Metallica - Through The Never

Have you seen Through The Never? "If not, you're a mother fucker.", to quote James Hetfield from Live Shit: Binge And Purge. Granted he was talking about the first album, Kill 'Em All, but I think it applies here too. If you live in a city or town that played the movie and you didn't make the time to go see it, since it wasn't just a one night event like Led Zepplin's Celebration Day, then you aren't a real fan, or you really screwed yourself out of something amazing. I'm sure it will be great on the home tv screen, but it will not be the same.

So, this review is for the live concert that went with the movie. I didn't really need to buy this live album. There's only one song on it I don't have live already, and most of the others I have at least one other live version, and in some cases a few more. I downloaded a lot of live content from the Metallica website. However, I will be the first one to admit that I picked up this album for one song and one song only, Orion. The very last track on the album, that if what the movies shows is true the band played in an empty area, and the sound is beyond amazing.

I will say that there are three complaints I have about this album that I want to get out right away. Nothing Else Matters is on it, and fuck that shit. Hit The Lights is the only song from Kill 'Em All, Cyanide is the only song from Death Magnetic, and there's nothing from Load. The last of my gripes is the only cover is The Ecstacy Of Gold, and guess what? It's the original tape version that starts every concert, and not the band playing it. Which means, no Am I Evil, Breadfan, Last Caress, So What (this one is understandable somewhat in this case), Whiskey In The Jar, so forth and so on. The first two songs listed there are Metallica standards even, and when I saw them on the Load tour they opened with So What. Not to mention half of the concept of this concert was taken from the Load tour. The tour for an album that's not represented at all in the set list. Okay, ranting done, until I hit Nothing Else Matters.

The concert starts off with The Ecstasy of Gold, as already mentioned. This is great and helps represent the opening to any Metallica show, and since both the show and set list represent Metallica over the years, it only seems fair to start this disc in the traditional way. Another nice part, is on this disc it is a separate track so you can easily skip it. Unlike on past live albums.

Then we move into Creeping Death, this song isn't the same without Jason Newstead singing the background vocals. It's one of those songs I really think they should retire from playing live. It's not that they don't do it well, it's just that they used to do it better. Also if you've heard Metallica perform this song live, then you already know every word, including little adlibs that will be in this song.

To me it seems like they rush For Whom the Bell Tolls. It's clearly a bit faster, but the over all vibe seems like they really just kind of want to be over and done with the song. This live rendition doesn't have any of the power, force or majesty of past renditions.

Then it's instantly into Fuel. I'm not sure entirely what they were thinking with the set list order at this point. It almost seems like they said "Hey, we need to jam all these songs in in the beginning, so we can focus on the later tracks. My main reason for thinking this is the fact that this song yet again feels rushed.

Maybe it's nervous energy, maybe it because of all the elements that were being put in for the movie segments of the film, I can only guess. But the start of the show really does have a forced and rushed along vibe.

Ride the Lightning seems really odd when you just listen to it on the CD, during the show a mic cuts out, and various other things go on that affects James vocals. Aside from that I do really enjoy this live version. This is also the first song that sounds like the band honestly wants to play it.

Next it's on to One. Have you heard this song live before? I'm pretty sure you have, and I'm pretty sure it sounded like this version. I must say that this is one song I've grown very tired of hearing live. It's not that it's a bad song, it's just that there are other songs they could be doing instead.

After that it's on to The Memory Remains, which is great live. My favourite part about this song live is the audience participation. Everyone claims to hate this song, but the crowd always knows how to sing it perfectly and carry it on well after the song is finished.

After that it's on to Wherever I May Roam. While this is one of the songs on the Black Album that I don't mind it's another song that I would rather see switched out for a different track. However, if you are going to do a live show that's going to be turned into a film, I guess this one isn't bad to throw in. However, it's never been the same since S&M.

Metallica, one of the few bands out there that can release a double live album and have it only contain 16 tracks, and none of the songs are extended jams, or anything like that. I bring this up because by the time the first disc is done, I'm sitting there going "Fuck! I've got another hour and change to listen to still." That can be taken as both a good and bad thing.

I love that Cyanide is on here. This is a great song, and it's a ton of fun live. You can just hear the energy coming off this one. I really love the vibe of this song the whole way around, and you can tell that the crowd is totally digging it as well.

...And Justice for All, a song that is on this album purely for the theatrics of it, and that's totally cool with me. Also since this song doesn't get played live all that often it's a very welcomed addition to this set list. Even if I'm not the biggest fan of the song. The only complaint I really have about this song is how they use a tape to play the intro of the song. Then it's on to Master of Puppets. Which is the full version, not that crappy one with the mid section cut out. This song is the only live album repeat offender that I don't have an issue with on this album.

Have you ever heard Battery live? Well this sounds pretty much the same as that version you heard. As long as it was an official release.

Okay I lied. Nothing Else Matters is extended by a guitar solo, and it's a real tease because of the way it sounds. I almost expect Metallica to bust into Paint It Black, then I get Nothing Else Matters. Have I ever mentioned that I really just don't care for this song. It has some balls on this version, but it's still pretty much a Power Ballad.

I'm not a fan of Enter Sandman, but it was one of the best parts about seeing them live on the Load tour. It was totally awesome, and while you don't get to see what happens, you can hear it. Basically the stage sort of explodes. Other than that it's Enter Sandman performed live, like it always is musically.

Then it's off to Hit the Lights for the encore. The only song from Kill 'Em All, and it works for me, and it's a good rendition and perfect to close the show. But, since it's the only song off that album I really would have preferred a different track. Seek & Destroy comes to mind.

The album finishes off with the whole reason I bought this album, Orion. When you see the movie it's just the band playing live to an empty arena. If that is in fact how this song was recorded, Metallica should record their next album like that. Not only is the sound crystal clear, but the band just sounds so together and in sync. As for the song itself, it's a little slowed down, just a little, and has a thicker and tighter groove than you usually hear from this song. This is the song on this album you really want to hear and play over and over.

I know I bitch a lot about this album, because the set list is just so basic and totally predictable. I'm also very pissed off that not a single song from Load made the album. King Nothing or Outlaw Torn would have been fine with me, or Wasting My Hate if I was calling the shots. Fuck, I would have given anything for Metallica to have replaced Nothing Else Matters for Mama Said. But, this was a soundtrack for a live concert movie event. If you watch Through The Never it all works, and if you don't own any other live album, this isn't bad either. However, if you own Live Shit: Binge And Purge, S&M, the Some Kind Of Monster maxi single, or any of the singles that feature live tracks, you really don't need this album. Unless you want a great version of Orion.

And just as a last thought. What was in the fucking bag?

7/10 - content

8/10 - production

6/10 - personal bias