METALLICA - New York Times Issues Review Of Uniondale, NY Show: "A Convincing Argument For The Continued Relevance Of The King-Size Rock Extravaganza"
February 8, 2009, 15 years ago
Jon Caramanica at the New York Times has filed a report on METALLICA's February 5th show in Uniondale, NY. A brief excerpt appears below.
Metallica closed its main set on Thursday night at the Nassau Coliseum here as if it were a Raffi show, or a Promise Keepers meeting. “You make Metallica feel great,” the frontman, James Hetfield, barked into his microphone. “Thank you, friends!”
Platitudes have not typically been among the strengths of this preternaturally wise band, which formed almost 30 years ago and quickly became one of the most proficient and influential outfits in American heavy metal. And this was not Mr. Hetfield’s only bland affirmation. (“You’ve come here to release some energy tonight.” “You are the fifth member of Metallica.”) But somehow with his gravelly rasp and all-black ensemble — Mr. Hetfield remains one of the few people in the world who can make skintight black jeans look tough — he can say these things to a several-thousand-strong crowd consisting largely of loudly bellowing bruisers, and still inspire fear and awe.
That’s because even after a decade and a half of creative muddle, the Metallica mystique trumps all. Here, for more than two hours, the musicians and their fans gladly imagined the band as it once was — punishing, technically astonishing, relentless.
Go to this location for the complete review.
