Metallica and Nirvana: Great classic rock sounds

If there are diehard rockers in your Christmas list, you will not go wrong getting them copies of these albums. Not only do these CDs feature some of the greatest, most memorable rock music ever created and masterful performances by legendary rock artists the way these albums are presented is also worth all the money. Of course, these are certainly not for the faint of ears. These are loud, raw and really angry songs but are at the same time given heartfelt, sensitive renditions.

Through The Never by Metallica. The two-disc set is the music from the soundtrack of the motion picture of the same title. This is made up of some of the best songs from Metallica’s entire career recorded live in a mind-blowing, eye-popping show. This was shown abroad in 3D in IMAX theaters, so you can just imagine how big this film is and what it was like being almost part of the action. It is unfortunate that fans out here were deprived of that experience. But thanks to video, they should be able to approximate what it was like at home when the DVD or Blu-ray comes out.

Directed by Nimrod Antal, Through The Never is not really a concert film. The show is the setting for the story about a roadie played by Dane DeHaan, who is sent out, on an errand to pick up something for the band. It is no easy task and he comes across fantastic, life-threatening obstacles. While he is going through his adventures, Metallica plays its greatest hits to a packed, hugely appreciative audience who is singing along with the songs.

Metallica is one of the most influential metal bands of all time. Introduced over 30 years ago, it is made up of James Hetfield on vocals and guitar; Lars Ulrich, drums; Kirk Hammett, guitar and background vocals; and Robert Trujillo, bass and background vocals.  They are all in excellent form and Hetfield’s singing puts a lot of younger rockers to shame. 

The songs included in the soundtrack are The Ecstasy Of Gold, Creeping Death, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Fuel, Ride The Lightning, One, The Memory Remains, Wherever I May Roam. Cyanide, And Justice For All, Master Of Puppets, Battery, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, Hit The Lights and the brightest gem of the set, Orion.

In Utero by Nirvana, the deluxe, 20th anniversary edition. Nobody thought, this could happen and the fact is now impossible to ignore. Grunge has become a classic. The Gen X kids have now realized that Nirvana was making not noise but music after all. Must also be because, it has now been over 20 years since Kurt Cobain, Kris Novoselic and Dave Grohl rocked rock music and its foundations. Age certainly imbues anything with the sweet, sentimental patina of memories. 

This type of rock emerged from the Seattle rock scene in the ’90s. Back then, the boys of Nirvana made rock music rawer, angrier and totally unafraid of anything. I honestly didn’t know what to make of grunge then, let alone know if it will be reviled as a low point for pop music or will be appreciated two decades hence. We now know what happened. Grunge has since then grown in legend and influence and has now come to define the angst of an entire generation. 

This release comes in two CDs. One has the remastered original In Utero album and B Sides of singles and bonus tracks like Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through This Ship, Sappy and I Hate Myself And Want To Die. CD Two has demo recordings made by Nirvana of songs like Marigold and Forgotten Tune and again also the complete In Utero but remixed. 

Take note, the other one was simply remastered. That means brought up to date in terms of sound quality. The other one though was completely remixed and that means changes in the way the music was put together depending on the engineer’s perception of what it should say. This was a big job and makes me wonder if Cobain would have approved.

Remixing a classic can be compared to putting your baby through plastic surgery. Thankfully, the guy picking out the tracks for this new version is Steve Albini who also did the original mix of In Utero in 1993. He just tried to improve on his work and while I see nothing wrong in the first edition of the album, finding out the changes is great practice for the audiophile. 

In Utero is the third and unfortunately last album by Nirvana. It was after this that Cobain killed himself. Released before this were the debut Bleach in 1989 and the phenomenal Nevermind two years later. Both have also been reissued to commemorate the 20th year of their release. 

In Utero includes Serve The Servants, Scentless Apprentice, Heart-Shaped Box, Rape Me, Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle, Dumb, Very Ape, Milk It, Pennyroyal Tea, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Tourette’s and All Apologies.