Amazon.co.uk Review: As if to accentuate their fundamental hugeness, Metallica (arguably the most consistently innovative metal band of the 80s and 90s) stretched yet further into the arena of the titanic with this immense cohesion of the orchestral and the truly seismic. Recorded live at California's Berkeley Community Theatre with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under the direction of composer and arranger Michael Kamen, S & M showcases over two hours of the band's best known material including the muscular thrash of "Master Of Puppets" and the devastating power of "Enter Sandman". Also featuring a pair of brand new compositions--the pounding menace of "Human" and chest-beating nihilism of "No Leaf Clover"--S & M steers clear of pompous self-indulgence in favour of sheer blistering intensity. Kamen's orchestral arrangements perfectly complement the underlying subtlety of Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett and Newsted's singularly bombastic muse and the end result is nothing short of awesome. --Ian Fortnam
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Metallica and, what? An Orchestra?!
It's one of those things that, when you first think about it, it really doesn't and shouldn't work.
Ever.
But after coming across this album's version of "Nothing Else Matters" on Kerrang! TV, I was shocked and also intrigued by what else the album may have in store.
Now, most people know Metallica as one of the most influencial and outstanding metal bands of all-time, so when fans heard that they would be combining themselves with the San Francisco Symphony, as you can ... Read More
Rating: - Should have been the best ever CD but doesn't work
Like S.Hammond in an earlier review I too am a huge Metallica fan and consider myself very open minded musically, and I too have tried again and again to get out of this CD what it should be - but it just isn't. Every now and then a bit works really well, but the vast majority does not - it just sounds like two completely different pieces of music are playing at the same time. The orchestra should add weight and emotion to the songs we know and love (check out Dream Theater's 'Score' DVD for an example ... Read More
Rating: - Masterpiece of Symphonic Metal...CHANGED MY MUSICAL LIFE!!
This 1999 release changed my musical tastes and pointed me in a whole new genre of music - without this cd I may not have discovered the like of Therion, Nightwish, Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and all the many symphonic metal artists out there!!
Much has been said about this album but Metallica should be applauded for having the courage to step out of their comfort zone and play LIVE with a full piece Orchestra (something that the likes of the above bands have yet to do)
Metallica are on the top of ... Read More
Rating: - Pure bliss
This is a fantastic album with a perfect mix of orchestral power and speed mixed with grunging distorted guitars and haunting singing. It just works and it does it brilliantly. It is a real treat for the ears. The sound recording is top notch and not compressed to oblivion as so many CD's are these days. The reviewer below that said they couldn't hear it because there was too much going on- listen to it on a decent hi-fi it will blow your socks off. It gives your speakers a work out that's for sure due ... Read More
Rating: - Metal starting to rust?
I have been a fan of Metallica for years, I listen to all kinds of music, so am not closed-minded with regard to the orchestra being on this cd. My main gripe about this c.d. is that there is FAR too much going on...there's FAR too much noise. O.K. I am not a conductor or musical arranger, but this sounds like it really is all over the place, with the orchestra sounding for the most part like it's playing just ANYTHING!!! On occasions turning the whole thing into a cacophany of din.
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