To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of Metallica‘s Black Album, Spin magazine asked musicians their opinion on the Thrash Metal band and the classic album. One of the musicians interviewed was Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash who talked about the group and the record.
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“I think any Metallica album is a given for a hard rock/metal record collection. They are the pinnacle of that style of music, and they were among the first bands to revolutionize that particular style and sound. But the Black Album crossed over in a way that made them a household name. They achieved that while maintaining their sonic integrity, songwriting and attitude.”
“They took their signature style and recorded an album that became universally accessible, but still fucking cool. That is no small feat and maybe something that artists like Metallica might not even want to do. But on this record, it happened for them. The legacy of the Black Album will live on forever.”
Released on August 12, 1991, by Elektra Records, the album is commonly referred to as The Black Album because of its packaging design that was meant to replicate AC/DC’s “Back In Black” idea, that paid tribute to the death of singer Bon Scott, since Metallica had lost bassist Cliff Burton in a tragic accident.
Its recording took place at One on One Studios in Los Angeles over an eight-month span. Which frequently found Metallica at odds with their new producer Bob Rock. The album marked a change in the band’s music from the thrash metal style of their previous four albums to a slower, heavier, and more refined sound.
It debuted at number one in ten countries and spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200, making it Metallica’s first album to top the album charts. Also is one of the best-selling albums worldwide.
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