Metallica – Hardwired… To Self-Destruct CD3

I bailed on posting a review yesterday (instead slapping up some fun pics), because I wasn’t ready to post what I was finishing… and I’m still not done! So here’s another, different post instead. And why do I owe this as a review? Because I promised it to all of you. Back when I reviewed the main album, I did both discs and left this third disc of extras for later… much later, it seems. Hell, the album went on to be tied for my Album Of The Year in 2016, so I’ve sat on the damn thing long enough…

Alright, let’s give ‘er!

Three (!) years ago, now, Metallica released Lords Of Summer as a single to start their tour (because it’s about touring, natch).  It’s a big heavy riff, it shifts approaches several times, and when it gallops, it does so deliciously.

Then we go into the Ronnie Rising Medley, which is a collection of Rainbow covers, because awesome. A Light In The Black, Tarot Woman, Stargazer and Kill The King all rule. This is such a fun way to spend 9:03 of your life.

Next they cover Deep Purple’s When A Blind Man Cries (a b-side for Never Before, recorded during the Machine Head sessions), which is done beautifully and bluesily (even when the crunch kicks in). I have to say, it’s really refreshing to hear them do it like this, and what an interesting (and excellent) track to select!

Another cover tune is up, this time Iron Maiden’s Remember Tomorrow (off Iron Maiden). What struck me is how weird it was to hear Iron Maiden sound like Metallica! Haha, why didn’t that occur to me with the other covers? Hm. Anyway, this is a bang-on cover.

And now it’s a bunch of live tracks, recorded on 2016-04-16 for Record Store Day at Rasputin Music in Berkeley, California. What do you really need me to tell you about their rips through the following (all early years) songs? Exactly. Crank it the fuck up and go go GO!

Helpless (cover of Diamond Head)
Hit The Lights
The Four Horsemen
Ride The Lightning
Fade To Black
Jump In The Fire
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Creeping Death
Metal Militia

Whew!

There’s one more track tacked on here, recorded 2016-08-20 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Yup, it’s Hardwired and, of course, it frickin’ smokes. First time ever that it was played live. Rrrrrrrrrraaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!

In Sum:

As if the main 2CD studio album weren’t enough awesomeness, Metallica (in their typically thoughtful and great ways) bestows upon us this third disc that collects a whole lot of brilliance. There had been talk of releasing a bunch of riffs as a third disc instead of this collection. I’m fine with this!