METALLICA – ENTER
SANDMAN (VERTIGO)
For some this is as
monstrous as music gets. This is a big
song that elevates with volume, one that can grow to earthshaking
proportions. You just must not take it
too seriously.
In many ways this was
the first official display of the Metallica rebirth. Toned down ever so slightly, with Bob Rock the producer of Bon
Jovi on board their sound was smoothed out and sanded down to make them
somewhat radio friendly without too much compromise or lose of edge. This is five minutes frenetically chugging
heavy metal.
It begins with
anticipation and an appropriate introduction to what lay ahead. There is nothing subtle or fake about this
delivery. And considering that the time
was the birth of alternative rock, the guitars are incredible smooth and clean
sounding. Perhaps to its detriment.
This material feels
more driving, better paced than the thrash that came before it. Here was a band not bold enough to take
their time, to smash all posts without feeling the necessity to do it all at
once. They knew that this was the
biggest sound on the planet. Hey, it
even comes with a break to allow for pyrotechnics to explode. “Enter Sandman” came with stadium written
all over it.
At the time there was
none more black and over the years few metal acts have received the recognition
that Metallica have. And this is quite
a feat considering how easy they make it look and sound.
The concept of “Enter
Sandman” is of nightmares. When
released Freddie Kruger was still very much in the public’s consciousness and
the horror they were able to derive from such an association served them well,
even to the point that the band was able to cheesily place a girl reciting a
prayer into a break. For any other act
this gesture would have killed the song but Metallica got away with it off the
back of already bludgeoning the listener through sheer bloodymindness.
Of course there is a
guitar solo. Every metal song has to
have a solo but the manner with which it is placed here proves not to spoil the
show as it arrives more as a matter of fact indulgence rather than a centre
stage display of (feeble) authority.
On the flip is a cover
version of “Stone Cold Crazy” by Queen.
It all feels a bit soppy as Metallica increase the volume and toughen up
the guitars in galloping fashion as Hetfield does achieve some kind of accurate
and faithful variant of the Freddie Mercury vocal delivery. This can be a camp band even if it does
strangle itself with guitar solos.
The final track on the
disc is a demo version of “Enter Sandman” in instrumental form where the USP
appears to be the ability to chug away at a dense rhythm. Its no frills, no nonsense and very amusing
to note how basic the drums are when stripped down. It’s as if Lars learned to play using ice cream tubs. This version has charm.
Regardless of what I
say or write this song is cast in stone and will forever be recognised with a
legendary status intact. It cannot be
defeated.
Thesaurus moment: apex.
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