Kill Em' All

This is the first ever album by Metallica. I'd describe it as thrash or speed metal, and raw. Released in 1983 it's easy to see why the quality isn't the best, but defiantly gets the job done. All ten tracks have that thrashy raw tone, with the exception of Cliff Burton's bass solo "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" with some drums towards the end.

The hit single is called, "Jump in the Fire" written by James Hetfield, it's about his home and how it's more of a hell than anything else. But, in my opinion the hit song should have been "Seek and Destroy." You have to listen to this one. This is track number nine, and by far the best song on the album. It's more or less about starting up a fight and killing people off. hetfield's voice is great, awesome riffs, good drumming, and Hammett has a great solo.

Another great track from Kill Em' All is none other than "Whiplash." If you're looking to throw yourself around your room this is the song for you. It's fast, simple, and it just flat out thrashes. I think it's about acting crazy or going insane at a Metallica concert or anywhere for that matter.

This may not be Metallica's best album but it's defiantly falls into the top four. A great way to start. Kill Em' All doesn't slow down, and shows that Metallica is here to stay.

...And Justice For All

Not only is it considered a progressive album, it is also Metallica's most political. It's right there in the title, ...And Justice For All. A lot of this CD has to deal with the way that Metallica sees our Justice System, corrupt.

This is shown in the title track, ...And Justice For All. This epic 9 minute something song shows their pure hatred towards politics and the people who run them. I really like this song and the message but it is an extremely long song. That's saying a lot for Metallica considering most of their songs are around 7 minutes long. But for the 9 plus minutes they play they never show mercy.

Away from the politics but still in relation is the song, One. Many of you who play Guitar Hero may have seen it on GH III. The is about a man in war who steps on a landmine and is basically blow up. He has no arms or legs, he can't see, hear or talk. He just lies in a hospital bed waiting for death to come, praying someone will pull the plug. This song is really depressing, and impressing, not trying to rhyme on purpose. Anyway, this is also a song that goes from slow to fast or hard. Similar to Fade to Black and Sanitarium.

Kirk Hammett, lead guitar, has a series of guitar...fiddles, as I like to call them. Working up and down the fretboard at a nice smooth pace, while James plays the verses in the background. Lars is playing what sounds like a harder beat, but really flows with the song. It melts together, and they're in sync. Of course like Metallica always does they ease their way into a heavy, fast section that makes you want to get up and throw yourself around. During this section of One they put you in the mind of the wounded soldier, James sings, " Landmines, have taken my sight, taken my speech, taken my hearing! Taken my arms, taken my legs, taken my soul, left me with life in hell!" Suddenly Lars throughs down a series of snare hits, bring Hammett into a solo that you won't soon forget.

The whole album is furious. One of their best, and the last great CD Metallica has put out other that their latest comeback, Death Magnetic, which is good, but nothing like Justice.

Ride the Lightning

This is Metallica's second CD and is my favorite one of all time. Changing the pace a little bit from the raw tones of Kill Em' All, Ride the Lightning is considered the bridge from playing in the clubs of LA and small gigs in the early eighties, to big stages and arenas all over the world in the mid-eighties. This album holds Metallica's first instrumental 'Call of the Ktulu', and their first so called ballad 'Fade to Black.'

I'd like to talk about Fade to Black first of all. This is one of the best Metallica songs ever released. James Heitfield, lead singer and rhythm guitarist wrote this song shortly after the bands equipment was stolen out of their bus. He was depressed from this and possibly other things and was able to write a great song with poetic lyrics, a blasting chorus, and awesome guitar solos.

Another song that stands out on the album and is significantly heavier than Kill Em' All is Fight Fire with Fire. The song talks of the world ending, nuclear warfare or apocalypse. Metallica would soon find themselves writing about this topic a lot more in the epic 'Master of Puppets.'

This song is fast, but they keep it simple. This is one of the main reasons I like Metallica so much, simplicity. The opening isn't really anything like the song. They start out with a sort of acoustic riff reminding you of the days of knights and dragons. They play this a few times then go into absolute chaos. With a series of pulse pounding open E strings and a downward progression, Lars banging on the drums, this song makes you want to scream.

A lot of people will argue that the Black album or Master is better than anything else Metallica has put out. But in my opinion this album is the start of Metallica's career. This is where people see the heavier side of them for the first time. The bridge between a bar band, and and metal gods.

Master of Puppets

Considered to be a revolutionizing thrash metal album, Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' was anything but glam metal. During the mid-eighties bands like Van Halen and Motley Crue were taking over the party scene and the charts. Enraged with this Metallica sought revenge with an album more or less about death. With James' stunning vocals, Lars' in your face drumming, and the cry of Kirk's guitar, this album is heavy metal at it's best.

The title track, "Master of Puppets" is the driving force behind the whole CD. The song is about a drug addiction, possibly cocaine or heroin, and it controlling your life, taking you down, all the way to the end.

The song is fast, very fast. But does slow down into a more melodic rhythm. While James plays a the acoustic progression, Kirk comes in with a slow but passionate solo, that I imagine symbolizes the start of a downfall for the abuser. After that the band goes back into the heavy stuff with a chant singing, " Master, Master, where's the dreams that I've been after?" " Master, Master, Promised only lies." And so on, before the second solo where Hammett unleashes his fury. In my eyes I see the abuser completely falling apart. After that they go back into the verses until the end. They hit and hold an open chord while James laughs evilly at the man the drugs ended up killing.

This is by far one of my favorite Metallica songs, and albums. They don't mess around and do exactly what they're best at, thrash. Other songs on the CD are Battery, Sanatarium, Orion, and Damage Inc. All of which are good heavy metal.

ESP Iron Cross

Metallica, Run DMC, Jeff Beck in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame

Finally it's happened. After a long career of being one of metal's greatest bands, Metallica is being inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Other musicians like Run DMC, Jeff Beck, and The Imperials will be there with them. I really think the band deserves this. They were the revolutionizers of thrash metal and influenced thousands of bands to follow in they're foot steps. The ceremony will be held April 4th, 2009 in Cleavland, OH instead of the usual New York City. This will also be the first time that tickets are being sold to the general public.

Like I said before Metallica really deserve this kind of recognition. They've been around for a long time and it hasn't been a smooth ride all 25 years. They lost there bassist, Cliff Burton, in a bus accident, and almost quit. But, the band kept rolling, in my opinion it was the right thing to do. They've also been sued by Napster, and got a lot of criticism for the Black album. But, nothing could take the band down.

Now after a long career they will be honored, and all the haters really can't say anything. This happens to the best bands, the greatest bands, bands like Metallica.

I can't say, however, that Run DMC is all that worthy of of this honor. It's called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, not rap. Since when is Run DMC rock? Other bands should be in there way before them, Blue Oyster Cult, Deep Purple, Cheap Trick, etc. Not Run DMC. I'm not trying to put the Hall of Fame down by any means, but this is a little ridiculous. Why don't they just build a Rap Hall of Fame? So they have somewhere else to go, where they fit in. The only exception to this would a band like the Beastie Boys. A lot of their songs feature guitar, drum, bass, and all that stuff. Kerry King from slayer plays the guitar in "No Sleep till Brooklyn" so I'd consider them to be Rock-Rap.

Metallica at Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame

The KH-2 Ouija

Jackson Kelly Pro

I couldn't find my exact Jackson, but this one is close enough. This is by far my most expensive guitar. It's a little backwords actually. Usually people get cheap guitars for their first guitar. But, this was my first guitar. It's really nice, but it's complicating. Even after two to three years of playing, i still have a hard time with it. it's a lot different from other guitars I have, especially when it comes to restringing it. There are a lot of things you need to undo or loosen, and you have to go one string at a time. I'm not trying to complain, even though it sounds like I am, It just isn't a guitar I was prepared for.

Other than it's complexity, it plays great, the best of all my guitars. but, if you are on a budget I wouldn't recommend this one. I got it for Christmas, and it was used, but a brand new one will cost you up to $2,000.00. But it's worth every penny.

The action on this guitar is amazing, and the neck plays fast. This is defiantly a metal guitar. Equip with EMG pickups, and a Floyd Rose this guitar rocks. I've heard a lot of people with Gibson's say that this guitar sounds as good or better. It also plays good sitting or standing. Some people may think that because of it's awkward shape, it might be difficult to play, but it isn't a problem. Weather you're having a lazy day at home or tearing it up on stage, this guitar is a great one.

Ibanez RG2EX2

Now that I'm blogging about musical instruments, and not just bands I'm going to tell you a little bit more about me. You might have guessed that I play the guitar, which is true. I have four guitars, but this is the one I play the most. My Ibanez. It's white, with a basewood body, three piece maple neck, 24 jumbo frets, rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, fixed bridge, IBZ Humbuckers, and a three way pick up switch. I've had this guitar for just over a year, and it still plays like it did the first time I played it. It holds up really well too. Even through tough conditions like hitting, and banging it on things, there's hardly a scratch.

This is also a great guitar for a really low price. When I was looking around at Guitar Center for a guitar I saw a lot of Ibanez that were well over my budget. Some even reached the $800.00 limit. I got this guitar for $200.00, and it was money well spent.

The guitar is great for any genre of music from blues to metal. The neck is smooth and it plays fast. I pickups scream, and the harmonics are great. Anyone who wants to play the electric guitar, and has been playing for years and wanting a new one, this is a great buy.

Update

As we get further and further into our blogs, I find it a little difficult to keep finding topics to talk about. So I've decided to not only talk about bands, but anything music related. I'll keep Metallica as my main topic but it gets difficult talking about the people over and over again. They only do so much, and I've already talked about their new album more than once. So now I'll write about bands, Cd's, instruments, video games (having to do with music), and so on. Hopefully I'll get more people interested in my blog.