Enter Sandman - Metallica

Metallica has often been labeled "the thinking man's metal band." Some might find that statement oxymoronic, seeing heavy metal as all noise and fury, a product of young men's anger and hostility. I won't dispute that Metallica, in their early days, were any different.

As the 80s came to a close, metal became a farcical joke of big hair and tight pants. As a new "metal" grew in the American Northwest, Metallica could have faded away into obscurity. Instead, in 1991, the angry young men grew up and released the best album of their career and possibly the greatest hard rock album ever. They were still angry, but they were also brilliant musicians and songwriters with something to say.

The self-titled disc (commonly known as The Black Album) opens with the a song of and from nightmares, "Enter Sandman." Few wouldn't recognize the pulsing guitar opening, the crashing drums of Lars Ulrich and James Hetfields gravely voice imploring you to "take my hand/we're off to never never land." After a shattering solo, the tempo slows as James and a child recite a prayer before plunging back into the darkness.

I don't think I appreciated Metallica until the mid-90s, in my late teens, full of my own anger and darkness. I suspect that's when a lot of young men find head-banging comfort in them. Today, this album is still one of my favorites, even if that anger is far in my past.

The 80s were dead...the 90s were here and these guys never looked back.

29/365