Metallica - Garage Inc.

Metallica - Garage Inc.

Metallica - Garage Inc. (1998)

After the relative disappointment (for me) of the Load and Re-Load albums, Metallica are back with their amps and the attitude dial turned up to 11.

Disc 1 is a collection of newly recorded cover versions while Disc 2 contains a couple of old EP's, B-sides and other stuff from 1984-1995. I'll cover Disc 2 first.

First up on Disc 2 is the famous Garage Days Re-Revisited EP (also titled the $5.98 EP). This was released in 1987 and comprises of 6 cover versions. It is the first recording featuring bass player Jason Newsted who joined the band after Cliff Burton died tragically in a bus crash during the "Master of Puppets" Tour.

These songs shouldn't be taken too seriously according to Metallica themselves but they are way cool!

The cover of Budgie's "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" is great and the version of the Misfit's "Last Caress / Green Hell" is now a Metallica live classic.

Since the original vinyl version of this EP is out of production this CD is essential to any Metallica fan who doesn't have them.

Note: at about 2:02 into Last Caress / Green Hell there is a glitch in the mastering. It's in every CD produced apparently - D'Oh!

Next up is the original Garage Days Revisited from 1984. There are two covers here, Diamond Head's "Am I Evil" and Blitzkrieg's "Blitzkrieg". Two examples of where Metallica draw their sound from. "Am I Evil" has also become a live standard for the band.

Five B-Sides and one off's are next on the CD including Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy", Budgie's "Breadfan" and The Anti-Nowhere League's obscene punk anthem "So What". Not for the easily offended! Great songs for driving to!

Last but by no means least are four Motorhead covers; "Overkill", "Damage Case", "Stone Dead Forever" and "Too Late Too Late". These were recorded during a rehersal for a Motorhead tribute bash where Metallica opened for Lemmy and his band.

Disc 2 comprises eleven new cover versions. "Two albums of covers?" I hear you ask! Well don't fret, its more than worth the price of the CD to hear Metallica rocking out with some interesting choices.

Highlights include Diamond Head's "It's Electric", Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey In The Jar" and Nick Cave's "Loverman".

There are some obvious influences here like Diamond Head, Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult. The best pieces in my opinion however are the unlikely covers. Bob Seger's "Turn The Page" is perfect for James' voice. The medley of Mercyful Fate songs is also really cool.

The best track for me is the cover of "Whiskey In The Jar", recorded by Thin Lizzy in 1982 but originally an Irish folk song.. I'm not too sure why except that James manages to sing lines like, "Wack for my Daddy-O" without sounding like a fool. I doubt many other bands could make a folk song so heavy and not sound like idiots.

Metallica may be trying to rediscover their roots on this CD. I hope that they are in the same frame of mind when they write and record the next studio album.

As always, feel free to email me with any comments, suggestions or criticism.