The One You Love to Hate – 95%
Soul_Sucker_666, January 19th, 2024
Written based on this version: 2003, CD + DVD, Vertigo Records (Digipak)
Ican’t stand it when folks label certain albums as ‘trash’ just because it’s the cool thing to do. St. Anger often gets the brunt of it, like it’s the number one album you’re supposed to hate. Well, sorry, but St. Anger is actually a fucking great album. Period. What truly sucks is people being closed-minded and hating on it just because they were told to. I’ll admit, I wasn’t a fan when it first came out. But, a few years down the line, I gave it another shot with an open mind, and it’s not as bad as people make it out to be.
I was a metal newbie back in 2003, just dipping my toes into the magical world of heavy metal. With only a couple of years in the scene, my exploration was mainly guided by the Greek Metal Hammer, which, I must say, has remained superior to all other metal magazines I’ve come across—be it in Greek, English, or German (and that includes other countries’ Metal Hammers). My journey also involved catching some metal shows on TV and, of course, taking risks by blindly buying albums from the local store with my friends. This was a time when the internet was still finding its feet, and massive downloading wasn’t really an option. Even Metal Archives was relatively new. My point here is that, being young and inexperienced listeners, such as myself and others during that period, our musical tastes were heavily influenced by the metal media and the perspectives of older people in the scene.
I kicked off my musical journey with Iron Maiden, Helloween, Ozzy, Gamma Ray, and some other basic, traditional metal-sounding bands. Nu metal, modern, and alternative metal were huge no-gos for me at that time. Why? Well, because that’s what I’d been told was the real and true metal, blah blah blah. So, when St. Anger came out, I distinctly remember laughing at Metallica and my friends who were fanatics about them. I was firmly on the Maiden side, proudly championing my band’s new album, Dance of Death. Did I actually give St. Anger a fair listen? Hell no. Just a couple of spins, watched the video clips on TV, and that was it. I had already made up my mind anyway—the album sucks, and Metallica are nothing more than multimillionaire sellouts.
Fast forward to 2007-2008, armed with a lot more metal experience, having delved into a vast array of music, both metal and non-metal. I’d explored a significant portion of the metal map, from classics to underground. Thanks to a friend who wasn’t a metalhead but somehow liked the album, I decided to give St. Anger another shot. The first couple of listens, I thought, ‘Okay, it’s not as bad as I remembered, but it’s definitely not a standout.’ However, over time, I found myself playing the album non-stop, all while refusing to admit that I might actually like it or that it’s a killer record. Then, at some point, I had to face the truth—I absolutely love it. Since then, it’s been a regular in my playlist, and I still enjoy it from start to finish. In fact, I consider it among the best Metallica albums. I’ll delve into why in the following paragraphs.
The band aimed to craft an album with a raw, garage-like feel, adopting an old-school approach despite the music not fitting that mold. The timing was interesting, given it marked their most controversial era. They had just ventured into a musical territory vastly different from what made them famous and dropped what I consider their worst album by far – Reload. The band seemed utterly adrift, making the decision to part ways with their bassist, seemingly without a concrete reason. At that point, Metallica was on the verge of breaking up. The documentary ‘Some Kind of Monster’ vividly portrays a fractured band and individuals who appeared spoiled and profoundly lost.
Regardless, in their minds, St. Anger served as a sort of return to their roots, a call-back to the garage days. The music is undeniably aggressive and energetic, a stark departure from their previous two albums. While it doesn’t quite fit the thrash metal category, there are discernible thrash elements. Broadly speaking, the music can be labelled as a blend of heavy and groove metal, incorporating stoner, thrash, and nu metal elements. All of this comes packaged in a raw, in-your-face philosophy with an old-school attitude. It may not seem to make perfect sense, but that’s a rather accurate snapshot of St. Anger.
Now, let’s dive into the positives of the album. Setting aside the fact that it might be a bit too modern and ‘nu’ for the traditional metalhead, the songs themselves are downright addictive. Seriously, there’s not a single filler on this lengthy album. One of its strengths lies in the genuine garage attitude and philosophy infused into both the music and the production. The songs are groovy, they stick with you, and they never leave the listener uninterested or bored. Sure, there might not be many solos, but there’s a plethora of heavy riffs to make up for it. The music is undeniably heavy, raw and exciting, and that’s a big positive.
James truly pours his soul into this one, and you can feel the desperation, pain, and anger in the way he sings. I also appreciate Lars’s drumming; it really does justice to the songs. In general, the tracks are brimming with energy, grooviness, and a headbanging aura. Another undeniable positive, something I believe even those who despise the album can agree on, is that St. Anger saved Metallica. It was a massive wake-up call that ultimately made them confront who they are, find their lost way, and emerge stronger than ever.
On the flip side, the negatives are glaringly apparent. Firstly, the album’s length is undeniably on the longer side. Personally, it doesn’t bother me much, as I don’t consider any song or even parts within the songs to be fillers, maybe just a very few. However, a slight trim in the length of some songs could have positively impacted the overall outcome.
The second glaring issue is the criminal absence of solos. This remains one of the most puzzling aspects of the album. Why? Whose idea was that, and who signed off on it? I don’t inherently have an issue with songs without solos, but releasing an entire album without a single solo just for the sake of it seems, well, stupid, arrogant, compulsive, and obsessive. By the way, does this mean that Kirk didn’t play on the record? Many of the songs seem to desperately scream for some well-placed lead parts and melodies.
Another major point of contention for many people is the production of the album. It’s often criticized for being too raw, as if it hasn’t been mastered and is simply a garage recording. But hold on a second… isn’t that exactly what they intended to achieve? In my opinion, this raw sound complements the songs and aligns with the idea and vision they had. Sure, I get it—the snare sound is quite special. For most people, it’s akin to a peculiar, trash-can-like sound, but personally, I don’t particularly mind. I believe it fits the overall sound and production. It is what it is, and in the end, I find myself liking it.
However, I can’t help but imagine what St. Anger would sound like with a different, more conventional metal production – a great sounding snare, the exact same songs but a little bit shorter, and with solos. No doubt, this could transform it into an absolute metal masterpiece. Both the bonus DVD and other live versions of the songs also support this theory. Nevertheless, the album still stands as great in its current form.
I genuinely love all the songs on the album, making it difficult to single out favourites. However, if pressed, I must admit a particular fondness for “Frantic,” a track that stands out as possibly the most popular or, at the very least, the least despised. The band occasionally features it in their setlists. “Some Kind of Monster” is another standout with its infectious groove, boasting a riff that effortlessly combines danceability and headbanging appeal. “My World” captures a beautiful atmosphere of despair, both musically and lyrically. I’m also an absolute sucker for “Sweet Amber.” Additionally, the relatively recent inclusion of “Unnamed Feeling” in live shows has further solidified its place as one of my favourites from the album.
Closing, if you hate this album, it’s likely that your opinion won’t easily change, perhaps due to deep-seated prejudices, external opinions and a closed-minded perspective. It’s unfortunate because, in my view, this album offers very enjoyable music, and the undeserved criticism it receives has even led Metallica to downplay it in their live sets. St. Anger holds a significant place among all their albums for me, far from being their worst. I highly recommend giving it a listen without any preconceived notions or closed-mindedness. Just embrace the band’s honesty about where they were, particularly mentally, at the time. It’s worth it. You’re free to continue rejecting St. Anger, but passing up the opportunity to enjoy this exciting music might just leave you standing alone as a closed-minded clown.
Deixe um comentário