Topic: Metallica.....an evenings of firsts....and lasts
I’ll apologise in advance to any fans of metal or, in particular thrash metal. I don’t dislike the genre. I have listened and do still listen to the music. I marvel at the energy of it, the technical proficiency of the players, the complexity of the arrangements but…………and here it comes………….why, when its played live, does the sole objective appear to be to cause as much ear damage as possible within a 5 mile radius.
Last night was my first Metallica concert. It will also be my last Metallica concert. Because if, arguably, one of the best and founding fathers of the genre can’t or won’t provide a sound worthy of their status then who can? Or maybe they did and I just don’t get it.
Lets be clear though. I am probably a minority of 1 against the other 11999 folks who perhaps did enjoy it.
I enjoyed the ‘spectacle’ right enough; lasers without end, coffin shaped lighting rigs moving all over, rotating drum riser, huge rectangular stage providing the performers ample space to strut their stuff but the sound……….oh the sound.
Well, it was either diabolical or exactly how a truly heavy metal show should sound.
Within 15 metres of the stage at ground level the audible sound was that of a 747 taking off in the early seventies, with you strapped to the wing - in a tunnel.
Medicine Head were the support and subtle they ain’t, but they were working damn hard but all you got at floor level was the sound of a thousand jack hammers hitting an empty gas holder.
The drums, in particular the bass drums, washed out every other possible sound. Guitar, bass, everything. It was apocalyptically bad. To me.
I ventured up into the gods, and here some definition was to be found. Too late for Medicine Head, but not too late for medicine.
I watched Metallica and for the first time in my life I wore earplugs for the entire duration of a show. The clarity of the sound was certainly better but it was if anything LOUDER than ever. Rob Trejillo changed bass virtually every song. Maybe it was the sweat or something but it didn’t matter a damn because they just don’t need him. Anything and everything he does is lost in an ocean of drumming.
If this is how it is supposed to be, so be it. But what is the motivation to write and create and play music that you simply obliterate with volume. These are fine musicians and performers who seem to play to the lowest common denominator – noise.
It works. It works for 12000 people every night I guess and when money talks, subtlety walks.
Sorry if I diss the genre or Metallica. I don’t mean to. They aren’t playing for me they are playing for the millions who love this music at maximum distortion.
But one final point. I said it was last Metallica show. I lied, it won’t be, because now I want to see them ‘unplugged’ and really hear what they can do.
I did it once for Eric Clapton and once for Paul McCartney and they were both worth it, but the arena thing just doesn´t do it for me. If I want to see a musician on a screen I watch a DVD.
