ARTIST: Metallica
ALBUM: Through the Never
LABEL: Blackened Recordings
RELEASE DATE: September 24, 2013
We’ll Do It Live
Written by Dan Sinclair
Would you believe it if I told you Metallica is 32 years old? And that’s just the actual band. The individual members are, like, way older than that. That’s right, it was back in 1981 that Metallica originally formed and basically set the bar for all that is heavy metal to follow. During that time they have compiled nine studio albums. And I know what you’re thinking right now as you’re reading this… Wait a second, writer dude, are you telling me Metallica has a new motherfucking album?
Well, yes… and no.
Through the Never is technically a new album, but it doesn’t have any new songs. It’s actually a live-album soundtrack to the Metallica movie of the same name directed by Antal Nimród. So that’s cool, right? Hear all the songs you’ve heard a million times again, but live this time. What… you’ve heard them all live, too? Um… well, have you ever heard recorded live in Vancouver, Canada for a movie that was filmed in 3D by a Hungarian-American director? No, of course you haven’t. So hand over your money and listen, metal heads. I will now review.
Through the Never begins and I hear people cheering, so I think, “Okay, we are supposed to be having fun, yes?” Then frontman James Hatfield comes on and asks, “Are we having fun yet?” And I’m like, “Yeah, I think I am!” But then he says, “Well, knock that shit off.” But don’t worry he’s only kidding. He actually wants to “Take you to another level!”
He then explains that the band will be playing songs from every album and that they will be starting with a track off of one of his favorites Death Magnetic because what better year to start a Metallica journey than 2008, right? Well, whatever. The song is “Cyanide” and he asks for the crowd’s help with the “Hey, hey, hey” part. Then the thrashing starts with Kirk Hammett tearing it up on guitar, Lars Ulrich pounding his giant drum set and Robert Trujillo slapping some bass. It sounds loud. It sounds tight. It sounds like it wants to make you start destroying brain cells by nodding really hard while throwing up the sign of the devil.
And you know how Metallica rolls—they don’t really go anywhere without an entire orchestra these days. “The Ecstasy of Gold” features piano and violins and shit and a female guest vocalist that can really hit some high notes before Metallica starts to thrash again with “…And Justice for All.” And I’m pretty sure the fans in attendance like it better than the orchestra. Just a hunch. Next James and the boys get even faster with “Creeping Death” off of Ride the Lightning. The crowd is invited to sing along, but when Hatfield gives them the mic it just sounds like a melodic soccer cheer or something. Oh, well, I’m sure they were having fun. They continue to ride the lightning for one of this writer’s favorite Metallica songs (“For Whom the Bell Tolls”) and this writer has caught himself headbanging in a Coffee Bean.
The band goes back to the early days for “Master of Puppets.” You will never guess which album that one is off of. Obey your master, Vancouver. The intro to “Battery” off the same album slows it down for a little bit before Hammett comes in and nearly blows your ears out.
After that, the fans pretend they didn’t hate the short-haired makeover days of Loadwhen Hatfield shouts out the opening to “Fuel.” Then they go into “Nothing Else Matters” because nothing else does when you’re listening to Metallica live.
Hatfield has to ask the Metallica Family if they are still with him and when they assure him they are, he rewards them with “Ride the Lightning.” Then things get black with “Enter Sandman” and the Metallica Family goes crazy. Then we hear helicopters and war-like sounds such as explosions and drums and everyone knows it’s time for “One.” Also on the record are “Hit the Lights,” “The Memory Remains,” “Orion” and “Wherever I May Roam.”
It’s Metallica. It’s loud. It’s live. It’s all your favorite songs with Canadians screaming and singing along. You get it, right? Through the Never is for anyone who wants to hear Metallica live but doesn’t feel like leaving their home and actually seeing them live. I mean, why spend the gas money when you can just catch this concert shit anytime in the luxury of your own bedroom? If you like live heavy metal music, buy this record.