The Black Album

Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your Podcasts.

Leave us a Voicemail to be played on a future episode: 980-666-8182

It would seem that the hour (and a half or so…) is upon us. As of the date of the release of this episode, we here at Metal Nerdery HQ 33rd Floor I.B.P. Studios (and really, EVERYONE in the greater metropolitan multiverse) will be “officially” unofficially (or “unofficially” officially) celebrating the 30th Birthday of METALLICA, METALLICA’s eponymous 5th studio album affectionately known here at Metal Nerdery HQ (and EVERYWHERE throughout the world and other dimensions) as “THE BLACK ALBUM”.

Some links may be affiliate links. This means that we may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase something through the links provided. Metal Nerdery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising

Track listing

1. - "Enter Sandman" - Hetfield Ulrich Hammett - 5:31

2. - "Sad but True" - Hetfield Ulrich - 5:24

3. - "Holier than Thou" - Hetfield Ulrich - 3:47

4. - "The Unforgiven" - Hetfield Ulrich Hammett - 6:27

5. - "Wherever I May Roam" - Hetfield Ulrich - 6:44

6. - "Don't Tread on Me" - Hetfield Ulrich - 4:00

7. - "Through the Never" - Hetfield Ulrich Hammett - 4:04

8. - "Nothing Else Matters" - Hetfield Ulrich - 6:28

9. - "Of Wolf and Man" - Hetfield Ulrich Hammett - 4:16

10. - "The God That Failed" - Hetfield Ulrich - 5:08

11. - "My Friend of Misery" - Hetfield Ulrich Newsted - 6:49

12. - "The Struggle Within" - Hetfield Ulrich - 3:53

Total length: - 62:31

All lyrics are written by James Hetfield.

James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar

Kirk Hammett – lead guitar

Jason Newsted – bass guitar

Lars Ulrich – drums, percussion

Michael Kamen – orchestral arrangement on "Nothing Else Matters"

Bob Rock – production

Randy Staub – engineering

Mike Tacci – engineering

George Marino – mastering

Peter Mensch – cover concept

Don Brautigam – illustration

Ross Halfin – photography

Rick Likong – photography

Rob Ellis – photography

United States (RIAA) - 16× Platinum

Metallica (Remastered Deluxe Box Set)(5LP)(14CD)(6DVD

The Metallica Blacklist (4CD)

Go ahead and call in your to-go orders for Ron’s limited edition marinated Wolf Steak*, fly your Gadsden Flag high while you “AC/DC the house”, and give your special someone a much needed, “long-distance dedication” before you JOIN US as we celebrate the album named for the band that has become one of the most powerful forces in all of Metal and the entire known universe (“…which we so proudly HAIL!”)

Metal Nerdery Podcast** salutes: METALLICA. ***

*COTLOD Blvd. location only

**If we’re being real, this might be Metal Nerdery Podcast’s BLACK ALBUM episode…or not.

***We’re all thinking it, so let’s go ahead and put it out there: This is basically Metallica’s “Exciter” moment.

ENTER SANDMAN: Easily the cleanest guitar sound ever captured on a Metallica album. That build is fearsome…the tension, the swing, the concussive CRACK of that snare drum (and btw, for the “polar opposite” of this drum sound, check out St. Anger) and wait…what’s that…in the bottom end…could that be…NOOOOO, it’s impossible…HOLY SHIT you can ACTUALLY hear The Jason playing “The Bass” again on a Metallica recording. At this point, it had been 4 years since the last Metallica recording with any bass presence actually present in the mix, so this was a welcome change that only made their sound thicker and heavier.

“It’s just the beasts under your bed, in your closet, in your head…”

SAD BUT TRUE: “Who ordered the extra balls?” Apparently, Bob Rock did! This one is tuned down a whole step (from E to D) and is definitely slower, groovier, and heavier than much of their output over the previous 8 years on the prior 4 albums up to this point. That slow, lurching swagger really has a lot of attitude, grit and huevos (hence, the aforementioned, uber-sized order of “balls”).

Stylistically, The Black Album displays a multitude of new dimensions within Metallica’s sound that perhaps had not been fully realized and/or captured on prior releases. While there are certainly elements of “The First Four” albums present, Bob Rock helped the band to further excavate “the essence” of what we all know, love (and so proudly hail) as “The Metallica Sound”.

“I’m your hate when you want love…”

HOLIER THAN THOU: This might have been a better leadoff “hit single” than Sandman, but it might have been confusing to anyone hearing this first and then hearing the rest of the album later. Very much like the urgent, galloping sound of “The First Four” records with a bit more streamlining and finesse. The harmony part before the solo definitely has that old school Lightning/Puppets/Justice vibe.

“Why don’t you worry about yourself instead?”

THE UNFORGIVEN: Since the prior 3 albums all had a soft intro for Track 4, there’s clearly some sort of sonic sorcery and riff wizardry that dwells within the dimension known as “The Fourth Track”. And just like those other 3 soft-intro songs, there’s a kind of pensive reflection present in the emotionally heavy lyrics. This was the first song to have James integrate actual “singing” into his already well-established, more abrasive vocal style. Seriously though, read those lyrics.

“He tries to please them all, this bitter man he is…”

WHEREVER I MAY ROAM: This one is just stupid heavy! Now, just imagine how ridiculous this song would have sounded with the “Injustice for Jason” bass mix from the prior album. (Sorry, my inner cuntasaurusness creeped in again.)

But seriously, the bass really magnifies the heaviness of this particular track. That harmony part in the middle is pure, metal perfection. Definitely one of Metallica’s greatest strengths: tastefully including harmonies without over doing it. Legends.

“Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond, call me what you will…”

DON’T TREAD ON ME: A tangentional tie-in with bolth the coiled snake on the album cover and the coiled snake noted on The Gadsden Flag. Definitely “groovy” (Yeah, Baby, YEAH!!! Sorry… a bit of Austin Powers tangentionalalityismness there…) with plenty of seethe, swing, and swagger to spare.

In short, while “Don’t FUCK with ME!” would have been way more Metal, it would have likely garnered less mainstream appeal and perhaps thwarted their growth thusly (even though they BOLTH mean basically the exact same thing. Look up that flag and read those lyrics).

“Touch me again for the words that you will hear evermore…”

THROUGH THE NEVER: Another up-tempo tune. Almost has an inverted Master of Puppets thing going on…kinda. Also, more of the “classic” Metallica thrash sound. (That part after the solo is actually very Creeping Death…ish).

“Pursuit of truth no matter where it lies…”

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS: Ladies & gentleman, Mr. James Hetfield…singing perhaps one of the most beautiful, heartfelt, and “true” ballads in all of metal (and really, probably all of music) as well as playing one of the most powerfully emotive guitar solos of his career. If you can listen to this song without being affected by it on some level, then congratulations: You are officially soulless.

“I never opened myself this way…”

OF WOLF AND MAN: I like my wolf steak the way Ron serves them down at The Rib Lounge: marinated in a custom jalapeno bacon wrapped lime mescaline marinade, seared on bolth sides to lock in the flavor, and then put back in a “custom smoker” designed by Matt Pike to really ensure that your wolf steak is an absolutely unforgettable dining experience. After the guitar solo and that creepy, spoken middle part, if you listen closely, you can actually hear double bass (which I think might be the only double bass part on the entire album).

“Company we keep, roaming the land while you sleep…”

THE GOD THAT FAILED: Slightly heavier; this one is tuned down to E flat, giving it a slightly darker vibe & sound. Don’t deny the power of a well-orchestrated sound design; you can actually hear what sounds like a long gun being cocked during the opening riff. (Look, don’t make it weird…go watch “A Year in a Half in the Life of Metallica” and it will all make sense.)

“Broken is the promise, betrayal, the healing hand, held back by the deepened nail…”

MY FRIEND OF MISERY: Wait…could it be…more JaSSon on the BASS-ON? Imagine how absurdly weird this song would have sounded with the “No Justice for Jason” bass remix that was “present” on the prior record. One of the more “epic” tracks, with loads of texture, mood, and atmosphere. Oh yeah, and James’ SECOND guitar solo on the album! This almost sounds like it could have easily been an “Orion” style instrumental (actually, it’s the closest thing to an instrumental on this album which, ironically, is the first Metallica album with no official instrumental).

“Remember, misery loves company…”

THE STRUGGLE WITHIN: Now THAT sounds like Patriot Metal!!! Triumphant Patriot Metal!! This is easily the Dyer’s Eve for The Black Album…kinda. Obviously, you can’t compare this to Dyer’s Eve as Dyer’s Eve is about 219 miles an hour FASTER than this one, but this is the fastest song and also the lastest song on the album, soooo…YEAH!

“Advantages are taken, not handed out…”

Show Notes:

(00:01) - #bbqwolfsteak #yeah #ooohhhyeahhh #getit? #triedrealhard #BlackAlbumMegaUltraSuperExtendedDanceClubMix #itsbeenstupid #blackalbumscratch #andbegin WELCOME BACK to #MetalNerderyHQThirtyThirdFloorInvertedUndergroundBunkerpoonStudios / One #hashbagtag to best describe #TheBlackAlbum: #polarizing ***BRING ON THE HATEMAIL!*** THE CLASSIC SONIC METAL MAJESTY OF METALLICA’S SELF-TITLED ALBUM (AKA: THE BLACK ALBUM) #audible #eyeroll / A band when they are “your” band vs “everyone else’s” band / The “hard discussion” regarding Metallica, The Black Album, and their growth in #popularity into the next phase of their careers. #Careersplosion (#seealso the #Hemispheres vs #PermanentWaves progression of songs with #Rush…#outDreamTheaterDreamTheater (#yeahNO) and a similar creative #trajectory with #TheMightyMetallica / #offmicburp #ADifferentMetallica (***go listen to #DrFeelgood for an understanding regarding the production value that #BobRock added. #ThickAndThundering (Matt’s middle name) #Juice #MyHonk #AlwaysRemember***) #missionaccomplished #brilliant / Thirty years on… Definitely a #puttheninetyonehaton #classicmetalalbum

(07:40) - The #Essence of a band and #tuxedometal (See also the same logic noted on our South of Heaven Dive) #onmicbeeropening / #ReinventingTheMetal #ReinventingTheMetallica / Artists are #thesoundtrackofyourlife #MarkTheTime #MarkItDude #ballsASMR #broadeninghorizons #FansAreFickleAsFuck / Metallica with groove…The explanation behind the rousing success of #tridentvibes and #theopeningtrack on #TheBlackAlbum #stadiumanthem

(13:13) - ***Realization!! Metallica’s Crazy Train #epiphany #revelations*** #anniversary ***30th release anniversary #augusttwelfthnineteenninetyone #08121991 #blackalbumreference #everyepisode except #One (note the subtle #tangentionalalityismness) ***Check out #TheBlacklist and #broadenyourhorizons (***The Zeppelin of Metal and/or/#boLth The Beatles of Metal***) #egotistical #notthatguy ***NEW METAL NERDERY PODCAST NEW SEGMENT ALERT!!! #contactus ***The BEER of The Episode-Relaxer segment #contactus #probonosofar #hail to #tacotuesday by #mondaynightbrewing #mexicanlager #notacoflavor #deliciouslyalcoholic #lager*** #streettacossounddelicious #pronunciations and #yourewelcomeforthefreeplug ***GIVE US A CALL AT 980-666-8182 IF YOU’D LIKE TO GIVE US MONEY TO DRINK YOUR BEER ON THE AIR!!!*** #yeah #PapaJimmyYeahhh / ***MORE DETAILS regarding #TheBlacklist ***#freeplug for #thepreview***7 LPS, ***OUT SEPT. 10, 2021 #BlackAlbum2021*** #dontdenythepowerof #TheBlackAlbum and #TheMightyMetallica #thirtyyearsofmetal #HailToYou

(20:20) – August 12, 1991 (#releaseded) Fifth studio album (#thefirsttime with #BobRock) #pseudooffmicburp ***LOUDWIRE Metallica Black Album Facts (#summon the #faktczechers *** Check out the #productionquality of Motley Crue’s #DrFeelgood; hence the need for the Bob Rock***/ ***You made the right call!***/ ***Personal shit has more impact*** #BobRockIsTheSandmanCore / #romanticalballad and #extremelypersonal / #GadsdenFlag #choppedupsneakysnake #libertyordeath #classicallylegendarycore #duhrduhr #fingerupyourarsehole / MentalFloss.com 11 “Facts” about #TheBlackAlbum #derp #divorces #DrNo and The “role” of the producer #pokethebear and similar #analogies (***See also #groove #BackInBlack and the “true” influence***) #okayturnitoffnow #MetallicasBackInBlack #majorbullshit #ThankYouAndGoFuckYourself

(27:29) - Vocal Style and delivery on #TheBlackAlbum vs prior releases and some relative tangentionalality regarding Chris Isaak ***Uh oh…that sounded like the #alexooohofdiscernment***A song #influence and A great #impression of Kirk / Can you IMAGINE what #thelisteningparty for #theblackalbum must have been like!? #waitingtobeimpressed #shittalking #impressions ***If you haven’t already, check out #ayearandahalfinthelifeofmetallica…The Documentary of the Black Album and the subsequent tour…it’s fucking awesome!!!***#waitingtobeimpressed #toomuch #tridentvibeswithdrawal ***The #length of the recording process for #TheBlackAlbum ***HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU SEE METALLICA ON THE BLACK ALBUM TOUR!?*** #accidental #onmicburp #wow #aneveningwith / #paraphenalia for shows #socialanxietysupportdevice / Five singles (#wowagain #boom) #thebighits vs #thedeepcuts #perfectonmicbeeropening #redemption #introspectivelyrics (***Remember the #CDLongbox #WTF***) #paperstrawinaplasticwrappercore #ironical #bolth #alwaysright

(35:45) - #stadiumrocktuneofthecentury #ThirtyYearsOfMetallica ENTER SANDMAN (That build and that clean sound…#totallyclean #HFS! Also…#herecomesthepyro) #incrediblebuild with a #killergroove (that’s definitely #groovemetal) #timeless (definitely NOT the same snare from St. Angler) / #TentacleOvertimeTime #extragrunt #toopoppy (#notpoopy) #finesse #morepunchy (***STAY HEALTHY, SINGERS & FRONTPEOPLE***) #MyHonk ***Check out the Facebook!!!*** You’ve got ONE JOB!!!*** #misheardlyrics #KickstartMyHeart #BobDylan #WaitWhat #DrFeelgood #AlwaysRemember to #takecareofyourself #tangentionalalityismness

(44:18) - #onmicburpfromRussell SAD BUT TRUE #heavyasfuck #groovemetal #pregnantpause #recordscratch (***There’s a reason that #doommetal is #slower, and not just because of #relaxers***) #CBLE #cantbeloudenough #fillstheroom #MarkItDude #evolutionized #bolthblessings #alsoalso ***It should have been #thehitsingle HOLIER THAN THOU #usethoseheadphones #OldSchoolMetallicaSound #subtlety in the mix #yeah #thatkillerharmonyguitarpart #heyyou #waftingturdsmell #itworked

#MarkItDude #savedTheLoad #HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA #MarkTheTime

(53:03) – One of the most brilliantly #poignant moments in the #pantheon of Metal: THE UNFORGIVEN #brilliant and #classic (The #acoustical interludey things from Mr. Hetfield are always #quality) #ballbusting and #prodding / A definite #grower and a #heavysoftintro WHEREVER I MAY ROAM #asamplerofASMR #perfectlysynchronizedonmicburpASMR / #Irregardless (yes, it IS a word!) Even though Lars once called it #arenarock, I would still tell aliens to check out #TheBlackAlbum and #golisten to #metalnerderypodcast and to please #giveusacall #yeah ***GIVE US A CALL AT 980-666-8182*** #doublevocals #TheHellAwaitsDancers #thenumberonepodcast #probablynoteven #numbersix

(1:00:05) - #apropo and #patriotic sorta #victorymetalthrashcore #TchaikovskyVictoryMetal DON’T TREAD ON ME #DigThatSwing and perhaps a prime example of #earlydjent #swingmetal #SwagMetal #readthoselyrics #seealso #GadsdenFlag / Structure and format for the songs to help broaden their appeal and accessibility (Our band vs everyone else’s band…it’s rooted in #selfishness) #howmanycrunchyballriffs #boom #mainstreamcrunchyballriffcore #thenewcore #done #genius #everybodyshhhh #noteven #lesscomplexified (Capturing the “essence” of the artist during recording) #nomorecores “Let’s AC/DC the house!!!” #BackInBlackAlbumCore #boom #gratitude #done #fucksidetwo #obviouslykiddingduhr It starts with THROUGH THE NEVER #cble / #compactdisctechnology #gfy #sidedos #killeropener #mamacassette #sixononesixonanother #ISaidIt #theextrasix #whatsadickfer #DickferMilisher #Perfect #BlackAlbumEdition #OnMicBurp #syncopated It’s all about #thefingering #MarkItDude ***That #breakdown though…*** #heavyonthebitchin #verycreepingdeath

(1:10:56) - #longdistancededication NOTHING ELSE MATTERS (***#FunFact: The video for Nothing Else Matters recently passed #ONEBILLION views on the #YouTube!!! Take THAT, Dr. Evil!!***) #enjoythesex #lovesong #bangballad #fucktune #yourewelcome #seriously #WTF #FrostBreak #Beautiful #DownThere #Cockles #SubCockles #BottomChamber #BeastmasterCurtains / OF WOLF AND MAN (***We’ll insert this as a moment of #tangentionalalityismness #HAIL TO #Pantera and #TheCowboysFromHell #MysteriousWays***) / ***Another Long-distance dedication…*** THE GOD THAT FAILED (can you hear that in the background? #Angry and #heavy (almost has a Justice feel to it…if it had that mix #MothersFinest #moment)

(1:20:20) – Another #longdistancededication #tastyHetfieldsolo #RedemptionForJason MY FRIEND OF MISERY (#theresJasonASMR) That might be THE cleanest, clean guitar ever committed to tape / #cowbell and a word from #ChristopherWalking #inthemix #heresthatpart #waterbottleASMR (listen to all of the different #textures going on #simultaneously…as the British would say, “That’s fucking BRILLIANT”. Actually, a lot of people would say that. #badass #JamesHetfieldSolo #MarkItDude #MarkTheTime #TriumphMetal #HeavyMetal

(1:27:20) - STRUGGLE WITHIN (“Sounds like…#Freedom! And Triumph!! #FreedomTriumph”) A summation of #eightiesmetal #delicious #LasagnaMetalCore (with extra cheese and extra sauce, please!!!) #TriumphAndPower #PowerMetal #VictoryMetal #thoseharmonies #sneakysnake ***The Transition from #Justice to #TheBlackAlbum and #stayingrelevant FOUR DECADES ON (***that’s forty years if it looks more pleasing to read. If you can’t read, don’t worry about it. Or this. ***) and #thedeathofglammetal #butchersexmajiq and #thehearingimpaired / *** Imagine travelling back in time by 3 years #MarkTheTime / A “divisive” but still #muchloved #classicmetalalbum #BackInBlackAlbum (***This should go in the #timecapsule for the #Aliens***) and #VanHalen’s #BackInBlack #Losers #EverySingleDay #BoneUs #Bonus #NapsterGumStash ***WE MADE IT THROUGH!!! HAVE A HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY, METALLICA AND THE BLACK ALBUM, ENJOY, LISTEN, PURCHASE AND HAIL TO THE BLACK ALBUM and THE BLACKLIST***A final word from Lars #BuyOurShit #TallDenmarkian #gumapp metalnerdery.com/merch *** GIVE US A CALL AT 980-666-8182*** CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS!! THANK YOU AND HAIL TO YOU ALL!!! ***Please leave us a review and some ratings, accolades, or feedback, if you please…*** #AngryEmojiDude #StAngerIcon #AngryFaceDude #longdistancededication / THANK YOU ALL (AGAIN) FOR LISTENING TO US AND SUPPORTING US WITH YOUR POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND RATINGS AND DOWNLOADS!!!! ALSO PLEASE CONTINUE SPREADING THE WORDERY ABOUT THE METAL NERDERY!!!! #freelance #probono #savedtheload #thankyougoodnight #killerpyrodude #itsallbullshit #thereisnomoon #softoutro

HOME

MORE EPISODES