Explain to me the appeal of Metallica

[Okuu_Fusion]

I like Metallica to a certain extent... If one of their songs pop up on the radio, I probably won't switch to a different station... and I'm willing to buy a few of their songs...

They seem like the "everyman metal" band... so I guess they are pretty mainstream...

 

[ItsAChiaotzu]

Their overrated, but i still enjoy them alot, they made good albums, particularly their first 4, they had good solo's, solid riffing, pretty good structures, and they also had lots of emotion in their music, its got charachter, when you hear an old Metallica song atleast, you know its Metallica.

Their a great band for many, and they were one of my first metal bands.

Although i can see they would not thrill other people.

The structures are only really decent on MoP, incidentally their only decent album

Kirk Hammett is a turd guitarist. End of.

There's nothing wrong with not liking Metallica, a lot of metal bands that loads of people would say aren't real metal have much better musicians and a lot more interesting music without being sellouts too.

So, in conclusion, yeah they suck.

 

[Slaanax]

Metallic has reach the point of over popularity where more people seem to hate them, than like them. I like Metallica, but I like them up to Reload.

 

[LightspeedJack]

Music isn't something you can really explain, if you like it you like it, if you don't you don't. There are a few Metallica songs I love but I'm not a hardcore fan.

 

[[guys_its_ok]]

so many people just assert that it's better and untouchable and these are the people I'm mainly addressing.

I agree, but it's like a lot of those old bands that are just always really popular and everyone loves no matter what, like Led Zeppelin or Queen or to a an extent AC/DC and stuff. It's just what happens, so theres not really much I can say about it.....

Metallica isn't really my thing either.....

Metallica has always been a mainstream metal band and anyone who says otherwise if fooling themselves. The great thing about the band is that they were among the first to make the metal sound popular. Listen to anything off of their first two albums if you want a good example of traditional thrash metal. It started small with a few band like Metallica and it quickly became popular and mainstream. The reason people say it's no mainstream is simply because metal itself has fallen out of the public eye. Obviously there are lots of metal enthusiasts here on the Escapist but when was the last time you heard metal on the radio? And whenever that was, it was probably either one of Metallica's new alternative style singles, or a new band like Disturbed.

All in all it's just opinion, but Metallica achieved some impressive things, they wrote some great songs and are just a good example of what metal used to be.

Just wondering, do you mean mainstream is good, or bad?

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

Metallica is decent enough. That's it really, they were a solid band that made some ill-advised changes before going back to a (mostly) solid band again, but in this day and age they are not especially exciting or noteworthy. From a historical standpoint, yes, but bands don't get to just coast by on their historical significance with anyone but their most slavishly devoted fans.

Of course, these "Metallica purists" the OP is complaining about tend to arise in discussions of contemporary and (this part is key here) mainstream metal bands, and the significance is thus: Mainstream metal sucks. Seriously, if people who don't listen to Metal have heard of it, the odds of a modern metal band not sucking immensely are practically astronomical.

When weighed against the best of the much less well known modern bands, Metallica and their ilk are just "okay"; compared to the crap that gets popular attention today, old school Metal kicks copious amounts of ass. The problem isn't with being a modern Metal band, it's that the modern metal bands everyone has heard about play shitty music.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

]

-snip-

Just wondering, do you mean mainstream is good, or bad?

Mainstream is usually bad, but it has been good. It's not that being popular makes music bad, it's just that the current popular music is bad.

 

[DuplicateValue]

I can't put into words how boring I find them.

It's just not in any way entertaining to me.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

well i think the things that really make them stand out is they have an AMAZING frontman james hetfield, also they are one a few bands just as good live, also they dont just play the same thing as fast as they can, and scream as painfully down the mic as they can and well they make music worth trying to understand, music that means something, not just kill kill kill die die die, thats what most metal sounds like to me.

everyone sees every band differently im not saying omg are u insane they are the greatest band that ever lived i would take a bullet for them. so please no calling me a fanboy, im so sick of that.

 

[Ham_authority95]

If you don't like it, than don't listen to it. Don't make "explain to me the appeal of" threads, because its all up to personal taste, and you can't "explain" the appeal of anything entertainment related, really.

 

[Contun]

I wouldn't say you're mistaken, seeing as music is subjective. Different people like different music genres. Personally, I like them. Not their biggest fan, but I do enjoy a lot of their songs.

I think Megadeth is much better though.

 

[Kurokami]

Alright, after reading through another thread about "music you hate", I found that this site is not immune to metal purists, those who claim that the only real metal is Metallica and other "founding" bands. What I want to know is what makes Metallica so damn amazing to everyone?

I'm legitimately not trying to troll. Post videos, songs, anything that can convince me that they are not just as "mainstream" as all of the bands you guys vilify. Convince me that their songs don't all sound the same. Explain to me specifically why they enthrall you. And more importantly, explain to me what makes them better than everything found in the contemporary metal world.

I feel like the only person who just doesn't care for the band. I don't hate them, but I am alone when I say things like "they're not that great". So, if I truly am mistaken, please correct my tastes. I mean they have released some nine albums and each of them gets conflicting reviews from their monstrous fan base. Is it just their staying value that's made them popular?

Truth be told, I like Metallica's songs, I just don't like them singing it.

I've enjoyed every cover of every song they've played (that I've heard), but I often can't stand their version of it. I don't have a problem with Metallica though.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

It's metal, people like metal

 

[procyonlotor]

Yes, let us all bash the mainstream because it is popular.

Look, if you like it, you like it. If you don't, then it's not for you. So chill.

Also, have some Cthulhu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt_ZE_ib9Wk

 

[CaptainAverage]

No one can convince you that a band is good, as this is probably going to be said over and over but oh well.. People have different tastes blah blah blah.. It just makes you look like a douchebag when you try to be different and cool by saying 'explain to me the appeal of..'

 

[Kelble]

I see Metallica as more of a stepping stone in metal as a genre. Metallica was one of the bands that really pushed metal more mainstream. Other than that contribution, nastalgia, not to mention their ealier albums keeping them in a good light, they are just an average band now.

 

[Calico93]

They are one of the great pioneers of metal
Theyve created alot of catchy riffs/tunes
Talent in all of the members, former and current
And are a generally all round great band.