Nobody could just let this topic die, thus I have to get involved. I am a major Metallica fan, which is probably known by just looking at my avatar. Everyone always says that same thing "They sold out." Yeah, okay, whatever. Times were changing. First off, like all of you, I loved the first albums, Kill 'Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, And Justice For All. However, the Black Album was my favorite. Why? Because it showed their creativity. Everyone seems to think a band should never express anything but one thing. That band was still heavy metal, it may not have been "Megadeth," but it still rocked. I will take Unforgiven's solo any day over any one of the Megadeth solos from Marty Friedman (And all 50 other leads they have had) and Dave Mustaine.
I will repeat myself, yes, they did sell out. It was not their normal stuff, but it was severely creative and got them out into the scene. Where is Megadeth? Has anyone noticed that great metal band gets no air time almost? At least not on the Florida stations that is. Megadeth has some great stuff, I love them, but not as much as Metallica.
Dave Mustaine is an awesome lead and does not get enough credit. Marty Friedman gets too much credit -- I think he is great, but he is not as creative in my opinion as other guitarists. Glenn Drover, their new guitarist, he has no personality. It is like a walking drone, he has no stage presence. I think Dave Mustaine rocks, he is a bit of a cry baby still with the whole Metallica thing, but he still is cool. I do not know why he is upset, just let it go, he made an awesome band which is huge amongst metal fans (Just, for some reason, you barely hear them).
Back to Metallica though. Kirk Hammett is rated #11 on Rollingstone's 100 Greatest Guitarist list, none of the Megadeth guitarists (Including Mustaine) are. Now, do not get me wrong, I am not saying Hammett deserves such a high title (I think that list is wrong by every step below the top 10 choices), but he is apparently good enough that he was put on the list. He wrote Enter Sandman's main riff, that riff is so overplayed it is scary. Bar bands cover that song a ton and ruin it may I say. James Hetfield is a mean son of a b*tch on his guitar, and I love watching him play it.
So, I think I have made my point. Metallica to me is an awesome band, I loved Black, Load and Reload (After that, I agree, no good). Listen to the awesome blues riffs from Memory Remains, those rock. Let me quickly reply to one thing that might be said concerning who is the better guitarist: Dave Mustaine and Kirk Hammett are probably equally as good at playing, but the writing is totally different. Hammett writes with effects (He overuses that Wah though), I do not recall any solo where Mustaine uses effect pedals (If he does just let me know). Hammett also seems to have cooler sounding solos, so, apparently, Kirk is the better writer of solos. As far as riffs go, they may be equal there, but I will give Dave a couple more points ahead of Hammett on that one (Dave has some awesome riff stuff going on there). Kirk’s writing ability may be why Rollingstone pushed him so high on that list (He is the ultimate guitarist all around, just a bit sloppy live these days).
Okay, I have said enough, people completely see my stance on this subject. Metallica forever!
Lmao.
EDIT:
Yes, all bands can be a bit mean at times to the fans, I have heard this about Hetfield before, but he rocks anyway. Metallica may have sold out, but they blow any one of these bands like Trivium, Lamb of God, Atreyu (Some, but not all of their stuff, is heavier), etc., out of the water.
The whole Napster thing sucked though.
*I mean no offense to anyone, I am just saying my opinion here.
Peace out guys, GuitarAnatomy.
