To start off:
I'm a HUGE Metallica fan. In fact my first 5 years of playing electric guitar was solely based on Metallica. I started off playing Bluegrass guitar with my dad, even though my soul wasn't bluegrass.
My first exposure to Metallica was hearing "Nothing Else Matters" on MTV before school waiting for my buddy to pick me up for school. I asked my brother if he had ever heard of them, and of course he had. He handed me a tape that had zero information of it. in that all the 'font' (for lack of a better word) was gone. It was a simple 'blank" tape. It was weathered, and the only thing I could determine that it was a Metallica tape was simply my brother's word. It was Master of Puppets Within 4 weeks, I had owned everything of Metallica and had thrown bluegrass by the wayside.
Long loving Metallica fan for years; devoted. Having heard Megadeth and loving a few of their songs, I was still committed to Metallica. However, years later, I've discovered that I may have been premature in my categorization of music.
Years had passed since I had really 'listened' to Megadeth. Years, as in 10+. Then, I stumbled upon a Megadeth record. While it escapes my memory at this point, the collective memory of the tunes has lead me to the belief that Megadeth is better than Metalica.
While some, to what degree I don't know, may have always held this belief, the discovery of Megadeth is a new one for me. After listening to many records, Im beginning to feel more confident in saying that Megadeth is better. Obviously, it's subjective.
Metallica's "Black" Album is equivalent to Pink Floy'd "The Wall" in terms of impact. However, Megadeth's "Symphony of Destruction", has been severely over-shadowed by the 'Black" album of Metallica. Subsequently, as it had been up to that point, Megadeth had fallen by the wayside. "Symphony of Destructions' release around the same time, was over-shadowed by the Black album.
After what was a universal success of the Black album, Megadeth seemed to finally have received the kill shot. But, if we are to look at the records and time frame comparatively, I think Megadeth got the short end of the stick.
Since then, Megadeth has sustained their status despite radio and marketing support. I've listened to several Megadeth albums/tunes from the "Black" album going forward, and I must say they are not getting the credit that is due. In some aspects, they blow Metallica out of the water. To be honest, they are quickly surpassing Metallica.
I've always been a huge fan of Megadeth since the Mechanix type songs. But since Peace Sells Who's Buying album, Megadeth has gotten the shaft. By a LONG shot.
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Why? Because he decided to stop doing drugs and become a Christian?
I've seen many recent interviews with Mustaine and he's more sane now than he's ever been. He's extremely intelligent, well-spoken, and grounded.
I recently read his biography-very well written and entertaining. He wrote most of the songs for Metallica-but was a pain in the ass for them. Lars wanted to be the king and as long as Dave was there telling him the shut the fuck up when he got bossy- Lars couldn't control the band.
They put him on the bus from new york-hungry, hung over with zero money. He had to beg for food back to LA and move back with his Mom. It is amazing he ever came back from that.
Yeah dave can be a dick-especially in his drinking years-but when you read his book-most had it coming to them and he was standing up for himself.
That last CD totally killed it-better than anything Metallica has put out in decades. [Reply]
Metallica has gone thru their mid-life and now they're just trying to stay relavent. As far as recent work... I actually liked quite a few songs off of St. Anger but it's not exactly what anyone expected.
I still think And Justice For All is the greatest metal album ever made. I'd put Rust in Peace right behind it followed by Master of Puppets.
My views of metallica has definitely dropped from when I was a kid. Now by just seem to be middle-aged dudes with penis envy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DMAC:
I still prefer Ride The Lightning to any of it. Hetfields early voice was just so badass.
Ironic how now his voice is just unbearable.
I know what you mean. That's one reason why I liked Justice. His voice was just starting to change and I thought the band had reached its epoch.
I'll be the first to admit that they went downhill afterwards. The black album is nearly unplayable to me anymore. Load and Reload? Shoot me in the fucking skull. S&M? Ok... Some songs are pretty awesome just because I'm a symphony nut nowadays.
I mean guys... C'mon. I don't expect you to go the way of ACDC or KISS, (playing for 50 year olds at the coliseum closest to the trailer park) but quit trying to change your target audience. Seriously. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Graduated HS in 1991. :-)
I too loved Metallica, Megadeth, Overkill, Slayer, Death Angel, Anthrax, Testament, and too many more to name. I was skater punk, as were most of my friends.
However, I was also drawn to Ozzy, Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, and stuff like that at the same time. I had a "thing" for guitar virtuosity.
For me, "Rust in Peace" and "Countdown to Extinction" are the perfect blend of BOTH and will always occupy a very special place in my musical psyche.
Right on, brother. Class of '90 here. The only ones of those that I didn't really get into much are Overkill and Death Angel. But definitely all of those other ones. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
Heh, granted, but where would Metallica be without Burton's influence on the band? IIRC, and someone correct me if I don't, wasn't Burton the guy that was primary songwriter and reason for their "heavy" sound?
I know the Black Album gained Metallica a ton of fans, but it also cost them a ton of their core fans they had from the beginning. I still remember those people bitching about how they sold out.
Just a fun "What If?"
I don't know about that. IMO, And Justice For All was a fantastic album. I still love listening to it now. And very heavy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
I just can't see Lars agreeing to do Hangar 18 or Seasons in the Abyss for some reason. :-)
Metallica is pretty good at giving Diamond Head credit when they do documentaries and such but when they play the song live, they don't often mention to the screaming masses that it's not their song.
I love both bands, but I just cant quite put Megadeath over Metallica... Master of Puppets is an absolute masterpiece and I'd have to put it over anything Mustaine ever did.
While I havent liked all of it, I appreciate how Metallica has broadened its horizons, have really tried to grow musically, that takes a lot of guts IMO, its a lot easier and safer to stick with the tried and true... still love Megadeath, but I just cant put them over the kings. [Reply]
Originally Posted by scott free:
I love both bands, but I just cant quite put Megadeath over Metallica... Master of Puppets is an absolute masterpiece and I'd have to put it over anything Mustaine ever did.
While I havent liked all of it, I appreciate how Metallica has broadened its horizons, have really tried to grow musically, that takes a lot of guts IMO, its a lot easier and safer to stick with the tried and true... still love Megadeath, but I just cant put them over the kings.
Megadeth tried to grow musically and I would argue that some of their "growth" was infinitely better than anything Metallica ever did. Metallica peaked with "Puppets" and it was downhill ever since. [Reply]
