As I conclude my exploration of the Library’s heavy metal collection, I want to focus on a few recent albums that demonstrate the genre’s continuing evolution.
Metallica – Death Magnetic (2008)
I skipped the 1990s for two reasons: 1) the Library doesn’t own a lot of ’90s metal, but 2) there isn’t really a whole lot of ’90s metal to begin with. Well, not a lot of good metal, at least. Even Metallica and Anthrax succumbed to the grunge scene. Metallica’s long awaited 2008 release Death Magnetic, was a brilliant rediscovery of their metal roots. It’s loud. It’s fast. It’s long. It’s angry. It’s Metallica! \m/
Mastodon – Crack the Skye (2009)
When the first three songs on an album are titled "Oblivion," "Divinations," and "Quintessence," the odds are that you’re going to hear heavy metal when you push play. This album is awesome and otherworldly. I found that the best way to enjoy it was to turn off the lights, chill in my recliner, and close my eyes. Thematically, it’s about someone who has an out-of-body experience and then travels through the astral plane to warn a Russian czar of his impending assassination. Yeah! Like Queen’s epic song Bohemian Rhapsody, this entire album is one long build-up, reaching it’s climax during the last few minutes of the final song.
Dream Theater – Black Clouds and Silver Linings (2009)
Hot off the press, this is their 10th studio album, and it shreds. Drummer Mike Portnoy and company don’t waste any time getting to the meaty stuff. As its title may suggest, this album switches back and forth between (controlled) chaos and beauty, as only Dream Theater can do so elegantly. The end result is a blistering symphony of emotion grounded in technical prowess. Never mind that Dream Theater performed Metallica’s Master of Puppets and Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast live in their entirety…these guys don’t need another band’s material to bring it.
I hope you enjoyed my little foray into our heavy metal collection. In case you missed them, here are links to the previous installments: