hear Lars' pong pong pong pong snare.
As much as I hated the drums....I could tolerate them cause that album had some heavy ass riffs. The unnamed feeling and sweet amber are 2 of my favorites.
Lulu was far worse than St. Anger
We are all the table
I don't think any MetallicA fan considers Lulu a Metallica album.... right!? Atleast I don't....
@@metallicatTim guilty by association honestly. That thing was garbage, I never liked Lou, so I guess I'm biased
haha even metallica jokes about lulu
there was a facebook post where they said: 'today ... years ago everyone's favorite album _lulu_ came out'
enough said haha
Yeah I cant even believe Lulu exists
@@citrus7115 Well, it was more a musical experience than a real album anyway, so..
I love this album insanely much, even though I can understand why others might dislike it. It is a whole mood and some of the lyrics are surprisingly amazing. The riffs of course are sublime. Also, great for working out.
St. Anger isn't Metallica's worst album, unless you don't consider Lulu part of the Metallica canon
Rurik the Burr Lulu was pretty experimental though. I wouldn’t consider it bad, just different.
Lulu is a collab album and its more Lou Reed feat. Metallica than it is a metallica record. So no, it doesnt count
We don’t talk about that...
The View slaps
Rurik the Burr I AM THE TABLE!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂
Unpopular opinion: The snare drum was perfect in St.Anger. It added different kind of heavy presence to the setup.
Yeah, it's perfect when you love the sound of drunk guys stumbling into trashcans. :D
@@Jigsaw407 i do not agree :)
@@emregurbuz7684 That's your prerogative! They world would be boring if everyone had the same taste. ;)
I think the trashcan snare could've worked if Lars used it sparingly - just throwing it in for a chorus or breakdown here and there. The snare in this vid is so, so much better and gives these songs a lot more power.
I didn’t like it but I’m glad you did.
I love this album, it's emotional, brutal, and experimental. I wish their following records could have... Don't know... even 10% of that courage. Now we stuck with the good old Metallica as the majority of fans was too disappointed to here something different from the previous 20 years. Also I can imagine how painful it was for the band to see how the fans didn't wanna accept 'em at that moment
I think that openness was largely why people reacted negatively. That album (& the Monster doc) took away the mystique and showed the world they weren't Heavy Metal demigods but actual flawed human beings who could be insecure, stupid & petty (like most of us) and I think people wanted to hold onto their illusions. I have a lot of respect for artists who let themselves be that exposed and I think they should have been praised for their brutal honesty, but metalheads aren't famous for appreciating vulnerability.
Unpopular Opinion: I love the snare. It fits the raw aggressive style and the mood, that was in the band at this time.
Honestly, I don’t get how people can hate this album. Just read up on it cause I never knew why exactly it was disliked so much. The snare sound is what makes it great for me, it sounds like it was recorded in someone’s garage using an empty beer barrel instead of a drum-kit.
St. Anger is one of those albums which feels like four friends, pouring out all their anger(pun intended) getting into a garage and mending all their differences by putting all the energy into the music. I am a huge Metallica fan and have travelled all the way to SFO from India to see them live for two hours and St. Anger has allowed me at times to help channelise my anger or frustration. The album was made to sound and created just the way they wanted it to sound in my opinion. SKOM helps a lot in getting this perspective.
I like the album the way it is.
the harshness, the rough sound it hast it's own appeal.
I was more excited to hear this album than I had been for several albums. The rawness was a breath of fresh air.
There was actually a pretty decent period of time where I was obsessed with St. Anger. It was the sort of album that really only comes around every now and then, and it was pretty clear that they were trying to be as honest as possible with it. It stood out from the rest of their discography, especially coming after Load and Reload, so for a hot minute I was hyperfixated on finding out why it was the way it was, how it came to be, learning the songs, all that sort of thing.
That being said, and aside from the points of contention you mentioned, the songs are bloated as hell and could have stood to be at least half the lengths they ended up being. Some Kind of Monster is pretty much exactly as long as Master of Puppets is, but without any of the sort of progression and forward momentum. The drumming works against the riffs in most cases, and for the most part the structures of the songs tend to make no real sense. So in the end what you're left with is a bunch of great riffs that they kindof tossed together haphazardly.
It's a beautiful trainwreck.
The original snare rings a long time after the initial transient with at rather high pitched note. It's functions as a drone tone and replacing it with a regular snare is a rather large change. I actually have more of a problem with the hideous sounding guitar effects on the record. I understand they ar (too) intentional, but it sounds to me like someone bought a copy of a Behringer pedal, broke it and proceeded to run in with a near empty battery.
Album turns 20 this year! I remember falling in love with it back in 8th grade and falling back in love with it again this year. It really got me through a tough time in my life so I have some respect for it.
The unnamed feeling is an extremely great song, like the whole album btw
Yes! Epic song!
"Some kind of monster" has a SICK groove.
St. Anger wasn’t terrible, but compared to their earlier iconic albums, it just doesn’t hold up well. For me, time is the best judge. While I enjoyed St. Anger when it came out, I don’t think I’ve listened to it in its entirety in quite a few years. I just listened to Master of Puppets a few days ago.
There is also the issue of expectations. Being a long-awaited album from the world’s most famous heavy metal act, people were expecting more. If any other band had released St. Anger, expectations wouldn’t have been so high and it probably would have been well received. What we got was probably the best reflection of the turmoil that was going on in the band at the time. We know they are capable of better, but it was the best they could do at the time. For what it’s worth, their last two albums have seen vast improvements in composition, songwriting and production, though still not a return to their glory days.
One thing I’ve learned, if you were a child or early teen when it came out, you tend to like it more. If you were older or younger than that when it came out, you hate it. I never choose to ever listen to it. even though I think one or two songs are ok. I skip it more than listen.
The more I’ve listened to St Anger the more I’ve started liking it, the main reason it probably gets hate is because a lot of older Metallica fans would have seen it as very sellout as Nu Metal was on top then.
Honestly, I feel like it’s aging better over time. I also find it to be an album you can relate to in the lowest point of your life!
maybe the hate st anger recives is quite similar to the hate to nickelback.
there is nothing bad with it. the time of release brought so much hate.
@@maruchanramen3500 spot on!
I see nothing nu metal about it tbh. Its rough as fuck maybe like early nu metal. But by the time of its release high production nu metal like linkin park ruled the airwaves. Its problem stems from long songs that went nowhere. Trim them and sort out that snare and it's good. Eg some kind of monster. Killer riff even though it's simple. But the song is way too long. At least 4 mins too long. Metallica can't let go of intros either.
It's called "Stockholm Syndrom"!
This album helped me through my darkest time... I mean d academic pressure ..the fact that u r the invisible kid .... This album means a lot..🤘🤘🤘🤘
For me, the best part of the album is the lyrics. James' fight against alcoholism made the lyrics so heavy and sad at the same time. It's a truly feeling in the songs.
Everything about the sound works together with the lyrical themes. Self loathing, self destruction, facing your own inadequacy and hypocrisy, addiction. Maybe it's because I was in a similarly shit mindspace to James when I first listened to the whole album, but it's one of my favourite albums all time.
I love this album. People dont like it cuz the songs dont have solos, the drums or cuz the songs are too long. I think it captures what they were going through at the time. And it's still a good album 17 years later
I am actually starting to fall in love with this album. It's different, original and it has a feel that I don't get from the other albums
I was the same as you mate. I was 14 when the album dropped. Went and bought it straight away and enjoyed it, even though I was then familiar with their early stuff. But like you this album means a lot to me as it was the first Metallica album to release when I was old enough to go to a store and buy it, and listen to it amongst everyone world wide for the first time. Good times.
To me, it’s just Metallica trying too hard to be Korn. And also the lyrics are really edgy and forced. I don’t know. If I wanted to hear nu metal, I have a bunch of great bands like Slipknot, Static-X, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Roots era Sepultura and early Soulfly. Not to mention bands that weren’t native to NuMetal like Fear Factory and Rob Zombie gave the sound a try and did it better, in my opinion. Also, I just really prefer Metallica’s thrash sound, and I think them trying new stuff like the weird, funky guitars on Load and ReLoad was a weird mess. And don’t even get me started on Lulu and those weird S&M albums they put out. But anyways, to me St. Anger was just really showing that Metallica was behind on trends. In the 80s, they were at the forefront of thrash, and they pushed people to be better play harder, faster, meaner riffs. But in 2003? They were starting to get over the hill.
My problem with Korn. They've experimenting with sound etc. and I love that but Jonathan Davies song writing declined. It's receptive and boring. From 1994 to 2002 Korn was just unstoppable and insanely creative.
I’m with 13yr old you…Love this album!
Honestly nothing I don’t love about this classic album! Different sounds are a band progressing….be grateful there creating music!
Actually a Few Songs from St. Anger got me Into Metallica.
It was a crucial point in music history. There was a small window of time back in the early 80's and 90's before Limewire came around that enabled overrated bands like Ozzy and Motley Crue to monopolize the radiowaves and record stores. This album felt like a giant crack in the armor that was the music industry, and even though I was only like 12 or 13 I could feel that The Big Five backed bands like this couldn't ignore the fact they actually were only selling albums due to lack of competition and a manufactured market that was slowly turning against them
I had a strikingly similar experience to yours. St. Anger got me into metal as a youngin, and I LOVED it. Even revisiting it now, I enjoy the majority of it. And honestly, in regards to the snare, there's a million albums with a traditional sounding snare. I'm all here for the production experimentation, and personally, PERSONALLY, I think it added to the raw kinda gross feel of the album that resonated with me as an angsty boy.
I was in my early '30's when I heard it, and it was one of the rare new (then) albums that gave me the feeling I had when I WAS an angsty boy, hearing Master of Puppets for the first time.
The raw emotion of the album is something we can all relate to at some point in our lifetime. Going back and jamming to this record makes me reflect on where I have been and where I am now.
STILL one of my favourite albums of theirs . . . That energy and punch is unmatched anywhere else l!!!
Loved the format you chose 🙏 Keep up the killer work 👌
I was a huge Metallica fan those days when it was released and couldn't listen it in one take. I found it extreamly borring and pale. I still hate it. (I was 24 back then)
This album kept me motivated one time when I drove straight from Georgia to Wisconsin only stopping for gas
I remember the day I got that album. I wanted to throw it out the window on my drive home. There are a couple good songs on there, and a few choice riffs for sure. I do appreciate the experimentation and willingness to take risks on the album. Overall, however, the songwriting, lyrics, vocal performances, and mix made that album trash. I have given it several more chances over the years, and I am always disappointed.
wow, how close minded of you.
lapinus they’re not being close minded it’s just their opinion
lapinus How is it close minded to admittedly continue to give it a chance after not liking it time and time again? That’s the complete opposite of close minded. It doesn’t make you open minded to like everything that everyone releases. I personally cannot stand 95% of St. Anger and have listened to it tons of times to try and find more value in it. It’s far and away the worst album they’ve created in my opinion. And it doesn’t make me or anyone else close minded for saying that either.
Brent Fox Feel the exact same way man. I was so excited for this album release and it broke my heart to hear the outcome. Almost 2 decades later and still cannot enjoy it from start to finish. Lots of cool riffs but honestly the whole album could be condensed to a 5 minute track like Pete just did and it would say everything it ever could have said. I still give it a chance once a year or so and it just always leaves me disappointed. It’s not even the snare. It’s everything you mentioned. The lyrics are apprehensively bad. Letting anyone other than James write a line was one of the worst decisions they could have made on this album. Even catchy riffs get destroyed by ridiculously amateur and juvenile wannabe songwriter type lyrical lines. And to make it worse James sounds off singing most of them. It’s a shame because James was only a few years removed from being at what I consider the peak of his vocal ability. James in the ReLoad-Garage Inc era of time was absolutely on top of his game. He fell quite a lot on St Anger in my opinion. Shouty and out of tune all over this thing.
@@ronsin9490 I mean, when you were about to throw the album
Every video you do is so good and I think the great consistency is guaranteed.
I didn't overly enjoy it when it first came out, i couldn't get past the snare piercing my ears (everything was listened to on ear phones at that point in my life)
I've listened to parts of it live without that horrible snare and i definitely think i would've had a different opinion back when i was about 18, I used to say it would've been an awesome album if Korn released it (I was never a fan of Korn) and by that I mean I would've paid more attention to korn as a whole if i heard this from them, but i guess my metallica 'standards' were extremely high for an angry teen haha
I think the reason SO many people hated St. Anger is because it felt inauthentic. It felt like it was just a lame attempt to capitalize on the new metal trend while trying to WAY to hard to capture an underground sound with the low-quality recording. there’s good riffs on there and even some good song ideas, but most feel incomplete.
I think it was an album James and Metallica needed to make to get out of their system but the snare, lack of guitar solos etc and of course the fan base and what we were expecting were what affected the the way the album was initially received.
As you came into Metallica with this, you perhaps weren't a 'die-hard'. The Black Album wasn't initially well received by the die-hards - it was a sell out. And Justice had its criticisms for the Bass but it was also the first after the loss of Cliff and making a video for 'One' was a sell-out. Load and re-load were often seen as 'low' points too despite the number of great songs that came from those albums. Even through all of this though, there was some 'expectations' for St Anger based on their back catalogue and fan base and it is a bit of an outlier musically.
To me, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are their greatest work and the only Album that comes close to that musically in recent years is Death Magnetic. With quite a collection of different songs/albums/eras now behind them, I guess people will have different opinions - some may prefer the more raw Kill 'em All and others may prefer the more commercial Black Album so you will get albums that will divide the fan base...
You mean fake fans or haters not die-hards, real fans love all the albums and wouldn't consider them sell outs.
The good thing is that as times goes on, new generations of fans start appearing, which might be completely new to metallica's sound, and with streaming services like youtube and spotify, anyone can look up any point of their discography, regardless of what circumstances the band were going at that time or if they were "selling out", a new fan can start listening to them comalthough I think one of the greatest thinks about metallica is how different everyone's opinions are to their music.
For example, my top 3 albums are Justice, Load and Ride The Lightning, I love the themes of Justice and its sound is by far my favorite out of any metallica, I love how different Load is with it's ballads, lyrics and absolutely beautiful songs like until it sleeps, hero of the day or mama said. And Ride The Lightning really needs no explanation.
What I'm trying to say is that regardless, people will enjoy metallica, even for albums like st anger.
I was impressed that sweet amber breakdown wasn't here, it's my favorite riff after tba (and before death magnetic)
They spent so much money and time to create an album to sound like it was jammed out in a garage. James’ voice was horribly out of tune quite a bit and EQ’d pretty poorly. The mix overall was muddy and just plain bad. Especially coming from Metallica and Bob Rock. And for a lot of older fans, it was yet another step following the mainstream instead of blazing their own trail like they used to. Plus, watching “Some Kind of Monster” at the time didn’t help our feelings for the album.
Tbh I kinda love St Anger. It's just so funny to me. Especially if you have seen the documentary, you know how this is exactly a reflection of what went on in the band: playground drama. And I love it
the drums were bad...there are some good songs on it...good old trash-stuff
Hearing the intro to “Some Kind of Monster” without the snare vibrating in the background is so nice.
It's unlistenable to. Live St. Anger and Frantic are ok
The album doesn’t have typical solos but there is a lot of lead work that adds so much to the songs they didn’t need traditional solos
"Was Metallica's St Anger Really That Bad?"
Yes.
especially comparing it with their earlier albums
Would also like to add, class this album as a stand alone album. It’s James’ recovery album. You never fully understand and appreciate it until you’ve seen the documentary.
Back in middle school, this was my first Metallica album I've ever got & first album I've heard of them. Loved this album so much, no matter how many people dislike it, it's still the album that got me into metal. Always will love this album, always will hold a place in my metal journey heart.
I loved the ringing snare. It was experimental and unique and fit the theme of the album. But I understand why others hate it.
St. Anger was my gateway to everything metal and Metallica. I remember where I was (on my couch) watching MTV when the music video for St. Anger came on. Life changing
If you retracked this whole album, i would buy it in a heartbeat! You made it sound GREAT. Im in the great-songs-bad-production camp
As always Pete ypu NEVER fail to deliver the goods, changingbthat snare made it sound soooooo much better, love hearing you play brother....stay safe 🤘🏼😈🤘🏼
Saint Anger is the only album they've written completely and totally true to themselves since Justice.
I love the album. Having gone through a bunch of shit in my life, I found myself being more connected with this album. It’s got such a raw guitar tone and aggressive style of playing. When I play the rhythm guitar part I can feel myself being emotionally connected as if I was experiencing what James was going through. It’s hard to explain but it’s definitely such a surreal feeling.
That snare is so ingrained in my brain I hear it even when it’s not there
My Metallica fandom started in 1986 when a friend pushed Master of Puppets on me. It shifted my musical spectrum and I began to love heavier music. I've loved every release for different reasons, but my favorite sound was on the $5.98 EP, so raw and perfectly mixed, which was the only problem for me with their albums. St. Anger brought in that awesome mix that I loved so dearly, raw, passionate and not overly produced. The snare was never a problem for me and I wasn't even aware it was an issue for others until years later. Every song has so much power and heavy grooves unlike any other album they have and with no solos, it gave the songs more room to breath and flow, more of a jam feel; honestly my least favorite aspect of Metallica is the wah-wah solos but I tolerate it just fine.
I proudly still stand firm that this is my favorite Metallica album, not to be contrary, but because I genuinely love it so much. And as a favorite album by a favorite band, this qualifies for at least Top 20 all time album for me personally. It's not just my opinion, it's the truth - for me. And I couldn't care less what everyone else thinks, it doesn't influence or change my connection to this music.
St Anger felt like those shitty demo tapes we use to record in the 90s and I loved it for it =)
One of my favorite things back then was getting a hold of demo tracks from my favorite bands. St Anger really reminded me of that in a way.
St. Anger was actually my first "rock/metal" CD i bought :) Love the riffs, and the songs are actually pretty good :) Even though your medley sound awesome with the regular drum ;)
Despite the snare and lack of leads.....I love this album the riffs are so sick and it's some of their best song writing ...great arrangements.
Same with me. St.anger was my 1st metallica experience. I watched the live studio version on the cd and was blown away
I loved St. Anger. I was 13 when it came out too, and I remember playing it in my Walkman through the halls of my middle school \m/
I don't know about others, but it took me years to finally get it. Back in 2009-2013, I was in very bad episode of my life. In 2013, St. Anger sounded sooo good all the sudden. I guess you need certain mood or the right moment to really appreciate it.
Until the last year or so I always thought st. Anger wasn't even worth listening to since the internet always said it was trash. But on my 3rd listen through it really clicked. I went back and listened through load and reload and found some songs that are now some of my favorite Metallica songs. Fixxxer, attitude, devil's dance, Outlaw torn, bleeding me, house that jack built, sweet amber and the unnamed feeling are really some hidden gems and are frequents on my playlists
I think the main thing is it just isn't mixed very well
You should do a full cover of this song 🤘🏻
I have a similar experience. I watched the some kind of monster doc thousands of times. I love the snare and the mixing. The story behind the album is “a band getting together for the first time to jam, but the bands metallica”. To me, I hear that and I hear the anger and the release of that.
I enjoy the album, it's not my favorite album but it holds a special place in my heart because my little brother ( RIP ) and I watched them in 2003 in Charlotte NC during Madly In Anger With The World Tour. we wore this album out for months ! I also tend to like the live versions better than the studio, mainly due to the snare sounding better.
Unpopular opinion: I always thought the song St. Anger has one of the hardest riffs they've ever done. And Frantic is one of their best songs, period. I don't care what anyone says.
Agree I just don't like James vocals on it
Honestly, if the sound of the album was recorded similar to your versions, I'd have loved it. Otherwise, that darn snare drum killed it for me. My first Metallica album Kill 'Em All (cassette) was purchased as a Banzai Records release back in the early 80's from a bin along with a few more bands such as Anthrax, Slayer, Raven and Exciter. That Canadian record company no longer exists, but it cemented my love for 80's metal. Loved the Metallica album and have been fan since. Keep up the great work Pete!
We need a full cover of invisible kid. Such a sick song! (Also like, how does Kirk play in the weird tuning in that song lol)
St. Anger was their music therapy album, plain and simple. Let's be honest -- after a long and hard day, the first riff we're going to play is probably going to be something sludgy, rough, drop-tuned, and not very technical. For those who hate on the snare, just watch the rehearsal DVD, because it features a regular snare.
I'm late to the game here, but what you did with the drums changed everything for me. It sounded great. Just add James and we're set.
For me, I liked it. It wasnt anything like their earlier work but I love change and their direction worked. However, it's just that snare for me. I wanted to return the CD back then and ask for the mythical alternative with a normal snare lol. Great playing here btw. Loved that!! 💪🏻
I remember hearing a song in a skatepark in Copenhagen, i thought it was a local band demo.
I remember hearing Bob Rock say he wanted the album to sound like it was band recorded in a garage jamming, and that band happens to be Metallica.
If you think about it that way the sound makes sense. I remember my snare drum ringing similar to this album when I played in my garage as a kid and the garage amplified the sound and made it more bright and treble. Each environment makes the drums and other instruments sound different. For example I played in a professional theater with sound treatment and my drums had this perfect low to mid punch and the guitars sat just right but in the staging area out back of the theater was loud and obtrusive.
People need to remember things like this. The album was just a stylistic choice.
They also mentioned they were burnt out especially with solos on every song and having to do certain things. I am too with certain bands following a formula.
I grew up watching Fuel on TV and found their older albums soon after. When St. Anger came out it was cool and funny to hate on it because of how different it was. I've been on a St. Anger binge recently though, and it's probably how Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell or Rainbow with Dio/Rainbow without Dio is - two rocking bands with some/all the same people.
The fact that so many fans ‘hated’ Metallica and felt St.Anger ‘betrayed’ them sounds just so fucking entitled to me. Did they sell out to a big label and start making pop music? Fuck no. They perhaps did the opposite, which was trying something radically new. It wasn’t ‘traditional Metallica,’ but it was real to what they were going through. That’s art. People evolve. Music evolves with them, and so do their views upon the world and who they are. I keep coming back to this album even decades after its release and that should say something. It’s gotten me through a lot of pain of my own, and James communicates that struggle eloquently in the lyrics. It’s deeply personal, and it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be real. In an era where music is auto tuned and processed worse than the meat you get at the super market, I’d rather take a messy, aggressive, grungy, but real Metallica every day above the other bullshit.
I really like it. I'd take St Anger over 100 Load/Reload/Garage Inc.
About the snare: With the guitars mostly chugging out downtuned riffs, and there not being guitars solos, the snare's ringing fills out a lot of the higher end of the mix. It has no other sounds competing for its place, which also means the ringing stands out abrassively. So, its not surprising many hate it. Thing is, I don't think Metallica cared about how it sounded, but how it felt.
The songs were written in a "garage jam-session" type environment, and that noisy harsh tone takes on a different life when its loud and surrounding you. I recall just how different it was hearing it blasted through my friends home stereo system, then trying to listen to it on my cheap little boombox. One was pure insanity, the other... rough. Lol