23 replies to this topic

[michael500]

...
I have recently been revisiting DM since the release of BM. The first time around I didn't care for S&R, this time around, I just can't get enough of it. Its an absolutely amazing song. I am happy to see that Metallica can still write great instrumentals.

[mrbananaman]

I agree 110%

[Zalman]

One of my favorite instrumentals ever.

[Power Wolf]

I had a listen through it again, just to make sure I'm not being unfair to it. S&R is still the poster boy for everything that's musically wrong with DM.

It's by far their most uninspired, repetitive instrumental. A collage of fair-to-decent riffs.
It flows because the guys are good songwriters, but there's just so little content.

The third time they bring back that recurring, boring as hell midtempo riff, it's not even halfway through the track and I'm annoyed by it.
And they bring it back again during the solo, and at the end, and until they finish the song.

This doesn't have a leg to stand on next to the three other instrumentals or even to the real songs in DM, which at least have vocals to drive them.

Edited by Power Wolf, Apr 14 12 - 09:57 PM.

[Zalman]

Don't worry, man. It will grow on you... if you're lucky.

[sanTRaldogma]

The best instrumental song of Metallica. Amazing song.

[Cloud Man]

It's a good instrumental... there's some serious epicness in it, from the calm part onwards... but I think it goes on a bit too long

[michael500]

The lyrics are very inspiring IMO.

[Power Wolf]

Don't worry, man. It will grow on you... if you're lucky.

Let's hope not. I want to have standards.

[Peace and Love]

I had a listen through it again, just to make sure I'm not being unfair to it. S&R is still the poster boy for everything that's musically wrong with DM.

It's by far their most uninspired, repetitive instrumental. A collage of fair-to-decent riffs.
It flows because the guys are good songwriters, but there's just so little content.

COMPLETELY agree with the above.

This doesn't have a leg to stand on next to the three other instrumentals

Don't agree with this. Ktulu and Orion are clearly superior to S&R.

But To Live is to Die really isn't much better at all. It suffers from all the same problems. What makes it better is the fact that the middle section is some of the best music Metallica ever wrote, and the solos are better. But other than that, TLITD has the same old boring repetitive structure, the riffs range from very good to pretty boring, and the song is far too long and outstays its welcome by quite a bit. The middle section makes up for everything though, and I still like the song quite a bit.

S&R's middle section is unremarkable, and with all the other negative factors present, the song sinks.

Edited by Peace and Love, Apr 15 12 - 04:36 PM.

[michael500]

COMPLETELY agree with the above.



Don't agree with this. Ktulu and Orion are clearly superior to S&R.

But To Live is to Die really isn't much better at all. It suffers from all the same problems. What makes it better is the fact that the middle section is some of the best music Metallica ever wrote, and the solos are better. But other than that, TLITD has the same old boring repetitive structure, the riffs range from very good to pretty boring, and the song is far too long and outstays its welcome by quite a bit. The middle section makes up for everything though, and I still like the song quite a bit.

S&R's middle section is unremarkable, and with all the other negative factors present, the song sinks.

The other 3 instrumentals are for sure superior, but S&R is great. When I learned that there would be an instrumental on the new album (at the time that was DM) I was worried it would suck. It actually surpassed my expectations. It does have a repetitive riff, but the song really comes together at the 8 minute mark and leaves me in awe. Maybe not as much as the other 3, but it complexity is rather simple compared to solos on DM such as in The Judas Kiss.

[Power Wolf]

I'll concede that the S&R middle section with James' lead is interesting. That lead melody always makes me think it's ripping off something, like a famous classical piece or popular song, but I can never put my finger on it.

Don't agree with this. Ktulu and Orion are clearly superior to S&R.

But To Live is to Die really isn't much better at all. It suffers from all the same problems. What makes it better is the fact that the middle section is some of the best music Metallica ever wrote, and the solos are better. But other than that, TLITD has the same old boring repetitive structure, the riffs range from very good to pretty boring, and the song is far too long and outstays its welcome by quite a bit. The middle section makes up for everything though, and I still like the song quite a bit.

TLITD is tied with Orion over Ktulu for me. It's not structurally creative, no, but I think the music is just plain excellent. Lars was playing great, Kirk's leads were still interesting, the tone was better...
I think there's actually some genius in playing the same rhythm over and over again but still feeling like you're building up. Unlike S&R, I get that feeling with TLITD.

And THAT middle part. And THAT part where it goes crazy heavy and you just want to soak in that guitar.

Maybe the whole Cliff thing makes me connect with it more, on some level. The spoken word part is certainly well-placed.

[Wolfish]

S&R's middle section is unremarkable

No, just no.

[Merl13n]

I really like it. The beginning is repetitive, but still has a very nice, almost stoner-ish groove to it. TBH I don't really mind the repetition that much. Every Metallica instrumental features a lot of repetition, but repetion isn't bad by definition.

The soft lead part is just awesome, it's one of the strongest melodies Metallica has written in ages. I'm listening to it right now and I automatically start nodding my head during Hetfields faster solo heh. Great song.

[Breadfan Yeah]

I had a listen through it again, just to make sure I'm not being unfair to it. S&R is still the poster boy for everything that's musically wrong with DM.

It's by far their most uninspired, repetitive instrumental. A collage of fair-to-decent riffs.
It flows because the guys are good songwriters, but there's just so little content.

The third time they bring back that recurring, boring as hell midtempo riff, it's not even halfway through the track and I'm annoyed by it.
And they bring it back again during the solo, and at the end, and until they finish the song.

This doesn't have a leg to stand on next to the three other instrumentals or even to the real songs in DM, which at least have vocals to drive them.

I tend to agree with this. I don't mind that main riff under the solo and what have you, but the 3rd or 4th time it repeats before the clean section is just a few too many. "Suicide" should have been cut in length, "Redemption" made longer, if anything.
But the solo

[fix-this]

worst song on the record.

[Zalman]

I only mind the repetition at the end. They fix this live though.

[Jen Ulrich]

worst song on the record.

No...that title goes to My Apocalypse, IMO.

[Breadfan Yeah]

Tough to say. Both comeback stellarly for their initially dull beginnings with their middle sections. One has best riff on the album, the other best solo.
HMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMmmmMMmmmMMMMM.

[ThatWasJustYourLife!]

Its miles better palyed at live version speed, makes a big difference. Very good song tho.

[MetallicaFan247]

Yeah its a great instrumental with an amazing moddle section. Good that they made another instrumental considering thry havnt made one since 1988 (Not Including Ecstacy of gold)

[afcryan10]

Suicide and redemption is one of the best songs on the album. It showed that Metallica were back to their best withpowerful riffs with alot of passion put in them. Almost as good as the call of ktulu

[ominous-iminus]

I think S&R is an amazing song! I do like it's original name K2LU better though. Ktulu and s&r are my favorite instrumentals of all time, not just metallica :)

[metallicavanbc]

I love this instrumental because it flows so well.

Ktulu is very repetitive (dont know why noone mentions that). Orion has a clear boundary between heavy & melodic parts and so does TLITD.

But S&R goes into that melodic part and it just doesn't stop from there - it spins out into heavier and heavier riffs from that melody and into the really enjoyable solos, so I love that flow.

It's a very vibey song with a lot of epicness as many ppl had already mentioned. At first I was turned off by some of the repetitive mid-tempo riffs too but now I listen to the 10 minute version several times in a row (no joke)