Through the Never

Author: Sebastijan Videc

Artist: Metallica
Label: Blackened Records
Release: numbers
Length: 101:13
Rating: 3.5/5

Heavy metal behemoths Metallica had one seriously busy 2013. They toured non-stop all over the world, crowned it with a show in Antarctica that made them the first band to play on every continent in a single year, and even threw in premiere gigs in India and China. So what else can a band that has tried and tested pretty much everything over three-plus decades possibly offer us that’s new? No, sadly it’s not a new studio album (although one might show up this year) – it’s the concert film ‘Through the Never’, and I’ll try to walk you through its soundtrack below.

The film itself is about a young guy who signs up as Metallica’s roadie, but instead of enjoying a gig by his favorite band, he gets handed a critical task that carries him far from the arena into a literal fight for life and death. The double album the band released alongside the film is, then, a soundtrack of live music. Despite the pile of concert recordings floating around, mostly online, and the website livemetallica.com, which lets you buy practically every show they’ve played in the last few years,  this is actually only their third live album; the first came out way back in 1993, Live Shit: Binge and Purge, followed by the symphonic S&M in 1999.

So what do these two white, blood-splattered discs bring us? Sixteen tracks recorded at five shows in Canada in 2012: two in Edmonton, Alberta, and three in Vancouver, British Columbia. A quick glance at the tracklist doesn’t reveal many surprises – the one exception is the rarely played …And Justice For All. If the list made you yawn, though, know that this is some of the most energetic stuff Metallica have put out in a long time.

The production is outstanding; Lars’ drumming has never sounded this clear, Trujillo’s bass rearranges your internal organs, Hammett’s solos cut right through, while James’ vocals are crystal clear and the guitar riffs thunderous. At times the record honestly sounds like it was cut in a studio, and the lack of audience noise adds to that feeling – for instance during the prayer in Enter Sandman. Luckily that doesn’t happen too often and the album still sounds live. Still, hats off to their producer Greg Fidelman for a phenomenal sonic picture.

On one of the recordings, James Hatfield announces they’ll be playing songs from all the albums. But on the album (and consequently in the film) at least, there’s nothing from Load or St.Anger. It’s also interesting that, despite the title Through the Never, the song of the same name is strangely missing from the tracklist. And since this is a soundtrack, on some tracks, like Enter Sandman and Ride the Lightning, you’ll hear things that might look like mistakes in the recording. In the latter, for example, the mic cuts out in the film, while during Sandman comes their famous stage collapse, complete with burning roadies…

Probably one of the best facts is that the band played the whole album tuned a half step down, which brings a heavier, more intense sound. As a result the songs come across as more energetic, and there’s really no shortage of energy on this record. Classics like Creeping Death, Battery and Hit the Lights are played with the same amount of aggression and speed as in the ’80s, and One and Nothing Else Matters, decked out with an extended acoustic intro, still provide a balanced ballad section with their dynamics and the musical precision they demand –  which may also be the result of playing them for a few decades. The album closes with a version of Orion played in an empty hall, which consequently sounds completely studio-made. In the film the track serves as the backdrop for the end credits with everyone who worked on it, and with a more electronic-sounding bass in the intro (unlike Cliff’s distortion) it feels more modern, yet still keeps the raw edge of that beloved instrumental.

There’s hardly any slip-ups to notice. Lars’ drums drift a little on For Whom the Bell Tolls, and James’ vocals follow suit in Nothing Else Matters. Maybe there aren’t more blunders because, as mentioned, these are selected takes from five shows, but the fact is that Metallica are a well-oiled machine, and they definitely aren’t planning to stop anytime soon. Five years have passed since Death Magnetic and Lulu with Lou Reed left a sour aftertaste, but luckily Through the Never is a solid release, and I recommend it to everyone who hasn’t yet gotten tired of Metallica’s evergreen tunes.       

Lineup

James Hatfield – guitar, vocals
Kirk Hammett – guitar
Robert Trujillo – bass
Lars Ulrich – drums

Production

Greg Fidelman

Tracklist

1. Ecstasy of Gold
2. Creeping Death
3. For Whom The Bell Tolls
4. Fuel
5. Ride The Lightning
6. One
7. The Memory Remains
8. Wherever I May Roam
9. Cynadie
10. …And Justice For All
11. Master Of Puppets
12. Battery
13. Nothing Else Matters
14. Enter Sandman
15. Hit The Lights
16. Orion