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Post by jorn on Mar 2, 2023 14:37:15 GMT
If Darkness Had a Son is good.I just have two little details that I didn't like.
I didn't like the transition right after the solo. And when the riff changes before and underneath the solo (it is great), I kinda expected something towards the end was going to happen. A little bit of alteration of that riff could be awesome to end the song on a heavier, more epic note.
Also found the production way more beefy and more defined than the the other two songs.
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Post by jorn on Mar 2, 2023 14:57:35 GMT
More thoughts on Kirk's "solos".... When you have different components, they don’t always match up in vibe or whatnot so when you jam them together it sounds like it is: bits stuck together. Obviously, I’m not privy to the recording process but maybe what his solos now need is for Greg and Lars to put the pieces together and then Kirk sits down and finds the linking passages and phrase to smooth it all together into one coherent piece. It’s not so much, for me, that different phrasings and notes and whatnot, but the disjointed nature of it. How is it lately? Is it any different? To be honest, Kirk is the only one that didn't step up his game but did OK for the most part in the recent years and albums. |
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Post by SicJes on Mar 2, 2023 15:22:19 GMT
but I can't help but think they feel a little more hollow than anything else they've put out. Like missing layers or missing depth in some of the parts. This. That tic Tok with the guy adding a few harmonies in the intro is the most obvious thing to do for most of us, yet they choose to just keep it simplified to one track each. Harmonies gave DM and Kill the King that extra push towards awesomeness, that extra weight. For Lux and SS I don't mind the straight forward sonic approach. They groove, they rock, and get the job done. The "clunky" arrangements of SS don't bother me one bit anymore, it's actually my top 3 of the 3. All the little twists and turns feel right now. But for something with less speed like Darkness, there is so much opportunity to add space and flavor. Imagine how boring Wherever I May Roam would be if it was stripped down of all the sitars, gongs, and all that, with Greg behind the mixing console. |
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Post by Zalman on Mar 2, 2023 19:14:39 GMT
I can't remember the last time the bass was this audible. I can hear it even with my crappiest speakers.
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Post by Kimbo on Mar 2, 2023 20:12:07 GMT
I’m once again having a hard time understanding how anyone, let alone Kirk can be satisfied with a solo like Darkness. It doesn’t contain even one interesting idea. Not one semi little interesting lick or scale. And it’s nearly 60 seconds long.
I mean, it’s almost a feat in itself to be able to write something so unbelievably bland and uninteresting. Think about them being in the control room agreeing on Kirk being on fire, so they are just looping the rhythm until he stops wanking off. How the hell does that thought process work. They should have cut him off after 12 seconds tops.
Must be so weird being on stage and going from Fade To Black into… Whatever this is supposed to be.
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Post by BMus1 on Mar 2, 2023 20:22:20 GMT
I’m once again having a hard time understanding how anyone, let alone Kirk can be satisfied with a solo like Darkness. Because it sounds like Kirk Hammett playing, and that's the bar they're aiming for. Watch any of the HTSD making of videos and whenever they bring up a song's solo, it's treated as a pre-planned and obligatory slot in the song, not something that happens naturally and makes sense with the rest of the music. If these guys were in their 30s, Kirk would either be told to step up or get out. But they're going to be in their 60s, and having Kirk do whatever he's doing makes sense after being in Metallica for 40 years. And from a purely business perspective it looks better for the band than kicking him out and hiring a new guy. I don't agree with any of that, but that's the implication I get from the situation. Because I'm with you, this shouldn't be acceptable but I don't think Lars, James, or Greg expects anything more from him.
I'm curious how involved he was after being absent from the writing process for Hardwired. Writing credits or not, physically showing up makes a huge impact in learning music and figuring out how a solo can contribute to it. If you're coming in, learning the song, and recording a solo in a short span of time like we've seen from him, that's not conducive to good songwriting. All 4 members of the band were fully absorbed in the recording process in all of The Black Album BTS footage, not 3 out of the 4 members like we have now.
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Post by Prometheus426 on Mar 2, 2023 22:37:19 GMT
James digging deep on the last two songs, some dark material.
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Post by slowdive on Mar 2, 2023 22:59:58 GMT
If Darkness Had a Son is good.I just have two little details that I didn't like. I didn't like the transition right after the solo. And when the riff changes before and underneath the solo (it is great), I kinda expected something towards the end was going to happen. A little bit of alteration of that riff could be awesome to end the song on a heavier, more epic note. Also found the production way more beefy and more defined than the the other two songs. Agree with everything. Especially the transition to the verse after the solo, very awkward. Also, the solo is just Kirk's usual fuckery. Should be lower in the mix. The production is indeed better than the other two tracks. Huge drums, but not as loud, huge bass and crunchy guitars. Nice reverb, also. The strongest of the three for me. Very surprised with the quality of the songs, so far. |
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Post by BMus1 on Mar 3, 2023 1:11:44 GMT
Something just clicked with IDHAS for me. I have some irks with the performance but the song is great, sorta feels like the same head space as Halo on Fire. I'm with HR, James' lyrics deserve more praise so far.
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Post by yepsure on Mar 3, 2023 1:50:23 GMT
I just hope it’s not another full album of therapy lyrics
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Post by BMus1 on Mar 3, 2023 2:18:33 GMT
I just played IDHAS at 1.5x speed on youtube by accident, I'm loling. It turns into Hardwired for a minute.
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Post by SicJes on Mar 3, 2023 3:11:23 GMT
I just played IDHAS at 1.5x speed on youtube by accident, I'm loling. It turns into Hardwired for a minute. Haha, I did that earlier today at 2x speed for giggles. It sounded like one of these tight jeans young metal bands. I had it playing in the background today (at normal speed) and was good as background noise. If you pay too much attention and start analyzing it it falls short, but casually in the background its cool. |
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Post by Prometheus426 on Mar 3, 2023 5:11:49 GMT
I just hope it’s not another full album of therapy lyrics Look........at.......my.......self |
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Post by Overkill on Mar 3, 2023 5:28:48 GMT
I just hope it’s not another full album of therapy lyrics Look........at.......my.......self  |
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Post by FightFireWithStAnger on Mar 3, 2023 5:44:16 GMT
I’m once again having a hard time understanding how anyone, let alone Kirk can be satisfied with a solo like Darkness. Because it sounds like Kirk Hammett playing, and that's the bar they're aiming for. Watch any of the HTSD making of videos and whenever they bring up a song's solo, it's treated as a pre-planned and obligatory slot in the song, not something that happens naturally and makes sense with the rest of the music. If these guys were in their 30s, Kirk would either be told to step up or get out. But they're going to be in their 60s, and having Kirk do whatever he's doing makes sense after being in Metallica for 40 years. And from a purely business perspective it looks better for the band than kicking him out and hiring a new guy. I don't agree with any of that, but that's the implication I get from the situation. Because I'm with you, this shouldn't be acceptable but I don't think Lars, James, or Greg expects anything more from him.
I'm curious how involved he was after being absent from the writing process for Hardwired. Writing credits or not, physically showing up makes a huge impact in learning music and figuring out how a solo can contribute to it. If you're coming in, learning the song, and recording a solo in a short span of time like we've seen from him, that's not conducive to good songwriting. All 4 members of the band were fully absorbed in the recording process in all of The Black Album BTS footage, not 3 out of the 4 members like we have now.
This is going to be pure speculation on my part, but since this forum as also noticed the decline in ability to play by Kirk in the past 6 or so years, maybe the rest of the band and Greg has noticed that even more when they're around him and possibly the reason why you saw him being fed what to do on HWTSD (apart from losing his riffs on his phone) is maybe he can't play that well anymore. Or I should say, not being able to play certain things like he used to. I know they've said he has arthritis issues in his fingers, but maybe it's gotten to point where they want to play it safe instead of him trying to do a Trapped Under Ice solo again. |
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Post by fistakiller on Mar 3, 2023 6:23:25 GMT
This might be beating a dead horse but I think this is the time where they've actually sold out. 90s Metallica and Hardwired had some pop elements but the songs were still good. The songs actually had sections, sometimes the intros were clean or melodic, there were harmonies, the solos had a buildup, new riffs were introduced in the middle of the song. Overall it felt like a lot of care and attention was put into the music. The new singles feel lazy and uninspired. Even if they're catchy like Lux or SS, they still feel incomplete. Compare these to the Hardwired singles which all feature the qualities I mentioned above, even the title track which was quickly put together in a couple of days has a better structure. This new material is just to keep the Metallica brand relevant and afloat for a couple more years and nothing more.
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Post by fistakiller on Mar 3, 2023 6:29:11 GMT
This is going to be pure speculation on my part, but since this forum as also noticed the decline in ability to play by Kirk in the past 6 or so years, maybe the rest of the band and Greg has noticed that even more when they're around him and possibly the reason why you saw him being fed what to do on HWTSD (apart from losing his riffs on his phone) is maybe he can't play that well anymore. Or I should say, not being able to play certain things like he used to. I know they've said he has arthritis issues in his fingers, but maybe it's gotten to point where they want to play it safe instead of him trying to do a Trapped Under Ice solo again.
James should be writing the solos if this is the case. The harmonies in Atlas and Spit were superior to the actual solos and I personally would've been satisfied if we just got those.
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Post by silentflames on Mar 3, 2023 10:48:07 GMT
I think it's pretty clear that they need a Black Album Bob Rock type of producer to tell them no and give them a kick up their arse lest they get creatively lazy and sloppy. But I don't think anyone at this stage of their career is able to do that.
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Post by silentflames on Mar 3, 2023 10:50:49 GMT
I’m once again having a hard time understanding how anyone, let alone Kirk can be satisfied with a solo like Darkness. Because it sounds like Kirk Hammett playing, and that's the bar they're aiming for. Watch any of the HTSD making of videos and whenever they bring up a song's solo, it's treated as a pre-planned and obligatory slot in the song, not something that happens naturally and makes sense with the rest of the music. If these guys were in their 30s, Kirk would either be told to step up or get out. But they're going to be in their 60s, and having Kirk do whatever he's doing makes sense after being in Metallica for 40 years. And from a purely business perspective it looks better for the band than kicking him out and hiring a new guy. I don't agree with any of that, but that's the implication I get from the situation. Because I'm with you, this shouldn't be acceptable but I don't think Lars, James, or Greg expects anything more from him.
I'm curious how involved he was after being absent from the writing process for Hardwired. Writing credits or not, physically showing up makes a huge impact in learning music and figuring out how a solo can contribute to it. If you're coming in, learning the song, and recording a solo in a short span of time like we've seen from him, that's not conducive to good songwriting. All 4 members of the band were fully absorbed in the recording process in all of The Black Album BTS footage, not 3 out of the 4 members like we have now.
I think they all got lazy. In the making of HWSD, I don't remember which song, but Kirk starts doodling some random shit with his wah and Lars immediately starts laughing and gives its his approval with a "Yeah, this is it!" |
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Post by silentflames on Mar 3, 2023 11:02:54 GMT
I wonder what Rob secretly feels
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Post by jayc on Mar 3, 2023 11:25:14 GMT
More thoughts on Kirk's "solos".... When you have different components, they don’t always match up in vibe or whatnot so when you jam them together it sounds like it is: bits stuck together. Obviously, I’m not privy to the recording process but maybe what his solos now need is for Greg and Lars to put the pieces together and then Kirk sits down and finds the linking passages and phrase to smooth it all together into one coherent piece. It’s not so much, for me, that different phrasings and notes and whatnot, but the disjointed nature of it. How is it lately? Is it any different? To be honest, Kirk is the only one that didn't step up his game but did OK for the most part in the recent years and albums. Not sure what you mean....? I'm curious how involved he was after being absent from the writing process for Hardwired. Writing credits or not, physically showing up makes a huge impact in learning music and figuring out how a solo can contribute to it. If you're coming in, learning the song, and recording a solo in a short span of time like we've seen from him, that's not conducive to good songwriting. All 4 members of the band were fully absorbed in the recording process in all of The Black Album BTS footage, not 3 out of the 4 members like we have now.
Fucking, HARD AGREE. I'm not gonna bemoan the use of ProTools, it's a function of recording now. But it feels the issue is that all these riffs are put together and then Kirk shows up, is told the chords and then wanks off. Maybe if Lars and James and Greg nailed down the arrangement then sent it to Kirk to fucking practice over at home so that when he does come to the studio he's got something prepared. Maybe that? Or maybe they do and he still shits out solid crap anyway. Fuck knows. |
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Post by davi84 on Mar 3, 2023 13:29:30 GMT
This might be beating a dead horse but I think this is the time where they've actually sold out. 90s Metallica and Hardwired had some pop elements but the songs were still good. The songs actually had sections, sometimes the intros were clean or melodic, there were harmonies, the solos had a buildup, new riffs were introduced in the middle of the song. Overall it felt like a lot of care and attention was put into the music. The new singles feel lazy and uninspired. Even if they're catchy like Lux or SS, they still feel incomplete. Compare these to the Hardwired singles which all feature the qualities I mentioned above, even the title track which was quickly put together in a couple of days has a better structure. This new material is just to keep the Metallica brand relevant and afloat for a couple more years and nothing more. I still want to listen to the whole album when it's finally released, but I fear I'll end up agreeing with you. If that's the case, I'd really prefer they just end this whole Metallica thing and each one should follow their own artistic path. But this is just my opinion and will not ever happen, of course. They'll just milk the name, fame and legacy they built to its last drop. |
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Post by fistakiller on Mar 3, 2023 13:31:23 GMT
I think Kirk just doesn't want to play by the books Heavy Metal Metallica stuff, even if it is good. His Portals EP has some great guitar work but it's not the safe Dad metal that the rest of the band wants to play.
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Post by davi84 on Mar 3, 2023 13:41:03 GMT
I think Kirk just doesn't want to play by the books Heavy Metal Metallica stuff, even if it is good. His Portals EP has some great guitar work but it's not the safe Dad metal that the rest of the band wants to play. I strongly believe that Kirk was not the only composer of that EP and the majority of the good parts in it were brought up by the producer and the invited musicians. |
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Post by Zalman on Mar 3, 2023 15:14:36 GMT
To give Kirk some credit, I think If Darkness Had a Son has the best riffs we've heard so far. Makes you wonder which ones came from him. I'm guessing the riff before the solo.
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Post by Prometheus426 on Mar 3, 2023 15:16:28 GMT
I think Kirk just doesn't want to play by the books Heavy Metal Metallica stuff, even if it is good. His Portals EP has some great guitar work but it's not the safe Dad metal that the rest of the band wants to play. Needs more wah, i'm being serious btw. |
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Post by SicJes on Mar 3, 2023 15:37:40 GMT
To give Kirk some credit, I think If Darkness Had a Son has the best riffs we've heard so far. Makes you wonder which ones came from him. I'm guessing the riff before the solo. I feel Kirk handed them a demo of the whole intro with the 2 riffs the marching beat, the one he starts with, and then that main greasy lick James comes in with. The intro builds and feels like something from off the Portal songs, the last one where it goes into a march and then breaks out into that awesome stuff with all the strings in unison etc I can see Kirk handing them a demo with the intro completes or close to, and then James and Lars pulling the song out of that and adding the other stuff, like a Sandman sort of deal. |
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Post by Overkill on Mar 3, 2023 20:48:39 GMT
I think Kirk just doesn't want to play by the books Heavy Metal Metallica stuff, even if it is good. His Portals EP has some great guitar work but it's not the safe Dad metal that the rest of the band wants to play. Needs more wah, i'm being serious btw. +1 |
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Post by BMus1 on Mar 3, 2023 21:27:57 GMT
To give Kirk some credit, I think If Darkness Had a Son has the best riffs we've heard so far. Makes you wonder which ones came from him. I'm guessing the riff before the solo. I feel Kirk handed them a demo of the whole intro with the 2 riffs the marching beat, the one he starts with, and then that main greasy lick James comes in with. The intro builds and feels like something from off the Portal songs, the last one where it goes into a march and then breaks out into that awesome stuff with all the strings in unison etc I can see Kirk handing them a demo with the intro completes or close to, and then James and Lars pulling the song out of that and adding the other stuff, like a Sandman sort of deal. This was my exact thought too. The lead Kirk plays in the intro works so well with the music (what a great lead, good job Kirk), I would guess he just wrote that entire section. |
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Post by Wolfish on Mar 3, 2023 22:52:08 GMT
I still have faith in Kirk despite his solos being subpar for the most part as of late. For starters, his solo project and the solo to Blackened 2020 were interesting. Evere since 2004, he has crafted some really melodic and tasty licks or solos for his live solo spot; case in point the Melbourne solo. Or the one on Francais Pour Une Nuit.
Perhaps he or the producer should speak up and tell Lars to let him do his thing. Or have James as a coach. I love Lars but his solos coaching has been pretty much sucking since DM.
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