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The higher register, descending line in the intro is actually bass. When I found that out over 30 years ago, it blew my mind. I had never heard a bass sound like that before. R.I.P. Cliff.
Distorted bass sounds quite different from guitar so if you play you pretty much know right away that it’s bass, but yeah it’s still an insane bass sound
@@phatmanpushimbak8903 Lucky. I'm a 99 kid and I'd love to see them play in the 80's and 90's. But atleast I'm finally going to see Exodus this summer in Sweden
As a 19yr old guitarist of six-ish years, yeah. Absolutely insane, I can't imagine how they must've felt back then. Talk shit on Metallica for their discography all you want, but the first four albums are UNDENIABLE masterpieces. Every single song.
"Im gonna learn to play the guitar...." Thats the moment you know the music has bonded to you. Its welded itself to every fiber of your being....there is no turning back, there is no escape. Welcome to the club.
I remembered the feeling of wanting to play guitar when listening to thosr riffs in the early nineties. I was 16. I understand the stages of metal addiction. This is an early but gripping stage.
These guys mention the "commercially viable" element of Metallica but forget that this album was successful with no videos, no commercial airplay, no commerciality at all. The only reason I knew the name Metallica, at 14, was the stoners, burnouts and metal heads who wore the T-shirts. Metallica were a very underground band at this point. Then I got my first Metallica album and I understood.
The vocals and the rhythms and the lyrics, all come straight from the gut, and that’s exactly where they hit you. I was too young to see them at their best in the ‘80s, but I did see them in ‘96, which, despite their sudden attempt to look like Soundgarden, was a killer fuckin show. It was also my first-and last-arena show: the only reason I could go was somebody else paid for the ticket. I’ve been a blue-collar punk my whole life; the most expensive tickets I ever purchased on my own were for Roger Waters in 2001 and even that was obscene.
@@jaymcgregor44 I was half joking. 96 was when they released *Load*, and when they cut their hair. I always thought Kirk looked like he was trying to be Chris Cornell. Actually, to be honest, I don’t remember whether it was late 96 or early 97 that I saw that show. All I remember is that it was winter in Greensboro, North Carolina. And it was the tour immediately after Metallica dropped their *Load*.
Guys, as much as you like this. Imagine hearing this in 1984....so different, so powerful compared to 95% of all the other music out there at the time.
Yeah, that's what I was going to say. In the context of the time, this sound was hard, fast, mean, dirty. And we already had gotten used to Metallica by then. It is hard to describe how it felt when we got hit with 'Kill 'em all' a few years earlier. Like a hammer to the face.
I remember reading his dad didn’t really want to sign/produce him, so he did this under the radar and got Michael on the record. He presented it to his dad who was shocked, both with his son and getting Michael on the song
The thing people don’t understand is, the hardest thing to do is write great sounding riffs/melodies. I don’t care if it’s easy to play or not. Writing a song that everyone remembers is difficult and Metallica has tons of them. That’s why they are legendary. Not many bands can say that especially in metal.
It’s not easy at all! They have so many excellent songs and after knowing them so long, the first note hits, and I know the song. If you can do that for people, you have massive talent!
C'mon man. You guys can call yourself metalheads. LOL! I'm 51 and been a metalhead since I was 13. I get a huge kick out of watching you guys geek out over the music I grew up on and still hold in such high regard. Music was (is) a huge part of my life, and just seeing how much passion you guys have for this music already is enough in my humble opinion. I get so hyped watching somebody new just take a minute to listen to it with an open mind. My parents mostly listened to Motown, Classic rock and 50's oldies, but they also had a wide variety of genres they listened to from time to time. I've listened to every genre of music I could with that same spirit and as a result I have a pretty wide variety of artists to choose from in my music rotation. Anywhere from Slayer to Johnny Cash or from Bob Marley to Nancy Sinatra or from Boogie Down Productions to Sepultura. Metal will always be nearest and dearest to my heart because lyrically and aesthetically it spoke volumes to me as a person in my teenage years, I identified with it. The lyrics about nuclear war were way more real when you're constantly being told that Russia literally has tons of nukes pointed at us at all times. It was terrifying for a kid. Metal made having all those feelings feel like you belonged to something instead of feeling alienated. The funny thing is that Hip-Hop was just starting to give me the same feelings of inner liberation that metal introduced me to during this time in my life as well. I truly believe that a well rounded music diet can lead to us having a more open mind about the people around us as well. Rock on, brothers!!
Michael Jackson sings the chorus on Somebody's Watching Me. The song is by Rockwell who I believe is some relation to Quincy Jones and Quincy asked Michael to be on the record. In relation to what you say about the riffs being simple but effective, most of the best songs out there are simple enough to play, but it's not easy to come up good sounding simple riffs off the top of your head. It's like Art. People look at an artwork and say, "I could have done that". Well,.....you didn't. That's the point. It's easy to say you could do something after it's been done. Plus you have to consider that a riff played on it's own, like the verse riff in this song for example, could be boring without the rest of the instruments driving it on.
To clear it up, Rockwell is Berry Gordy’s son. Berry Gordy was the founder and owner of Motown, which explains how this one hit wonder ended up with Michael Jackson on his record.
The absolute balls Metallica had to write a song so amazing like this and not come in with the vocals until after the 2 minute mark. Top tier stuff that belongs up there with the best metal and progressive tracks of all time.
Using this song as the intro to “Zombieland” was the best creative choice ever that movie opening is LEGENDARY with this playing in the background and Hammett’s immaculate guitar kicking in.
thats where i first heard the song at around 10 and the melody stuck to my mind id always sing it ever now and then not knowing where i knew it. now im 18 and a couple months ago i decided to watch zombie land again and and when i heard it and remembered it i hand to find out what song it was
Metallica wasn't considered mainstream until after they dropped the Black Album. The first 4 records (Kill Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, ...And Justice for All) helped laid the groundwork for a good portion of metal that exists today. So the polish you hear is just a testament to who they are as a band. A song like For Whom the Bells Toll was as raw and gritty as it got in 1984.
I think purists feel betrayed by a percieved mainstteam catering starting with the black album. Thats why there hated by a percentage of the metal population.
They scored a top 40 hit on And Justice For All and were nominated for a Grammy, that was their entry into the mainstream. The Black Album certainly solidified their position though.
I would say ...And Justice For All was when they could be considered mainstream. One and MTV took care of that. Everyone knew who Metallica were after that (even non-metalheads). It is the reason the Black album had such instant success.
@@Bushanie24 I watched an Interview with Cliff's older sister, She wrote a book and she said that Cliff combined a bass pickup with a guitar pickup, Between that and his Wah pedal is what created that beginning riff on for Whom the bells tolls.
Anything Metallica, Megadeth or Slayer that you two have a reaction video too is always a must see. Lost in Vegas is the BEST reaction channel period. IMO.
When Metallica released this album, many original thrash fans declared them sellouts because they made a "ballad" called "Fade to Black." I can't imagine being so rigid to a sound that I would turn my nose up at such an amazing song.
They were just jealous. If you're able to make a song like Fade to Black mesh with a song like Creeping Death on the same album, there are gonna be a few of your competitors and fans of rival bands scared shitless.
I learned it-Fade to Black-on piano, and gender-swapped the lyrics, and my grandmother, who was born in 1919, liked it enough to ask who it was by. That says something about the quality of the work.
What was funny was Metallica was NOT commercial when they came out. THEY made everyone else change TO THEM. I was around when they came out, it was a little much, super heavy, and my ears weren't used to it. Now they sound slower and more mainstream, but it's because we adapted to them, not the other way around.
@@decemberflower3990 dont think it was so much as selling out a it was getting older. A sell out is KISS. Metallica just took what they built and became and capitalized on it to hold them down forever basically. They are almost 60 still touring and making music. They create what they wanna create and that's the true goal as an artist.
It's not for nothing that this is one of their most famous songs. It's just really well written with great drama and storytelling. This whole album is as you would say, FIRE.
At our wedding, when I was told I could now kiss the bride, the bells rang out and we walked away as the beat dropped to the surprise of everyone there. We walked away to this song blasting LOUD. I remember seeing my grandmothers face all in shock from the volume and intense nature of our ceremony. Good times!
Even with all his technical limits, he’s one of the main reasons for Metallica’s greatness. His drumming from RTL to the black album is so damn inspired and full of amazing ideas. He’s nothing but a living heavy metal legend. And let me add, I also love everything they did during the 90s.
Remember that back at the time this album was released they didn’t get radio play every where. Most of us learned of these bands by way of metal magazines and word of mouth traveling across the world. Sometimes we didn’t get these albums right away. We had to wait until it reached us. They didn’t get truly well known until ozzy took them on tour. I was already listening to them by then. It was a different world guys. They played live everywhere they could to get known. That’s how it was done then. Tour tour and tour again. Big cities were the only places you could learn about these kinds of bands back then.
I used to have to stay up late as a kid and listen to the radio to hear Metallica/Megadeth/anything metal. The rock radio stations (some of them) would have an hour set aside just for metal. They wouldn't play the good shit during the day.
@Suscan Constable Johnny Z's in NJ!!!!!!! Or the guy at the flea market who carried them with the shirts. I just found all of my old Metallica stuff. shirts.. posters.. I am putting them up in my living room. Screw it. I am an adult..lololol TBA ..pre-tour of the shit hole bars that they did, before the Sandman' promotions were dropped. MTV.. The Virgin Megastore signing ... I recall being backstage and everything you say, yep..and more. those tour buses were filled with fun gatherings. Plus Ozzy and Rob and Jason all know each other. I just wanna see them bring Jason back in with Rob. It'd be insane and a dream come true.
I already knew about them due to Metal Massacre. But i didn't Really go oh sht until they played Fight Fire with Fire on Metal shop on KLOS, or KMET in LA Cali. They also played Wasps Animal that night. I actually recorded it every weekend so i have a cassette tape of the night that aired somewhere in a dark box. But i went and bought both bands albums the day after that. >D
Metallica blew up during that Ozzy tour. People went to see Ozzy but left shaking their heads cause the young openers they had never or barely heard of just blew the headliner off the stage.
This song was a favorite of my little corner of the Marine Corps. We would listen to it to get ready to go into places that nobody should ever have to go. And yes, we got the title's reference.
Firstly, thank you for your service. Secondly, this is totally the perfect ‘pump-up’ tune. I used to listen to it before I knew shite we’re about to kick off in the pub.
Uhhhh....what? This is so not true. Like at all. Are you excusing 60 years of popular music? Because there are literally hundreds of thousands simple and memorable songs across all genres.
@@iceman10129 I think he means memorable and popular, with lasting power. There are way more songwriters than the ones you are exposed to, and the vast majority of them never get to that level.
You guys are still the Kings of Commentary. Seriously I have enjoyed every metal review you guys have done over the last 3 years. Love seeing your appreciation and personal taste grow. Thank you for keeping RUclips fun!
I first saw Metallica live on this tour before they were really well known. They played in a small theater that only held 500 people. Armored Saint (on their March Of The Saint Tour) opened for them. During Metallica's set, Cliff was playing Anesthesia: Pulling Teeth. He then went into the bass part at the beginning of this song. That moment was when I first learned that part was played on bass. I was blown away. I later saw Metallica again on their Master of Puppets Tour opening for Ozzy. A few months later Cliff was dead. Such a horrible tragedy.
As an old school extreme metal fan who is into the more brutal deathmetal, I can say this era of Metallica is loved even by us purists and snobs. The first 3 albums were generally liked by everyone in the metal fandom. Justice was still liked by a lot of us but they started losing a lot of the original fans. The Black album was almost a fandom transplant.
Black album is really high quality, but not the type of music most fans were into. I think the album is great, but I only really like a couple songs (the thrashier ones like Through The Never). But Justice? I love that shit. Even with the botched production I love that prog-y version of Metallica. So many unexpected twists and turns, heavy as hell sound and Hetfield sounds amazing.
Fr the black album Metallica braced a more pop sound and be that as it may it attracted a lot of new fans like me who absolutely love their old and heavy albums and helped me explore the metal genre to its depths. Hardcore, Raw is good. But if you keep doing the same thing, it becomes one-dimensional. And that's a fact metal elitists can't accept
Late reply but I will even say a lot of people more into more extreme / technical subgenres probably favour And Justice For All with how angry, uncompromising, technical and even a bit proggy it was. I know it's not as insane as something like Watchtower but I still see AJFA as technical thrash
@@susanconstable2113 My first concert ever was Metallica and Justice for All tour, I was in 6th grade. Life changing. When I heard the crowd singing the riffs for this song...that blew me away.
You can’t listen to this without bowing to the greatness of Cliff Burton (RIP). Yes, it was Michael Jackson singing the high part of Rockwell’s chorus.
I liked how George described this and I totally agree. The phrases it felt like he might have been grasping for were "more than the sum of its parts" and "structured chaos"
Me and my friends always jammed this when we were in high school. None of us could really sing so we'd always leave the mic in the middle of the room and whoever felt like belting could get after it. My closest friend played bass and he always would be slaying the intro line singing "I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY'S WAAATCHINNNG MEEEE". He died a couple years ago thanks to someone else's negligence. I just came here to listen to you guys review one of my favorite songs. I was NOT expecting that shit.
What amazes me, as a HUGE Metallica fan, is that James Hetfield’s voice with age has gotten stronger and fuller in its tone, which commands there music even more than before! And you’re right about their music being sophisticated. They change time signatures, match their lyrics with moments in their music etc. Love you becoming Metallicaheads!
@@soulcrusher807Well I haven’t seen them live since the pandemic started, but I saw them live 10 times before that, including S&M. He’s also been in rehab, which took off a few years here and there. I completely disagree with you. Even if possibly he needs time in between if that’s even remotely true, James’ voice is fantastic in concert 🎶
@@Rainbow-yh6ov we must have a different opinion on what fantastic is then. It is better than it was about 5 years ago, but nowhere near the middle of their career.
I'm actually surprised how well he can sing songs in which now he sounds like he's still in his early twenties like his recent lives of trapped under ice
I almost always skip both songs lol. They sound massive yes and I do like the music in them, but they get really repetitive. They're too simple and long imo. If they were shorter I prob wouldn't skip em. But when you come from absolute bangers like Fight Fire With Fire/Ride The Lightning to the emotional and transforming Fade To Black, Bell just gets sandwiched in being meh.
Everything about that is awesome, baby James giving it all he's got vocally too... the ONLY bad thing is how they launch right into Four Horsemen at the end, yet no good version of it exists. Not having video is bad enough but even the audio copies of the performance that day I've heard sound like bad bootlegged tape quality. Why would they not release that ENTIRE SHOW in HD, put it on a DVD or something, boggles the mind
A guy I was on work experience with played me this song when I was 13 and it blew my mind. Every time I hear this I remember that exact moment, I've been to over 2500 shows since then, fair to say it completely changed my life.
You guys hit the nail on the head with the distinction of feel vs. technicality. I'm a HUGE metalhead - have been for decades now at this point. There's a subgenre called technical death metal where it feels like the one-upsmanship of crazy technicality eventually caused a loss of heart and soul in the music, which caused it to be sterile. That sterility really killed the love for that genre for me for a good long while. You've gotta have heart and soul in your music for it to resonate with people. That's not something that you can really define, you just know it when you hear it and when you feel it. Some of the hardest-hitting songs in music history are some of the simplest from a technical perspective. But they've got soul for days!
Death metal drove me out a while ago as well for the same reasons. After Schindler passed it just kind of lost its heart. But I think there are some good shifts happening now. Check out Venom Prison if you're looking for something new.
That's why you need balance, like Megadeth. Metallica are too simple sometimes, except on AJFA, and they boreed me quick. Except again for AJFA, their real masterpiece to me.
@@sukulmati You say soulless just because you have external reasons to say it and knowledges you have now that you didn't have then. I wouldn't say songs like One are soulless. You can't say the lack of bass makes the songs soulless. What you call soul is just your opinion of what soul is.
Been following this channel for a minute....cool to see you dudes become actual fans of old school metal and have some knowledge and respect for the genre. Pretty cool.
Somebody Watching Me was a song by Rockwell with Michael Jackson and Jermaine singing the chorus. And yes, those old enough to have heard For Whom the Bells Toll when it came out are old enough to remember and recognize Somebody Watching Me.
10:02 Do it MAN!! Its never too late to learn something new. Especially the guitar. You look like you got long fingers, too so that definitely doesn't hurt when you're reaching for a note.
The song "Somebody's Watching Me" is by Rockwell. Actually, Michael Jackson does sing on the track. He and his brother Jermaine both sing backing vocals. Rockwell is Barry Gordy's (founder of the Motown record label) son. What's funny is that he claims that had nothing to do with him getting a record deal, or having Michael Jackson sing on the track. You know, because Michael Jackson singing backing vocals for you in 1984 was a common occurrence 🙄👌
Those big powerful notes are 5th chords, more commonly called 'power chords'. They're super common in rock music, especially punk and metal. This interval, especially when played on distorted guitars, makes resonant harmonies that give the chord that heavy sound. The best part is they're super easy to play. It's just 2 notes, just put your index finger on any fret, then ring finger on the next higher string, 2 frets higher. This shape can be moved anywhere on the lower 4 strings. If you are in a drop tuning(where the lowest string is tuned 1 step lower), the notes are on the same fret, so you can play power chords with just one finger.
It's mostly a low E (major), it's tuned down though - I'm pretty sure. The sound is a Marshall stack - I'm sure it was live miked in; incredible sound. I think Lars drumming complements it perfectly, and great rolls and cymbal work.
Cliff was instrumental in composition and harmony. Stage presence, passion!!, and literally calculated orchestration. He was like a lead guitarist doing bass duties as well. You'll noticed they really changed after he died. Watch his stuff live.
I've played guitar on and off for 30 years now.. but when I pick it up, it's always Metallica riffs that pop into my head first. So well crafted and memorable. Hetfield is the all time Metal Riff God !!
I love watching people of different backgrounds reacting too metal music or anything that's counter to their culture. Understanding one another brings us closer together. These reactions are a great start.
I'll say as a guitarist this song (rhythm) was the first I ever learned, and the key is timing. The build up / release is key. Letting the music breathe for a couple seconds before bringing it back is so impactful in music it's hard to under state. No the actual riffs being played aren't hard, it's the feel and creativity of the timing that makes it.
"Somebody Watching Me" was a hit back in early 80's, 84 I believe, sung by Rockwell..... I remember it well due to seeing it all the time on MTV lol. As for 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' that opening sequence that sounds like a guitar is actually Cliff on bass. When I first heard this song back in 84, me being 14 at the time, I thought it was guitar until a year later seeing them live in concert and watching Cliff play the opening part I was blown away. I never thought a bass guitar could be played like a regular guitar until I heard Cliff play 'Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)'..... it was amazing watching him play, the energy this man had up on stage.... WOW!!!! is all I can say R.I.P. Cliff 🤘😎🤘
What made Metallica stand out from the early thrash metal bands was their incorporation of melodies and harmonies... and we have (the late) bassist Cliff Burton to thank for that. Megadeth went for a technical jazz approach and floored people who listened to their skills... Anthrax was a mix of aggression and phenomenal vocals, mixed w/ dark humor ... Slayer was a fusion of hardcore punk rock and classic heavy metal... Exodus was probably the most underrated - punk rock vocals and aggression, mixed w/ Motorhead's badass attitude.
I fucks with yall, I've been enjoying yalls reactions for a while, multiple reactions, I get stuck for hours. I enjoy that yall dive into genres outside of what you would might normally listen to, AND appreciate the artistry and skills that go into music. Thank You!!! yall bring a smile to my face every time I watch yalls reactions, you're top of the game
Metallica were classed as underground and heavy, definitely not mainstream back in the 80s, they inspired the up and coming bands to try and become harder,faster and heavier,nobody in my opinion could/can make aggressive music sound so good as Metallica could
Yeah, they weren’t mainstream till the Black Album, around 7-8 years into their time as a band. They had some success with Justice, but didn’t get regular airplay on MTV till Enter Sandman blew up
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Agree in general but would probably argue One with the video let them touch the mainstream somewhat before the black album. But black album for sure was their mainstream launch, their fifth studio album, the same as megadeth their fifth was Countdown to Exctinction which was mainstream but they touched on it a little with their fourth RIP. In both cases those are the only ones I like, their first five. Although megadeth has put out some good stuff since whereas metallica hasn't. The issue with megadeth is Dave can't keep a consistent lineup, his one steady hand isn't even in the band anymore D.E.
It was about a decade before The Black album. Then all that work paid off HUGE!!! I think it was a combination of great albums and tours - and then 1990 BAM - The Black Album!! SUPERSTARS from then on.
@@clemsonalum98 Some people would argue the Load albums are good. Those were younger guys telling me that. Death Magnetic really is a decent effort. The new one in 2016 I didn't buy it well I'm spoiled from liking the ones from Kill 'Em All to the Load albums.
For as simple as the song sounds, it's still very weird and complicated in its own right. The bass guitar intro, the minute and 20 second intro to the song, just 2 verses and 2 choruses, the outro. So many things that are unconventional, yet still sounds mainstream. Metallica are brilliant musicians. It's my favorite Metallica song, even thought I think Master of Puppets is their best.
Great reaction, guys! Please check out "No Place for Disgrace" by the band Flotsam and Jetsam! It's the title track from their 2nd album released in 1988, and it's about Japanese Samurai warriors. Jason Newsted formed this band before joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton (bassist) died in a bus accident. Flotsam and Jetsam are still going strong. They released their 14th album last June. Thanks!
solid band and the guitarists are fantastic. Troy is great on the bass. hope more fans of the band see this and give the Thumbs Up. underrated thrash band.
@PaullyPorkchopsVids ....I was just thumbing thru Jason's Echobrain project and landed on his old Voivod and F&J albums.. and the old LP compilations.. :) :::now if I could clean them..and play them on a good needle...I'd be in heaven::: :) .
Whatever one thinks of Metallica's more modern works the earlier records will forever be worthy of all the accolades, the greatness of Cliff Burton era Metallica is fairly undeniable.
When you say 'it may sound simple', I think that it's way harder to make simple sound good than just to put a lot of complex compositions together in something not enjoyable. To achieve quality in 'simplicity' is a hell of a skill. Also I love how you try to put into words your excitement and the feel that comes from hearing certain songs. It's absolutely relatable, I feel the same way and I find it hard to put it into words as well
Thats how i feel about megadeth. They may be more technical but they just dont have the quality metallica has. Their songs are boring to me. Also dave's voice dont help.
They added melody to thrash. Perhaps not the first to do it. But by golly, in my opinion, the best to do it. This and No Leaf Clover are forever my favorite tracks. Love the breakdown guys. Keep rocking!
That last riff when the song fades out is so so heavy and powerful! It sounds like the soundtrack to the end of the world or something! Kirk's erie sounding lead guitar with a whole lot of whammy makes it absolutely "disgusting" as you guys would say
I think this was the first song they started expressing an anti-war perspective; sort of their "War Pigs" (Black Sabbath.) How politicians use soldiers as pawns. They expand on it with songs like "One" and "Disposable Heroes".
Hey guys HAPPY EASTER TO YOU BOTH. This is the first time watching you .I am laughing my ass of you guys are great keep up , recently I have a loss of a family member and I just had my birthday on APRIL 15TH AND HAVEN'T LAUGHED IN A LONG time and you guys made my day Metallica is my favorite band I've seen them 14 time's since I was 13 year's old I'm 52 now and watching both of you it made me remember the BEST TIME OF MY LIFE .AND THANK YOU.
The thing about Metal Iam noticing is it puts you in a state of moving forward ....the cadence is like a march of banging your head and running !!! It has a power/energy 2 it that is motivating !!!! Really starting 2 appreciate more old school ! Thank you guys !!!
back then, i'm 53 a friend let me tape the iron maiden powerslave album i was blown away. i was into boston, van halen, sabbath. then he let me tape ride the lightning album and i was definitely hooked forever. still my fave album by metallica, seen them twice back in the day. of course rip cliff burton. classic song, love their thoughts on it.
Hell yeah, I love this song. Even if it's more simplistic than other Metallica songs, the driving propulsive beat of the song pumps you up while the song builds, and then chorus hits hard. I love the channel, so keep doing what you're doing. Also wanna slip in a request for the Drive-By Truckers. I think Where The Devil Don't Stay would be a good intro for y'all.
I like how you touched on how instrumentally it's simple, but still great. I've started learning guitar, and this was the first song I was able to play along to and actually hit a lot of the parts at full speed. I also liked how you mentioned that technical mastery isn't necessarily what makes a good song. I remember watching an episode of American Idol where the judges criticized the contestants for performing more of a "vocal acrobatic" performance as opposed to performing what the audience is looking for. Sometimes simpler can be better.
You guys hit the nail on the head when you said that the guitars “hit”. (No pun intended) one of the secrets of writing powerful music is contrast - full on guitars, then silence, then hit with the guitars. Or just drums and bass then hit with the guitars. If a song is non-stop with all the instruments, it starts to all sound the same. The opening to “Revelations” by Iron Maiden is another great example of this. Good insight guys. Loved the reaction.
You guys should really check out the version from S&M (the show they did with the S.F. Symphony Orchestra). It's insane!! Even if you don't react to it don't deprive your ears of the bliss that is Metallica with an orchestra. 🤘
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Harry's sucks.
Congrats on the sponsorship
Just make sure you don’t have any opinions, Harry’s will dump you in 5 seconds flat. This is a company who openly spreads hate. F them.
Harry's? Nope! Too woke for me.
Im 49 and the most devout metal guy you'll meet, I remember Rockwell very well..I hear what Ryan is saying..
The higher register, descending line in the intro is actually bass. When I found that out over 30 years ago, it blew my mind. I had never heard a bass sound like that before. R.I.P. Cliff.
Distorted bass sounds quite different from guitar so if you play you pretty much know right away that it’s bass, but yeah it’s still an insane bass sound
If I may suggest it, watch his performance in Cliff'em All.
Did you ever saw some of the old thrash bands of the 80's live?
@@222MovieMan If that's directed towards me, then yes. I've been playing and going to shows for over 30 years.
@@phatmanpushimbak8903 Lucky. I'm a 99 kid and I'd love to see them play in the 80's and 90's. But atleast I'm finally going to see Exodus this summer in Sweden
Still blows my mind they wrote all these classics in their early 20s... I didn't do crap at that age.
For real tho!
As a 19yr old guitarist of six-ish years, yeah. Absolutely insane, I can't imagine how they must've felt back then. Talk shit on Metallica for their discography all you want, but the first four albums are UNDENIABLE masterpieces. Every single song.
My favorite song on this album is Creeping Death , love the lyrics in that song. But you're right the song writing on this album is ridiculous!
James' lyrics improved so much between KEA and RTL.
you also had internet and a tv... lol
"Im gonna learn to play the guitar...." Thats the moment you know the music has bonded to you. Its welded itself to every fiber of your being....there is no turning back, there is no escape. Welcome to the club.
Absolutely, anyone can learn to chug and jam out there own riffs.
100% agree!! Do you!!
Ride the Lightning was what made me take up guitar...
I remembered the feeling of wanting to play guitar when listening to thosr riffs in the early nineties. I was 16. I understand the stages of metal addiction. This is an early but gripping stage.
That is heavy..
These guys mention the "commercially viable" element of Metallica but forget that this album was successful with no videos, no commercial airplay, no commerciality at all. The only reason I knew the name Metallica, at 14, was the stoners, burnouts and metal heads who wore the T-shirts. Metallica were a very underground band at this point. Then I got my first Metallica album and I understood.
And released on a independent label Megaforce, and sold 1/4 million copies before they ever got signed to Elektra...
round me, they got some 'underground' airplay, along with other bands, but it was minimal!😉
Stoners always have the best shit you’ve never heard before lol
They are talking about actual Metallica I think
You get your first Metallica album and you understand!! That's the one🤣🤟🏻
Early Metallica has a ‘primal’ sound, and THAT’S what makes their work so good.
The vocals and the rhythms and the lyrics, all come straight from the gut, and that’s exactly where they hit you. I was too young to see them at their best in the ‘80s, but I did see them in ‘96, which, despite their sudden attempt to look like Soundgarden, was a killer fuckin show. It was also my first-and last-arena show: the only reason I could go was somebody else paid for the ticket. I’ve been a blue-collar punk my whole life; the most expensive tickets I ever purchased on my own were for Roger Waters in 2001 and even that was obscene.
@@riphopfer5816how did they try look like soundgarden?
@@jaymcgregor44 I was half joking. 96 was when they released *Load*, and when they cut their hair. I always thought Kirk looked like he was trying to be Chris Cornell.
Actually, to be honest, I don’t remember whether it was late 96 or early 97 that I saw that show. All I remember is that it was winter in Greensboro, North Carolina. And it was the tour immediately after Metallica dropped their *Load*.
By this time most original Thrash fans had moved on.
Bands like Voi Vod were more exciting.
Guys, as much as you like this. Imagine hearing this in 1984....so different, so powerful compared to 95% of all the other music out there at the time.
Indeed!
Yeah, that's what I was going to say. In the context of the time, this sound was hard, fast, mean, dirty. And we already had gotten used to Metallica by then. It is hard to describe how it felt when we got hit with 'Kill 'em all' a few years earlier. Like a hammer to the face.
It was a breath of fresh air.
You are so right
And, still are today ffs!
Imagine being 21 years old and writing some of the best metal songs of all time
Music in general, not limited to metal 😁
I hope they are seen as the Beethoven's, Mozart's, etc of our time. (Musical geniuses)
@@garethwilliams1611 yeah lol tbh most of the most classic songs of all time were written by 20 year olds lol
Cliff Burton wrote this song when he was in high school! There is a video out there of it.
@@gyulatakacs1824 actually he wrote the intro....James wrote the riff and lyrics.
"Somebody's Watching Me" is by Rockwell, who's actually Motown founder Berry Gordy's son. Gordy got Michael Jackson to sing the chorus.
The guy who did “what what in the Butt”?
@@Snoop_Dugg is that him?!
@@Snoop_Dugg that was Samwell.
I remember reading his dad didn’t really want to sign/produce him, so he did this under the radar and got Michael on the record. He presented it to his dad who was shocked, both with his son and getting Michael on the song
@@Snoop_Dugg lol what
The thing people don’t understand is, the hardest thing to do is write great sounding riffs/melodies. I don’t care if it’s easy to play or not. Writing a song that everyone remembers is difficult and Metallica has tons of them. That’s why they are legendary. Not many bands can say that especially in metal.
Good point👌
even when your drummer has fallen down on the last 3 -4 albums cause he controls the band..
It’s not easy at all! They have so many excellent songs and after knowing them so long, the first note hits, and I know the song. If you can do that for people, you have massive talent!
🎯💯
I think pretty much all metal heads appreciate Metallica's first four albums.
Eight for me. :)
I don't.
3* they cut the bass on ...and justice for all
I'd say 4.5 alums. Like some off the black album.
@@slipknot6789 Agreed, there is no shortage of filler in black album, but there are some absoulute classics as well
C'mon man. You guys can call yourself metalheads. LOL!
I'm 51 and been a metalhead since I was 13. I get a huge kick out of watching you guys geek out over the music I grew up on and still hold in such high regard. Music was (is) a huge part of my life, and just seeing how much passion you guys have for this music already is enough in my humble opinion. I get so hyped watching somebody new just take a minute to listen to it with an open mind. My parents mostly listened to Motown, Classic rock and 50's oldies, but they also had a wide variety of genres they listened to from time to time. I've listened to every genre of music I could with that same spirit and as a result I have a pretty wide variety of artists to choose from in my music rotation. Anywhere from Slayer to Johnny Cash or from Bob Marley to Nancy Sinatra or from Boogie Down Productions to Sepultura.
Metal will always be nearest and dearest to my heart because lyrically and aesthetically it spoke volumes to me as a person in my teenage years, I identified with it. The lyrics about nuclear war were way more real when you're constantly being told that Russia literally has tons of nukes pointed at us at all times. It was terrifying for a kid. Metal made having all those feelings feel like you belonged to something instead of feeling alienated. The funny thing is that Hip-Hop was just starting to give me the same feelings of inner liberation that metal introduced me to during this time in my life as well.
I truly believe that a well rounded music diet can lead to us having a more open mind about the people around us as well.
Rock on, brothers!!
When this came out in 84, it basically was a new/different sound for metal. Heavier than Dio/ Maiden/Priest etc., but still melodic.
Then in 1990 came Judas Priest again and sounded like nobody before....
Nobody was heavier than Priest . Get them ears Checked.
Maiden was already switching up the game
Nothing at all against Priest/Maiden/Dio . I actually prefer them to Metallica. They just brought in a different sound at that time
@@samright4661 tons of bands are heavier than Priest. And I like Priest too.
Michael Jackson sings the chorus on Somebody's Watching Me. The song is by Rockwell who I believe is some relation to Quincy Jones and Quincy asked Michael to be on the record.
In relation to what you say about the riffs being simple but effective, most of the best songs out there are simple enough to play, but it's not easy to come up good sounding simple riffs off the top of your head.
It's like Art. People look at an artwork and say, "I could have done that". Well,.....you didn't. That's the point.
It's easy to say you could do something after it's been done.
Plus you have to consider that a riff played on it's own, like the verse riff in this song for example, could be boring without the rest of the instruments driving it on.
Spot on insight 🤙
To clear it up, Rockwell is Berry Gordy’s son. Berry Gordy was the founder and owner of Motown, which explains how this one hit wonder ended up with Michael Jackson on his record.
A+
Rockwell is the son of Motown founder Barry Gordy.
I will love that but the new version with Lamb of God
The absolute balls Metallica had to write a song so amazing like this and not come in with the vocals until after the 2 minute mark. Top tier stuff that belongs up there with the best metal and progressive tracks of all time.
Using this song as the intro to “Zombieland” was the best creative choice ever that movie opening is LEGENDARY with this playing in the background and Hammett’s immaculate guitar kicking in.
thats where i first heard the song at around 10 and the melody stuck to my mind id always sing it ever now and then not knowing where i knew it. now im 18 and a couple months ago i decided to watch zombie land again and and when i heard it and remembered it i hand to find out what song it was
@@i_scxped7565 I’m old so I heard it before the movie but it’s just a banger no matter how you look at it.
That and the opening few minutes of Triple Frontier :-)
@@pettifogger0712 Haven’t seen that.
There's also a japanese version in the show Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix
Metallica wasn't considered mainstream until after they dropped the Black Album. The first 4 records (Kill Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, ...And Justice for All) helped laid the groundwork for a good portion of metal that exists today. So the polish you hear is just a testament to who they are as a band. A song like For Whom the Bells Toll was as raw and gritty as it got in 1984.
I think purists feel betrayed by a percieved mainstteam catering starting with the black album. Thats why there hated by a percentage of the metal population.
They scored a top 40 hit on And Justice For All and were nominated for a Grammy, that was their entry into the mainstream. The Black Album certainly solidified their position though.
Very well said.
Yep. All downhill after And Justice for All!
I would say ...And Justice For All was when they could be considered mainstream. One and MTV took care of that. Everyone knew who Metallica were after that (even non-metalheads). It is the reason the Black album had such instant success.
I love reliving Metallica with you guys. Brings me back to better times.
Can you guys believe this song was recorded by a bunch of long hair, broke, metalhead teenagers in 1984?
Seriously.
Epic. Amazing.
Legends.
they were in their early 20's and a lot of people don't know that the opening riff is Cliff Burton and his amazing bass skills.
I would have believed it even less if they weren't broke.
@@monicajean37 good call, if you have not already seen it go check this song out from the concert "a day on the green" cliff at his finest
@@Bushanie24 I watched an Interview with Cliff's older sister, She wrote a book and she said that Cliff combined a bass pickup with a guitar pickup, Between that and his Wah pedal is what created that beginning riff on for Whom the bells tolls.
@@monicajean37 I saw them twice on the Lightning tour. He played it perfectly.
Anything Metallica, Megadeth or Slayer that you two have a reaction video too is always a must see. Lost in Vegas is the BEST reaction channel period. IMO.
My favorite metal song ever made. Nothing hypes me up like this song. The absolute best intro ever made to any song.
Watching Cliff Burton play this song live changed my life. RIP Cliff :(
Same 🤘🏽
Twice
Cliff Burton was unmatched just phenomenal they were never the same after him
When Metallica released this album, many original thrash fans declared them sellouts because they made a "ballad" called "Fade to Black." I can't imagine being so rigid to a sound that I would turn my nose up at such an amazing song.
I mean, it's a 'ballad' about committing suicide, so that's still pretty hardcore.
They were just jealous. If you're able to make a song like Fade to Black mesh with a song like Creeping Death on the same album, there are gonna be a few of your competitors and fans of rival bands scared shitless.
what about nothing else matters lol? did they forget about it?
I learned it-Fade to Black-on piano, and gender-swapped the lyrics, and my grandmother, who was born in 1919, liked it enough to ask who it was by. That says something about the quality of the work.
Of course I can play it on guitar too, but I still play it on keys at music stores just to show off, because it's so recognizable.
What was funny was Metallica was NOT commercial when they came out. THEY made everyone else change TO THEM.
I was around when they came out, it was a little much, super heavy, and my ears weren't used to it. Now they sound slower and more mainstream, but it's because we adapted to them, not the other way around.
Exactly, same could be said for Korn and Slipknot. When they first came out it was crazy sounding. Now we have all adjusted a lot more
They still sold out and slowed down after AJFA.
@@decemberflower3990 dont think it was so much as selling out a it was getting older. A sell out is KISS. Metallica just took what they built and became and capitalized on it to hold them down forever basically. They are almost 60 still touring and making music. They create what they wanna create and that's the true goal as an artist.
@@decemberflower3990 I was talking about Metallica before the Black album, I always forget to mention that. Lol.
@@decemberflower3990 You're right... they've sold out every single show
Those fuckin rests during the verses with the guitar blasting back in a STILL gives me chills.... to this day
It's not for nothing that this is one of their most famous songs. It's just really well written with great drama and storytelling. This whole album is as you would say, FIRE.
At our wedding, when I was told I could now kiss the bride, the bells rang out and we walked away as the beat dropped to the surprise of everyone there. We walked away to this song blasting LOUD. I remember seeing my grandmothers face all in shock from the volume and intense nature of our ceremony. Good times!
That's iconic!! 🎵 I love it!!
Lmfao! That's fkn awesome! 🤘🏿
My wife walked down the aisle to Ecstasy of Gold.
coming and going down the aisle like WWE wrestlers or something, LOL, awesome...
Dude you’ve got a killer wife!
Lars’ drum fills in this track are just on point.
Even with all his technical limits, he’s one of the main reasons for Metallica’s greatness. His drumming from RTL to the black album is so damn inspired and full of amazing ideas. He’s nothing but a living heavy metal legend. And let me add, I also love everything they did during the 90s.
Indeed brother
Lars sounds really good live lately too. He's definitely been practicing after all these years.
You're absolutely right. My question is what happened? Why did he start playing trash cans?
@@killerseddie8295 I think drumming isn’t his main focus anymore. At least since the post St. Anger era.
Remember that back at the time this album was released they didn’t get radio play every where. Most of us learned of these bands by way of metal magazines and word of mouth traveling across the world. Sometimes we didn’t get these albums right away. We had to wait until it reached us. They didn’t get truly well known until ozzy took them on tour. I was already listening to them by then. It was a different world guys. They played live everywhere they could to get known. That’s how it was done then. Tour tour and tour again. Big cities were the only places you could learn about these kinds of bands back then.
I used to have to stay up late as a kid and listen to the radio to hear Metallica/Megadeth/anything metal. The rock radio stations (some of them) would have an hour set aside just for metal. They wouldn't play the good shit during the day.
@Suscan Constable Johnny Z's in NJ!!!!!!! Or the guy at the flea market who carried them with the shirts. I just found all of my old Metallica stuff. shirts.. posters.. I am putting them up in my living room. Screw it. I am an adult..lololol TBA ..pre-tour of the shit hole bars that they did, before the Sandman' promotions were dropped. MTV.. The Virgin Megastore signing ... I recall being backstage and everything you say, yep..and more. those tour buses were filled with fun gatherings. Plus Ozzy and Rob and Jason all know each other. I just wanna see them bring Jason back in with Rob. It'd be insane and a dream come true.
you would also share cassettes with friends.
I already knew about them due to Metal Massacre. But i didn't Really go oh sht until they played Fight Fire with Fire on Metal shop on KLOS, or KMET in LA Cali. They also played Wasps Animal that night. I actually recorded it every weekend so i have a cassette tape of the night that aired somewhere in a dark box. But i went and bought both bands albums the day after that. >D
Metallica blew up during that Ozzy tour. People went to see Ozzy but left shaking their heads cause the young openers they had never or barely heard of just blew the headliner off the stage.
This was every metal kid's favorite song in the mid 80s. Metalica changed the sound of metal with this album. Great album, best song on it.
This song was a favorite of my little corner of the Marine Corps. We would listen to it to get ready to go into places that nobody should ever have to go. And yes, we got the title's reference.
Firstly, thank you for your service. Secondly, this is totally the perfect ‘pump-up’ tune. I used to listen to it before I knew shite we’re about to kick off in the pub.
thanks for to job man!
We listened to this along with a lot of other Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer when we were headed out on ops when I was a SWCC too brother...
Thanks for your service. Thats gnarly though man, i cant even imagine
@@AspiringSpaceWizard I just happen to be of off work today, so the quick response. Enjoy this, I did.
ruclips.net/user/shortsF3CNIkqxQ-M
Anyone can compose something simple, but creating something both simple AND memorable is something that has eluded many composers for eons.
Very well articulated.
Uhhhh....what? This is so not true. Like at all. Are you excusing 60 years of popular music? Because there are literally hundreds of thousands simple and memorable songs across all genres.
Like happy birthday? Lol
BWV 846
@@iceman10129 I think he means memorable and popular, with lasting power. There are way more songwriters than the ones you are exposed to, and the vast majority of them never get to that level.
You guys are still the Kings of Commentary. Seriously I have enjoyed every metal review you guys have done over the last 3 years. Love seeing your appreciation and personal taste grow. Thank you for keeping RUclips fun!
I first saw Metallica live on this tour before they were really well known. They played in a small theater that only held 500 people. Armored Saint (on their March Of The Saint Tour) opened for them. During Metallica's set, Cliff was playing Anesthesia: Pulling Teeth. He then went into the bass part at the beginning of this song. That moment was when I first learned that part was played on bass. I was blown away. I later saw Metallica again on their Master of Puppets Tour opening for Ozzy. A few months later Cliff was dead. Such a horrible tragedy.
Metallica died when Cliff did. Yes, they obviously put out other albums, but, Newstead et al are NOT Burton!
That's the same tour that I first saw them as well!!!! \m/
@@jmoreno44 With Armored Saint?
@@JustAnotherReactor Yep.
@@jmoreno44 That was a really good show.
Take a look to the sky just before you die, it’s the last time you will! Most epic line ever! Great reaction gents 👌
As an old school extreme metal fan who is into the more brutal deathmetal, I can say this era of Metallica is loved even by us purists and snobs. The first 3 albums were generally liked by everyone in the metal fandom. Justice was still liked by a lot of us but they started losing a lot of the original fans. The Black album was almost a fandom transplant.
Black album is really high quality, but not the type of music most fans were into. I think the album is great, but I only really like a couple songs (the thrashier ones like Through The Never). But Justice? I love that shit. Even with the botched production I love that prog-y version of Metallica. So many unexpected twists and turns, heavy as hell sound and Hetfield sounds amazing.
Couldn't have put it better myself
Fr the black album Metallica braced a more pop sound and be that as it may it attracted a lot of new fans like me who absolutely love their old and heavy albums and helped me explore the metal genre to its depths.
Hardcore, Raw is good. But if you keep doing the same thing, it becomes one-dimensional. And that's a fact metal elitists can't accept
100%
Late reply but I will even say a lot of people more into more extreme / technical subgenres probably favour And Justice For All with how angry, uncompromising, technical and even a bit proggy it was. I know it's not as insane as something like Watchtower but I still see AJFA as technical thrash
This song was built for a stadium anthem sing a long. Imagine hearing this sang back to you as the artist by 20,000+ fans. Power.
Be sang it with them at several concerts! Love love this song- and my Metallica!!
@@susanconstable2113 My first concert ever was Metallica and Justice for All tour, I was in 6th grade. Life changing. When I heard the crowd singing the riffs for this song...that blew me away.
@@TheQueBonic I saw them on the Lightning tour twice.....Sacramento and Oakland.
You can’t listen to this without bowing to the greatness of Cliff Burton (RIP). Yes, it was Michael Jackson singing the high part of Rockwell’s chorus.
You can't.
I can.
@@bombinic It’s more like you shouldn’t
@@bombinic Cliff use them fingers on your mom or something?
I liked how George described this and I totally agree. The phrases it felt like he might have been grasping for were "more than the sum of its parts" and "structured chaos"
It's just composition / arrangement; and Ryan needs to learn the words power-chords.
Me and my friends always jammed this when we were in high school. None of us could really sing so we'd always leave the mic in the middle of the room and whoever felt like belting could get after it. My closest friend played bass and he always would be slaying the intro line singing "I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY'S WAAATCHINNNG MEEEE". He died a couple years ago thanks to someone else's negligence. I just came here to listen to you guys review one of my favorite songs. I was NOT expecting that shit.
I always come back to watch you guys the enthusiam you guys brings makes me smile everytime.
This album took heaviness to a whole new level. That crunch is amazing and the best they ever sounded. At its time, this was HEAVY.
It’s still heavy now, heaviness is not noise it is tension, rawness, and atmospheric.
What amazes me, as a HUGE Metallica fan, is that James Hetfield’s voice with age has gotten stronger and fuller in its tone, which commands there music even more than before! And you’re right about their music being sophisticated. They change time signatures, match their lyrics with moments in their music etc. Love you becoming Metallicaheads!
His voice now isn't good. It is part of why it takes them so long to put out new music. He can only do the studio voice in limited amounts.
@@soulcrusher807Well I haven’t seen them live since the pandemic started, but I saw them live 10 times before that, including S&M. He’s also been in rehab, which took off a few years here and there. I completely disagree with you. Even if possibly he needs time in between if that’s even remotely true, James’ voice is fantastic in concert 🎶
@@Rainbow-yh6ov we must have a different opinion on what fantastic is then. It is better than it was about 5 years ago, but nowhere near the middle of their career.
I'm still surprised how his voice changed. Wasn't he already way past puberty here? And then by Justice he had a massive sounding voice somehow
I'm actually surprised how well he can sing songs in which now he sounds like he's still in his early twenties like his recent lives of trapped under ice
The slow "cruncher" of the album. The following album's equivalent is The Thing That Should Not Be. You CANNOT ignore this track
Thats a dark track The thing that should not be .
It kind have a Venom mood to it
Bands like Kyuss and Alice in chains were listening closely
I almost always skip both songs lol. They sound massive yes and I do like the music in them, but they get really repetitive. They're too simple and long imo. If they were shorter I prob wouldn't skip em. But when you come from absolute bangers like Fight Fire With Fire/Ride The Lightning to the emotional and transforming Fade To Black, Bell just gets sandwiched in being meh.
Hunter of the shadows is rising
Immortal
In madness you dwell.
You absolutely need to watch the "Day On the Green" live performance of this song.
Wait until you see Cliff shred the bass.🤘
Everything about that is awesome, baby James giving it all he's got vocally too... the ONLY bad thing is how they launch right into Four Horsemen at the end, yet no good version of it exists. Not having video is bad enough but even the audio copies of the performance that day I've heard sound like bad bootlegged tape quality. Why would they not release that ENTIRE SHOW in HD, put it on a DVD or something, boggles the mind
You can watch it now in 4k quality🔥🤟
Agreed, seeing Cliff play Hendrix style on the bass is amazing.
A guy I was on work experience with played me this song when I was 13 and it blew my mind. Every time I hear this I remember that exact moment, I've been to over 2500 shows since then, fair to say it completely changed my life.
Cliff Em All 🤘🏼
🤘🏽
Those little pauses/breaks that like so much are often called dynamics, and this song is a masterclass in dynamics and minimalism.
You guys hit the nail on the head with the distinction of feel vs. technicality. I'm a HUGE metalhead - have been for decades now at this point. There's a subgenre called technical death metal where it feels like the one-upsmanship of crazy technicality eventually caused a loss of heart and soul in the music, which caused it to be sterile. That sterility really killed the love for that genre for me for a good long while. You've gotta have heart and soul in your music for it to resonate with people. That's not something that you can really define, you just know it when you hear it and when you feel it.
Some of the hardest-hitting songs in music history are some of the simplest from a technical perspective. But they've got soul for days!
Excellent point! Completely agree.
Death metal drove me out a while ago as well for the same reasons. After Schindler passed it just kind of lost its heart. But I think there are some good shifts happening now. Check out Venom Prison if you're looking for something new.
That's why you need balance, like Megadeth. Metallica are too simple sometimes, except on AJFA, and they boreed me quick. Except again for AJFA, their real masterpiece to me.
@@stephanea5364 Disagree. Justice was soulless because the band was being petty towards Jason. You can hear the soul in the first three albums though.
@@sukulmati You say soulless just because you have external reasons to say it and knowledges you have now that you didn't have then. I wouldn't say songs like One are soulless. You can't say the lack of bass makes the songs soulless. What you call soul is just your opinion of what soul is.
I love y'alls analogy....y'all are well spoken and have a great respect for music....very entertaining from a couple of well knowledge individuals
“Melody is like Kryptonite to metalheads…”
*Melodic Death metal has entered the chat*
Been following this channel for a minute....cool to see you dudes become actual fans of old school metal and have some knowledge and respect for the genre. Pretty cool.
Cliff brought that to the table as far as the music theory and making it sound sophisticated. We miss you Cliff.
Cliff was to Metallica what Randy Rhoads was to Ozzy
Facts 💯
RIP Cliff
@@billymuellerTikTok yep. Really wish we could of seen what could have been with James, Cliff, Dave, and Lars as the 4 for all these years.
@@billymuellerTikTok Cliff was to Metallica, and Metallica was Cliff
Somebody Watching Me was a song by Rockwell with Michael Jackson and Jermaine singing the chorus. And yes, those old enough to have heard For Whom the Bells Toll when it came out are old enough to remember and recognize Somebody Watching Me.
About 3:15, the band is Rockwell..BUT, the chorus IS actually Michael Jackson but he's not credited for it.
10:02 Do it MAN!! Its never too late to learn something new. Especially the guitar. You look like you got long fingers, too so that definitely doesn't hurt when you're reaching for a note.
The song "Somebody's Watching Me" is by Rockwell. Actually, Michael Jackson does sing on the track. He and his brother Jermaine both sing backing vocals. Rockwell is Barry Gordy's (founder of the Motown record label) son. What's funny is that he claims that had nothing to do with him getting a record deal, or having Michael Jackson sing on the track. You know, because Michael Jackson singing backing vocals for you in 1984 was a common occurrence 🙄👌
Those big powerful notes are 5th chords, more commonly called 'power chords'. They're super common in rock music, especially punk and metal. This interval, especially when played on distorted guitars, makes resonant harmonies that give the chord that heavy sound.
The best part is they're super easy to play. It's just 2 notes, just put your index finger on any fret, then ring finger on the next higher string, 2 frets higher. This shape can be moved anywhere on the lower 4 strings.
If you are in a drop tuning(where the lowest string is tuned 1 step lower), the notes are on the same fret, so you can play power chords with just one finger.
It's mostly a low E (major), it's tuned down though - I'm pretty sure. The sound is a Marshall stack - I'm sure it was live miked in; incredible sound. I think Lars drumming complements it perfectly, and great rolls and cymbal work.
why middle finger, thats pain
@@yessir6427 No pain, no gain.
Better get Rogaine!
The great part about power chords is that they remove the 3rd, so they can be major or minor depending on what's being played around them.
@@metalmike570 Master of puppets was when they stopped using Marshalls. They used a Mesa Boogie Mark 2 C+ on this album.
You should hear the S&M live version of this song and it is incredible. Makes you appreciate the musicianship even more.
Was looking for someone to mention the S&M album, I hope they can do a reaction to any of the songs on there
As much as I love the original version of this song, For Whom the Bell Tolls, to me, is the song that most benefits from the S&M remakes
@@mikeabberton the Call of Ktulu S&M version sounds amazing too
This breakdown is outstanding gentlemen. It’s great and thoughtful and very much appreciated.
Gosh I've been subbed to yall for so long, glad to see you guys are all uploading, looking fresh and making moves. Keep up the good work boys~
Cliff was instrumental in composition and harmony. Stage presence, passion!!, and literally calculated orchestration. He was like a lead guitarist doing bass duties as well. You'll noticed they really changed after he died. Watch his stuff live.
Yes they become in a better live band.
I've played guitar on and off for 30 years now.. but when I pick it up, it's always Metallica riffs that pop into my head first. So well crafted and memorable. Hetfield is the all time Metal Riff God !!
it blows my mind that they made this album in their 20's, genius.
I love watching people of different backgrounds reacting too metal music or anything that's counter to their culture. Understanding one another brings us closer together. These reactions are a great start.
I'll say as a guitarist this song (rhythm) was the first I ever learned, and the key is timing. The build up / release is key. Letting the music breathe for a couple seconds before bringing it back is so impactful in music it's hard to under state. No the actual riffs being played aren't hard, it's the feel and creativity of the timing that makes it.
What’s crazy is Ride the Lightning album came out the same year as Rockwell’s Somebody’s Watching Me in 1984
Cliff Burton's stepping-bassline that comes in after the intro section is one of my all time favorites.
"Somebody Watching Me" was a hit back in early 80's, 84 I believe, sung by Rockwell..... I remember it well due to seeing it all the time on MTV lol. As for 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' that opening sequence that sounds like a guitar is actually Cliff on bass. When I first heard this song back in 84, me being 14 at the time, I thought it was guitar until a year later seeing them live in concert and watching Cliff play the opening part I was blown away. I never thought a bass guitar could be played like a regular guitar until I heard Cliff play 'Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)'..... it was amazing watching him play, the energy this man had up on stage.... WOW!!!! is all I can say R.I.P. Cliff 🤘😎🤘
I’m glad to watch someone be as excited as I am when I hear kirks guitar riffs 😭😭
4:42, the moment when George demonstrates his mastery of speed metal by anticipating the pivotal shift into the unstoppable groove . . .
What made Metallica stand out from the early thrash metal bands was their incorporation of melodies and harmonies... and we have (the late) bassist Cliff Burton to thank for that.
Megadeth went for a technical jazz approach and floored people who listened to their skills... Anthrax was a mix of aggression and phenomenal vocals, mixed w/ dark humor ... Slayer was a fusion of hardcore punk rock and classic heavy metal... Exodus was probably the most underrated - punk rock vocals and aggression, mixed w/ Motorhead's badass attitude.
Well said!
Funny enough..
I do believe that Kirk Hammet was metal jacked from Exodus to replace Dave Mustaine.
If my memory serves.
I fucks with yall, I've been enjoying yalls reactions for a while, multiple reactions, I get stuck for hours. I enjoy that yall dive into genres outside of what you would might normally listen to, AND appreciate the artistry and skills that go into music. Thank You!!! yall bring a smile to my face every time I watch yalls reactions, you're top of the game
Yall
@@fabianazofeifa8788 and what? I'm from South Carolina, get over it.
@@EZKLMCKY 🤣
Metallica were classed as underground and heavy, definitely not mainstream back in the 80s, they inspired the up and coming bands to try and become harder,faster and heavier,nobody in my opinion could/can make aggressive music sound so good as Metallica could
Yeah, they weren’t mainstream till the Black Album, around 7-8 years into their time as a band. They had some success with Justice, but didn’t get regular airplay on MTV till Enter Sandman blew up
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 that's true, but remember that "One" was in heavy rotation on MTV.
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Agree in general but would probably argue One with the video let them touch the mainstream somewhat before the black album. But black album for sure was their mainstream launch, their fifth studio album, the same as megadeth their fifth was Countdown to Exctinction which was mainstream but they touched on it a little with their fourth RIP. In both cases those are the only ones I like, their first five. Although megadeth has put out some good stuff since whereas metallica hasn't. The issue with megadeth is Dave can't keep a consistent lineup, his one steady hand isn't even in the band anymore D.E.
It was about a decade before The Black album. Then all that work paid off HUGE!!!
I think it was a combination of great albums and tours - and then 1990 BAM - The Black Album!! SUPERSTARS from then on.
@@clemsonalum98 Some people would argue the Load albums are good. Those were younger guys telling me that. Death Magnetic really is a decent effort. The new one in 2016 I didn't buy it well I'm spoiled from liking the ones from Kill 'Em All to the Load albums.
YOU STILL NEED TO DO THE LIVE VERSION! A Day on the Green like 1985? Cliff is shredding his ass off!
Hi Cliff👋
As a megadeth fan... we all love the first 4 metallica albums...
Kill em all is garbage compared to black album
For as simple as the song sounds, it's still very weird and complicated in its own right. The bass guitar intro, the minute and 20 second intro to the song, just 2 verses and 2 choruses, the outro. So many things that are unconventional, yet still sounds mainstream. Metallica are brilliant musicians. It's my favorite Metallica song, even thought I think Master of Puppets is their best.
Great reaction, guys! Please check out "No Place for Disgrace" by the band Flotsam and Jetsam! It's the title track from their 2nd album released in 1988, and it's about Japanese Samurai warriors. Jason Newsted formed this band before joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton (bassist) died in a bus accident. Flotsam and Jetsam are still going strong. They released their 14th album last June. Thanks!
I didn't know they were still kicking! Awesome!
Great album
solid band and the guitarists are fantastic. Troy is great on the bass. hope more fans of the band see this and give the Thumbs Up. underrated thrash band.
@PaullyPorkchopsVids ....I was just thumbing thru Jason's Echobrain project and landed on his old Voivod and F&J albums.. and the old LP compilations.. :) :::now if I could clean them..and play them on a good needle...I'd be in heaven::: :) .
Hard On You
Whatever one thinks of Metallica's more modern works the earlier records will forever be worthy of all the accolades, the greatness of Cliff Burton era Metallica is fairly undeniable.
When you say 'it may sound simple', I think that it's way harder to make simple sound good than just to put a lot of complex compositions together in something not enjoyable. To achieve quality in 'simplicity' is a hell of a skill. Also I love how you try to put into words your excitement and the feel that comes from hearing certain songs. It's absolutely relatable, I feel the same way and I find it hard to put it into words as well
Thats how i feel about megadeth. They may be more technical but they just dont have the quality metallica has. Their songs are boring to me. Also dave's voice dont help.
They added melody to thrash. Perhaps not the first to do it. But by golly, in my opinion, the best to do it. This and No Leaf Clover are forever my favorite tracks. Love the breakdown guys. Keep rocking!
One song you guys need to react to is Megadeth and Wake Up Dead. Perfect combination of groove and transitions.You won't regret it
I bet Ryan and George would crack up over the intro lyrics.
Everyone like this comment so that is top requested song for them to do next
I sneak in my own house... its 4 in the morning... I cant wait...lol.
This song is a MUST!!
Then they should do the Lamb of God/Dave Mustaine version of it that was just released.
That last riff when the song fades out is so so heavy and powerful! It sounds like the soundtrack to the end of the world or something! Kirk's erie sounding lead guitar with a whole lot of whammy makes it absolutely "disgusting" as you guys would say
Totally agree!
Isn't he rumored to have used a candle holder to make some of those noises?
@@CrochetPalace really!?😆 I haven't heard of that but that's funny
@@thrashnicity5913 I think I read that in a few different places back in the day.
I regret that I only have one upvote to give this. You read my mind Luke 🤘🤘🤘
I think this was the first song they started expressing an anti-war perspective; sort of their "War Pigs" (Black Sabbath.) How politicians use soldiers as pawns. They expand on it with songs like "One" and "Disposable Heroes".
I think the first one was probably “No Remorse” in Kill ‘em All
Hey guys HAPPY EASTER TO YOU BOTH. This is the first time watching you .I am laughing my ass of you guys are great keep up , recently I have a loss of a family member and I just had my birthday on APRIL 15TH AND HAVEN'T LAUGHED IN A LONG time and you guys made my day Metallica is my favorite band I've seen them 14 time's since I was 13 year's old I'm 52 now and watching both of you it made me remember the BEST TIME OF MY LIFE .AND THANK YOU.
It was Michael and Jermaine in the chorus. The rumor was that Rockwell was hooked up with Toya.
Rockwell is the guy who made somebody's watching me. Mj was a feature
Yep!!! Maxwell being Barry Gordie's son!!!
The only good part of that song is MJ's feature lol
It is worth noting that these riffs and rhythm are reminiscent of a march of soldiers - that's what this song is about .. brilliant
This song is the gateway drug to learning metal.
The thing about Metal Iam noticing is it puts you in a state of moving forward ....the cadence is like a march of banging your head and running !!! It has a power/energy 2 it that is motivating !!!! Really starting 2 appreciate more old school ! Thank you guys !!!
back then, i'm 53 a friend let me tape the iron maiden powerslave album i was blown away. i was into boston, van halen, sabbath. then he let me tape ride the lightning album and i was definitely hooked forever. still my fave album by metallica, seen them twice back in the day. of course rip cliff burton. classic song, love their thoughts on it.
Hell yeah, I love this song. Even if it's more simplistic than other Metallica songs, the driving propulsive beat of the song pumps you up while the song builds, and then chorus hits hard. I love the channel, so keep doing what you're doing.
Also wanna slip in a request for the Drive-By Truckers. I think Where The Devil Don't Stay would be a good intro for y'all.
Ohh Drive By Truckers? Gotta do 'Decoration Day'!
George seems to be trying to describe his love for the sound of a sustained power chord. I’ve noticed he always mentions it when they come around…
This was the first song I learned to play on guitar. It's still a blast to play!
I like how you touched on how instrumentally it's simple, but still great. I've started learning guitar, and this was the first song I was able to play along to and actually hit a lot of the parts at full speed. I also liked how you mentioned that technical mastery isn't necessarily what makes a good song. I remember watching an episode of American Idol where the judges criticized the contestants for performing more of a "vocal acrobatic" performance as opposed to performing what the audience is looking for. Sometimes simpler can be better.
Love yall's analogies, don't second guess it cause we all feel what your putting down. #FreeThinkers
This was THE song that made me fall in love with Metallica as a kid.
You guys hit the nail on the head when you said that the guitars “hit”. (No pun intended) one of the secrets of writing powerful music is contrast - full on guitars, then silence, then hit with the guitars. Or just drums and bass then hit with the guitars. If a song is non-stop with all the instruments, it starts to all sound the same. The opening to “Revelations” by Iron Maiden is another great example of this. Good insight guys. Loved the reaction.
One of Maiden's best songs that nobody ever talks about, like "Sea of Madness"! Dynamics are key in a genre as loud and generally aggressive as metal.
You guys should really check out the version from S&M (the show they did with the S.F. Symphony Orchestra). It's insane!! Even if you don't react to it don't deprive your ears of the bliss that is Metallica with an orchestra. 🤘
Music is all about tension, the build up and release of tension, those are the best bands, the ones that can master it!