They came, they conquered. They came again, they conquered. With more than just an air of predictability Metallica return with the fairly hefty and typically miserable and misanthropic, St Anger. And yes, it’s typically angry also. Let’s assess the itinerary: Vitriol? Check. Facial morphing technique? Check. Non-specific bestial elements? Check. Volume on 11? Check. Ludricous menacing growl? Check. Heaving, bristling testicles? Check. Improbable all round scowls? Check. Monstrously miscalculated orchestra? Wait a minute….just who was supposed to bring the monstrously miscalculated orchestra? Shit. That was James’s job.
Almost everything is in place, it seems and nothing is left to chance.
Using 1984’s ‘Ride the Lightning’ as a fairly credible blueprint, St Anger spits out a dozen or so lightning paced soul bearers. Beginning with ‘Frantic’ (and believe me, it’s in no way misleading) the album stutters into a ticking time bomb of outgrown fears and neuroses. Punctuated by all the usual semi-grammatical time signatures and guttural guitar rumblings it soon becomes evident that Metallica have lost none of the baroque eloquence and bruised tenderness that characterized such early gems as ‘One’.
Two parts grunge to one parts ‘metal’, Metallica – regardless of their pretensions – do manage to straddle the tricky ground between hormone rock and – lets dare say it – more serious music. You could say it was Metallica’s lynchpin vitriol and misanthropy that nurtured the young Cobain. Listen closely to title track, ‘St. Anger’ and the ‘I’m Madly In Anger With You’ refrain and you’ll think either one of two things: this sounds a little familiar, a little ‘You Know You’re Right’ or (and perhaps more likely) this sounds a little too much like the Foo Fighters doing ‘serious’.
Whatever your expectations – and I don’t doubt there are many – it’s a butt naked and honest riposte to any insinuations that the band or not for real. This is the bearing of the device with the device played down to a minimum. It’s not a melodic affair by any means, but what it lacks in finery it more than makes up for in muscle.
You’ll also be pleased to learn that the release comes complete with a DVD of the band gurning the entire album in the studio. A must have in itself.
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