coiled snake derived from the
Gadsden flag. The motto of the flag,
Don't Tread on Me, was also a song title featured on the album. The
album's cover and title were inspired by those of the self-titled album by
The Beatles, named
The White Album because of its stark white cover. The Black album became
the highest selling Metallica album to date with 14 million copies sold in the
US alone. In 2003, the album was ranked number 252 on
Rolling Stone magazine's list of
the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Controversy
The Black Album was a controversial album amongst fans of the band. While the album and the band were critically and commercially praised, many fans expressed disappointment and outrage at the new direction taken by Metallica. Gone, for the most part were the faster stacatto riffs during verses and throaty screaming found on the first four albums. The Black Album presented a more radio-friendly, commercially accessible Metallica, evidenced by the ballad "Nothing Else Matters". In their early days the band vowed to never release a video, but following the success of "One," the breakaway single from their ...And Justice For All album, five videos were released from the Black Album. ("Enter Sandman", "Nothing Else Matters", "Sad But True", "Wherever I May Roam" and "The Unforgiven").
The Black Album stands as a dividing point for Metallica
fans. Its supporters claim that it is still a "heavy" album. Songs as "Enter
Sandman", "Sad But True", "Of Wolf And Man" and "Holier Than Thou" showing
Metallica still had
elements of
the 'thrash'
genre's strict limitations on what is "metal" and what is not. Some fans felt
that just because the songs received popularity did not automatically mean
they were sub-standard songs. Detractors pointed at the ballads "Nothing Else
Matters" and "The Unforgiven" as signs that Metallica were more interested in
commercial gain, than they were catering exclusively to their original
underground fanbase. To further their argument, they pointed at the intense
radio and MTV coverage the Black Album received.
The lyrics of the Black Album (written primarily by James Hetfield) were much more personal and introspective in nature (a trait that would continue on subsequent Metallica albums). "The God That Failed" dealt with his mother's death from cancer and her Christian Science beliefs holding her back from seeking medical treatment. "Nothing Else Matters", about the connection he felt with his soulmate while out on the road. And "Wherever I May Roam", an ode to life on the road. This album also ended Metallica's tradition of having at least one instrumental, Jason planned 'My Friend of Misery' to be an instrumental piece. Lars was against it feeling that instrumentals are filler material.
The cover to the album is very similar to the Smell the Glove album from the glam metal mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. It added another, albeit minor, source of irony to the release.
When the song "Enter Sandman" was ranked by VH1 as one of the greatest metal songs of all time, Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian criticized people who claimed Metallica sold out by saying, "Why? Just because 10 million people went out and bought this record?"
Bob Rock
Produced by
Bob Rock (who had previously worked with
Bon Jovi,
Mφtley Crόe and
Aerosmith), the Black Album's sound was a marked difference from the
stripped down production of the previous album. Rock altered the
band's working schedule and routine so much that they swore never to work with
him again. The animosity and tension between band and producer was documented
in the
DVDs A Year And A Half In The Life of Metallica and Classic
Albums: The Black Album. Both explore and document the intense and
merciless recording process that resulted in the Black Album.
Despite the initial friction between Metallica and Bob Rock, he has been the producer for every Metallica release up to 2003.
The title for 'Nothing Else Matters' was inspired by James Hetfield's grandfather on his deathbed saying, "Nothing Else Matters..."
Grammy success
Metallica won their third
Grammy Award for the Black Album. Many felt the band should have won a
Grammy for their
...And Justice for All album - the band was nominated in the "Best
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal" category, but lost to
Jethro Tull (a respected veteran rock band thought by some to be 'past
their prime'). When accepting the Grammy for the Black Album, drummer
Lars Ulrich made a point to thank Jethro Tull for not releasing an album
that same year.
The Tour
The world tour following the Metallica album, called initially the Wherever We May Roam Tour and then later the Nowhere Else to Roam Tour, saw Metallica on the road for the next three years. The tour was in part documented on the A Year and a half in the life of Metallica DVD, as well as the 3 CD, 2 DVD boxset Live Shit: Binge & Purge.
Track listing
- "Enter Sandman" (Hammett, Hetfield, Ulrich) 5:29
- "Sad But True" (Hetfield, Ulrich) 5:24
- "Holier Than Thou" (Hetfield, Ulrich) 3:47
- "The Unforgiven" (Hammett, Hetfield, Ulrich) 6:26
- "Wherever I May Roam" (Hetfield, Ulrich) 6:42
- "Don't Tread on Me" (Hetfield, Ulrich) 3:59
- "Through the Never" (Hammett, Hetfield, Ulrich) 4:01
- "Nothing Else Matters" (Hetfield, Ulrich) 6:29
- "Of Wolf and Man" (Hammett, Hetfield, Ulrich) 4:16
- "The God that Failed" (Hetfield, Ulrich) 5:05
- "My Friend of Misery" (Newsted, Hetfield, Ulrich) 6:47
- "The Struggle Within" (Hetfield, Ulrich) 3:51
- "So What" (Anti-Nowhere League cover)**
** Only on Japanese version.
Credits
- James Hetfield - Rhythm Guitars/Vocals
- Kirk Hammett - Lead Guitars
- Jason Newsted - Bass
- Lars Ulrich - Drums/Percussion