Metallica - Metallica (1991)

It's been a while since I've done a Metallica album. I want to clear out a queue of albums I've got backlogged, one of which is Metallica's S&M which I previously decided being a live, orchestra-backed album would be wrong to listen to without hearing some studio-based Metallica first. So I'm jumping ahead to hear the third and last Metallica studio album to appear in 1,001 Albums to Hear Before You Die, their eponymous album often referred to as "the black album".

Motörhead - Ace Of Spades (1980)

In honor of the recent death of Lemmy Kilmister I've decided to jump ahead on my list  and review an album by Lemmy's band Motörhead, namely Ace Of Spades. I know a few people who are huge Motörhead fans, but I'm not sure I can name a single song by the band. All I'm hoping for is this to be either seriously good heavy metal music in the vein of Led Zeppelin or Iron Maiden, and hopefully not ridiculous trash a la Megadeth.

Metallica - ...And Justice for All (1988)

I've decided to go back to Metallica so I can review their other qualifying albums before I forget how I really felt upon listening. I previously listened to their third album Master Of Puppets and had conflicting thoughts. On the one hand it was musically complex and somewhat more diverse than I expected from a thrash band. On the other hand it was very long, which was exacerbated by it's break-neck pace. I don't want to do a deep dive on all things Metallica, but I do want to do more than scratch the surface. So I'm moving on to the next Metallica album on my list, their fourth album ...And Justice for All.

Metallica - Master Of Puppets (1986)

The next album on my list was supposed to be Metallica's S&M. When I read that album was actually a live album played with a full orchestral backing I decided to make a change. Heavy metal music can be completely altered with a large orchestra acting in support. The results are occasionally beautiful. I'm concerned that hearing Metallica's music reworked in such a way will taint my opinion of how they originally intended the songs to be heard in their studio album form. So I've pushed S&M back and will start with the oldest Metallica album on my list, their third album as a band, Master Of Puppets.