Metallica - “The Metallica Blacklist” Album Review
Metallica “The Metallica Blacklist” Album Review
In 1991, Metallica released its fifth studio album titled “Metallica” which became known as “The Black Album.” This album was a massive success as it became the band’s best-selling album and peaked at the top of the Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks.
This was also a change in the way Metallica produced music as they slowed down their songs and made them more refined.
“The Black Album” turned 30 years old in August and to celebrate, Metallica asked 53 artists of various genres to record a cover of their favorite song from the album. Those covers were put into the “Metallica Blacklist” and all the proceeds will go to charity. Now onto the album!
Enter Sandman (6)
Rina Sawayama
Juanes
Ghost
Sawayama’s version is more of an electric cover and she does a good job keeping the fast pace of the song going while adding a small break between the buildup and the main part of the song while Juanes uses frequent breaks in the song. Ghost uses a break to go from piano to guitar.
Weezer
Mac DeMarco
Weezer’s cover sounds the most like the original song. There is also an added guitar riff put into the chorus to add some flavor to it. Mac DeMarco’s just sounds like a raw version.
Alessia Cara and The Warning
This was transformed into a pop song and doesn’t have the normal buildup at the start.
Sad But True (7)
Royal Blood
White Reaper
YB
Royal Blood and White Reaper put on a guitar heavy cover of Sad But True that was impressive while YB sped it up.
Sam Fender
St. Vincent
Sam Fender chose a different route in his cover by using his voice and a piano to achieve a good melody and features his voice while St. Vincent used heavy bass.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Isbell took another route at a cover by making it more of a catchy country song that you will want to listen to a lot.
Mexican Institute of Sound featuring La Perla & Gera MX
They completely changed the soundtrack and added lyrics which takes away from the song.
Holier Than Thou (5)
Biffy Clyro
OFF!
The Chats
PUP
Corey Taylor
This cover is a rapid punk like song that will certainly get your heart rate pumping. PUP’s is rawer than the others while Taylor keeps it like the original. Clyro slows it down, unlike the others.
The Unforgiven (7)
Ha*Ash
Jose Madero
A creative cover with English and Spanish in one song allows for a nice harmony between the two singers while Madero features his voice.
Vishal Dadlani, Divine, Shor Police
Flatbush Zombies featuring DJ Scratch
Another interesting cover that goes out of the ordinary with added lyrics and chorus out of order unlike Flatbush Zombies’ cover.
Diet Cig
A faster paced song allows for Diet Cig to show off their skill by using lyrics as an aid to the melody they produce.
Cage the Elephant
Moses Sumney
These covers are very simple because of their consistent rhythm that does not really change throughout the song.
Wherever I May Roam (4)
J Balvin
The Neptunes
J Balvin turns this song into his style well by adding the classic lyrics as a chorus to complement the rap lyrics while The Neptunes made it electric.
Jon Pardi
Another country cover that is pretty good as Pardi channels his instruments to make a copycat of the original sound the song gives off.
Chase & Status featuring Backroad Gee
This is an awful cover; the lyrics were not meant to be rapped and it just seems forced.
Don’t Tread On Me (3)
Volbeat
Just an amazing cover here, Michael Poulson’s voice over the guitars make this a catchy song.
Portugal. The Man featuring Aaron Beam
This cover is sped up in a sense and works the harmony of the singer’s voice but has trouble with the flow.
Through The Never (2)
Tomi Owo
Owo takes the original heavy use of guitar and turns it into a song based around the beat of the music.
The HU
A very heavy metal cover compared to Owo’s cover.
Nothing Else Matters (12)
Chris Stapleton
Phoebe Bridgers
Miley Cyrus featuring Watt, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, Chad Smith
Mon Laferte
Dave Gahan
SebastiAn
My Morning Jacket
Mickey Guyton
Dermot Kennedy
Tresor
Darius Rucker
Igor Levit
PG Roxette
These covers are roughly the same with a piano and lyrics. The only differences are Igor Levit who used just a piano and My Morning Jacket who made it electronic.
Of Wolf And Man (1)
Goodnight, Texas
The harmony of this cover really makes it stand out.
The God That Failed (2)
IDLES
This was a bad cover because it just felt all over the place.
Imelda May
Her voice fits perfectly with the music and the opening bass line is kept intact.
My Friend Of Misery (3)
Kamasi Washington
This cover sounds like elevator music.
Izia
Cherry Glazerr
This cover just flows well and is a good listen.
The Struggle Within (1)
Rodrigo y Gabriela
An instrumental cover is the only cover for this song.
This album is only twelve songs long originally, so here is the best possible lineup of all the covers:
It starts with Enter Sandman by Weezer, Sad But True by Jason Isbell, Holier Than Thou by Corey Taylor, The Unforgiven by Diet Cig, Wherever I May Roam by Jon Pardi, Don’t Tread On Me by Volbeat, Through The Never by Tomi Owo, Nothing Else Matters by Miley Cyrus, Of Wolf And Men by Goodnight, Texas, The God That Failed by Imelda May, My Friend Of Misery by Izia and The Struggle Within by Rodrigo y Gabriela.
This album was impressive considering the effort and personality put into these songs. They were emotional and you could just feel that the artists enjoyed their covers.
Rating: 8/10
James Morrison is a second-year majoring in communications. To contact him email jpm6920@psu.edu.
