Customer Reviews

Metallica [Deluxe 4 LP Vinyl]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Love it or hate it, this is modern Metallica. For many, the "Black Album" (as it's been come to be known thanks to the... black album cover), is their first taste of Metallica.

For anyone wondering about the presentation here, the 4 LP vinyl collection, 8 sides worth of Metallica goodness (or badness if you hate what they became with this album)is presented in as pristine and accurate aural presentation available. Mastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, known to be notoriously picky about the material they will master, using their 1/2 speed mastering process using virgin 180 Gram Vinyl, allows for deeper grooves and manages to capture subtle nuances in the recorded performance not found in other formats (CD being one). Vinyl, being an analog format isn't hindered by a sample rate.

For many, the CD will sound good enough. They did a great job with the CD. For those that want to hear everything that can be possibly replicated at home will want to pick up the vinyl remasters. On middle range setups this still sounds amazing; on a high end system it can only be astounding.

This album may not be the Metallica you love; if this is the case, don't buy it. If you hate it on CD you will still hate the tracks on vinyl, so rebuying would be pointless.

In the end, I'm glad I bought the vinyl remasters.

I'm not here to debate how this album does / does not belong in Metallica's portfolio. I am a fan of their "mainstream" music, I think they are amazing in their creativity, sound, and professional commitment. Their early stuff is too hard for me but I like this particular album.

The vinyl set is nicely done...well packaged; sounds great; very quiet. My only ding to four stars is the sound of "Nothing Else Matters"...their biggest "top 40" song in the set! As another reviewer complained, I too wonder if there is something wrong with the pressing. [I have a high end sysatem so, it's not me.] It's the only track where the "s" sound comes out as "zzzz". For example, '...so close" is "...zzo clozzzzz" and "...nothing else matters..." is "...nothing elzzzz matterzzz..." And it's not on all the vocals or the entire track either. The instrumentals are as pristine on this track.

I've been unsuccessful in reaching Warner Bros. to see if there is a manufacturing problem (I doubt it), and I don't have the CD version to compare.

Just picked this up, finally, after weeks of wondering about quality. Plus weeks of not wanting to drop $50 on a LP version of a CD I already own. But I love the warm analog sound some vinyl has, and this was remastered with TLC, so I went for it.

Played "Nothing Else Matters" 1st, my favorite slow Metallica song, and the high end sounds very shrill and over-recorded. I can't believe it !!! I tried 3 different cartridges/styli. All with the same results, WTF

The rest of the songs sound fine , but Nothing Else Matters was a disaster, especially during the first half.

Favorites with best overall sound quality are "The Unforgiven," "Wherever I May Roam," "Enter Sandman," {which sounds great of course, especially done up analog}. The vinyl here is powerful, especially on a high-end system with the right cartridge. I'm playing this back with a Stanton 680 HP cartridge. (If you can still find one, grab it)

Please leave a comment if you personally had audio problems with "Nothing Else Matters" --- something you noticed as well. Thanks.

Ive bought all the vinyl reissues so far, and have been pleased with all of them. To the reviewer who gave this 1 star, an album doesnt sell 15 million copies if its that bad. You may not like the commercial aspect, but to deny the impact of this album simply because they went in a different direction is a tad bit ridiculous. The vinyl is high quality, and the packaging as well.

Metallica sold out on this terrible commercial album. I had to laugh when I read this in the description: "Though a step away from the thrash metal the band pioneered the album was nevertheless heavier than anything the band had yet recorded." WHAT?? ARE YOU SMOKING CRACK?? Every real Metal fan knows ...And Justice For All was the last great Metallica album and this album started their downward spiral. Buy Kill Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, Garage Days(For the old original covers only) and that is all you need from these washed up hasbeens. Too bad Cliff Burton died. Maybe he would have saved this band??