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Enter Night: A Biography of Metallica
Alongside contemporaries Slayer, Megadeath and Anthrax, Metallica came to prominence in the eighties as one of the 'big four' of thrash metal. Metallica were to thrash, though, what the Sex Pistols were to punk. Nearly thirty years on, their tale is one of alcohol, rule breaking and tragically early death. But allied to that are colossal sales figures for their records -- they are the fifth-highest selling recording artists of all time -- and members with backgrounds that touch on jazz and classical music. Metallica, in fact, have garnered more critical acclaim than any heavy rock band since Led Zeppelin. Fresh from the critical and commercial success of When Giants Walked the Earth, Mick Wall takes a similar informed look at the band, a group he has known on and off since their formation in 1981.
504 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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3004 people want to read
About the author
Mick Wall
69 books177 followersMick Wall is an author, journalist, film, television and radio writer-producer, who’s worked inside the music industry for over 35 years. He began his career contributing to the music weekly Sounds in 1977, where he wrote about punk and the new wave, and then rockabilly, funk, New Romantic pop and, eventually, hard rock and heavy metal. By 1983, Wall become one of the main journalists in the early days of Kerrang! magazine, where he was their star cover story writer for the next nine years. He subsequently became the founding editor of Classic Rock magazine in 1998, and presented his own television and radio shows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
February 5, 2022
If you've been a fan of Metallica for years, you'll most likely not find anything in this that's not been spoken about numerous times.
It was also very wordy and didn't have as much information from the band as I would have liked, he does go into detail about the inspirations for each band member.
I look forward to reading more about the band but this book just falls flat.
I'd like one where the band are completely involved and reveal little known things.
There was nothing new for me in this particular book.
That being said, I love Metallica and I recommend to anyone know doesn't know the band that well! 🤘
It was also very wordy and didn't have as much information from the band as I would have liked, he does go into detail about the inspirations for each band member.
I look forward to reading more about the band but this book just falls flat.
I'd like one where the band are completely involved and reveal little known things.
There was nothing new for me in this particular book.
That being said, I love Metallica and I recommend to anyone know doesn't know the band that well! 🤘
February 7, 2017
چند روزه که این کتاب رو تموم کردم، ولی خب، راستش نمیدونستم دقیقا باید برای ریویو چی بنویسیم.
متالیکا واقع گرایانه ترین موسیقی که تا الان دیدم. و اینکه صددرصد، روی زندگیم تاثیر زیادی گذاشت. فکر کنم اولین باری که از گروه متالیکا آهنگ شنیدم، ده-یازده سالم بود. یکی از دوستام که خیلی سنش بالاتر بود برام آهنگ "یک" و "دیگه هیچی مهم نیست" رو فرستادم. یادمه که اون زمان تازه مستند شوک رو دیده بودم که در مورد شیطان پرستی بود و کلی در مورد متالیکا حرف زده بودن(خدا خیرشون نده با این دروغ هایی که میگفتن:دی و البته منم به خاطر اون تایم و سنم، خیلی راحت باور میکردم:دی) و اینکه، درست یادم نیست، ولی حس بدی داشتم وقتی میخواستم اولین بار آهنگ هاشونو گوش کنم. اما به هر حال، همونا آهنگ ها باعث شدن که من دنبال بقیه کارهای متالیکا برم و بعدش با گروه های دیگه سبک راک و متال مثل پینک فلوید، لد زپلین، آیرون میدن، رولینگ استونز و.... آشنا بشم و به جرئت میتونم بگم زندگیم رو خیلی تغییر دادن.
متالیکا هیچ وقت آهنگی نخونده که شما بتونین توی مهمونی هاتون بزارین، آهنگی نداره که شما باهاش بتونین برقصین، یا اینکه وقتی شکست عشقی خوردین گوش بدین. متالیکا پر از خشونت، صداهای ترسناک و فریاده. اما همین فریاد هاس که تفاوت زیادی بین متالیکا و گروه های محبوب امروزی مثل وان دایرکشن و چین اسموکرز ایجاد میکنه. متالیکا از نظر من، به مسائل مهم تری نسبت به خیلی ها دیگه میپردازه. برای مثال، آهنگ "یک" که بنظرم جزو قوی ترین آهنگ های کل تاریخه، واقعا تاثیر گذاره شما شعرش رو حس میکنین، احساسات خواننده موقع خوندنش کاملا بهتون منتقل میشه، این چیزیه که مدت هاس من توی آهنگ ها ندیدم. یا حتی داستان هایی که بین آهنگ هاشون میگن واقعا زیباست. متالیکا به نظر من کاری رو با گیتار، درام و شعرهاش میکنه که نویسنده های بزرگی مثل نیل گیمن با قلمشون انجام میدن. متالیکا خیلی از جاها دنبال درست کردن تغییره، نه اینکه صرفا چند نفر رو برای مدتی تحت تاثیر قرار بده و بعد یکم وقت، اون ها دیگه اسم آهنگ هاشو هم یادشون نیاد.
در کل، به نظرم متالیکا یکی از بزرگترین گروه های موسیقی کل تاریخه. مطمئنا گروه های بهتر هم هستن، که فراز و نشیب کمتری داشتن و مدت بیشتر در اوج بودن، اما انرژی که متالیکا به نسل های مختلف منتقل کرد، خیلی بیشتر از اغلب گروه ها یا خواننده هاست.
به امید اینکه روزی دوباره شاهد اوج گرفتن متالیکا باشیم تا باز هم بتونیم از اشعار زیبا و صدای دلنشین جیمز هتفیلد لذت ببریم.
ممنون بابت مطالعه ریویو
پ.ن1:عذر میخوام که ریویوم در مورد کتاب نبودم، حرف خاصی در مورد کتاب نداشتم جز اینکه خیلی جامع بیوگرافی متالیکا رو نوشته و شامل چندتا مصاحبه جالب با اعضای گروه بود که در مورد آهنگ خیلی خوب توضیح میدادن.
پ.ن2: سال هاست که کلا بر ضد متالیکا و متال، توی ایران خیلی تبلیغ شده. خواهشمندم که یکدونه از اونها رو هم باور نکنین. تقریبا همشون دروغن
متالیکا واقع گرایانه ترین موسیقی که تا الان دیدم. و اینکه صددرصد، روی زندگیم تاثیر زیادی گذاشت. فکر کنم اولین باری که از گروه متالیکا آهنگ شنیدم، ده-یازده سالم بود. یکی از دوستام که خیلی سنش بالاتر بود برام آهنگ "یک" و "دیگه هیچی مهم نیست" رو فرستادم. یادمه که اون زمان تازه مستند شوک رو دیده بودم که در مورد شیطان پرستی بود و کلی در مورد متالیکا حرف زده بودن(خدا خیرشون نده با این دروغ هایی که میگفتن:دی و البته منم به خاطر اون تایم و سنم، خیلی راحت باور میکردم:دی) و اینکه، درست یادم نیست، ولی حس بدی داشتم وقتی میخواستم اولین بار آهنگ هاشونو گوش کنم. اما به هر حال، همونا آهنگ ها باعث شدن که من دنبال بقیه کارهای متالیکا برم و بعدش با گروه های دیگه سبک راک و متال مثل پینک فلوید، لد زپلین، آیرون میدن، رولینگ استونز و.... آشنا بشم و به جرئت میتونم بگم زندگیم رو خیلی تغییر دادن.
متالیکا هیچ وقت آهنگی نخونده که شما بتونین توی مهمونی هاتون بزارین، آهنگی نداره که شما باهاش بتونین برقصین، یا اینکه وقتی شکست عشقی خوردین گوش بدین. متالیکا پر از خشونت، صداهای ترسناک و فریاده. اما همین فریاد هاس که تفاوت زیادی بین متالیکا و گروه های محبوب امروزی مثل وان دایرکشن و چین اسموکرز ایجاد میکنه. متالیکا از نظر من، به مسائل مهم تری نسبت به خیلی ها دیگه میپردازه. برای مثال، آهنگ "یک" که بنظرم جزو قوی ترین آهنگ های کل تاریخه، واقعا تاثیر گذاره شما شعرش رو حس میکنین، احساسات خواننده موقع خوندنش کاملا بهتون منتقل میشه، این چیزیه که مدت هاس من توی آهنگ ها ندیدم. یا حتی داستان هایی که بین آهنگ هاشون میگن واقعا زیباست. متالیکا به نظر من کاری رو با گیتار، درام و شعرهاش میکنه که نویسنده های بزرگی مثل نیل گیمن با قلمشون انجام میدن. متالیکا خیلی از جاها دنبال درست کردن تغییره، نه اینکه صرفا چند نفر رو برای مدتی تحت تاثیر قرار بده و بعد یکم وقت، اون ها دیگه اسم آهنگ هاشو هم یادشون نیاد.
در کل، به نظرم متالیکا یکی از بزرگترین گروه های موسیقی کل تاریخه. مطمئنا گروه های بهتر هم هستن، که فراز و نشیب کمتری داشتن و مدت بیشتر در اوج بودن، اما انرژی که متالیکا به نسل های مختلف منتقل کرد، خیلی بیشتر از اغلب گروه ها یا خواننده هاست.
به امید اینکه روزی دوباره شاهد اوج گرفتن متالیکا باشیم تا باز هم بتونیم از اشعار زیبا و صدای دلنشین جیمز هتفیلد لذت ببریم.
ممنون بابت مطالعه ریویو
پ.ن1:عذر میخوام که ریویوم در مورد کتاب نبودم، حرف خاصی در مورد کتاب نداشتم جز اینکه خیلی جامع بیوگرافی متالیکا رو نوشته و شامل چندتا مصاحبه جالب با اعضای گروه بود که در مورد آهنگ خیلی خوب توضیح میدادن.
پ.ن2: سال هاست که کلا بر ضد متالیکا و متال، توی ایران خیلی تبلیغ شده. خواهشمندم که یکدونه از اونها رو هم باور نکنین. تقریبا همشون دروغن
May 16, 2013
“No party music, no girl magnet ballads. Just brutal, attack-oriented, audio death”.
..and with that quote, it becomes impossible to really sum up Metallica better. I’ve been a big fan of these guys since I was 15 years old and finally welcomed the chance to read an official biography on the band. Although, while it’s true I did have preconceived notions that I knew as much about the band as I was ever going to learn, that quickly went out the window in the first few chapters.
As it turns out, I had known next to nothing. I especially didn’t realize that even as late as 1986 and following the release of their critically acclaimed album, Master of Puppets, the guys were still looking for a lead singer. It was revealed that Mr. Hetfield wasn’t all that comfortable being the front man and the face of the band. This totally blew my mind! James has since grown into a force of nature on stage and I can’t imagine anyone else bringing that kind of a presence to a live show.
The stories of the band’s origin were interesting. Everything from the selection of the name, to the troubles with future Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine to the lasting effect their original bassist Cliff Burton had on the group. In-fighting, stories of alcohol and drug-fueled debauchery as well as the madness that the band’s second bassist, Jason Newsted, had been subjected to were surprising and endlessly ridiculous.
While I did like this biography, it did take me quite a while to finish it. At times, it felt pretty anti-climatic especially since I had just watched “Some Kind of Monster” (the 2003 documentary chronicling the band) a few weeks prior. If this book assured me of anything, it’s that Dave Mustaine is a bitter jerk.
Cross Posted @ Every Read Thing
..and with that quote, it becomes impossible to really sum up Metallica better. I’ve been a big fan of these guys since I was 15 years old and finally welcomed the chance to read an official biography on the band. Although, while it’s true I did have preconceived notions that I knew as much about the band as I was ever going to learn, that quickly went out the window in the first few chapters.
As it turns out, I had known next to nothing. I especially didn’t realize that even as late as 1986 and following the release of their critically acclaimed album, Master of Puppets, the guys were still looking for a lead singer. It was revealed that Mr. Hetfield wasn’t all that comfortable being the front man and the face of the band. This totally blew my mind! James has since grown into a force of nature on stage and I can’t imagine anyone else bringing that kind of a presence to a live show.
The stories of the band’s origin were interesting. Everything from the selection of the name, to the troubles with future Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine to the lasting effect their original bassist Cliff Burton had on the group. In-fighting, stories of alcohol and drug-fueled debauchery as well as the madness that the band’s second bassist, Jason Newsted, had been subjected to were surprising and endlessly ridiculous.
While I did like this biography, it did take me quite a while to finish it. At times, it felt pretty anti-climatic especially since I had just watched “Some Kind of Monster” (the 2003 documentary chronicling the band) a few weeks prior. If this book assured me of anything, it’s that Dave Mustaine is a bitter jerk.
Cross Posted @ Every Read Thing
February 20, 2019
Metallica was formed the year I was born (1981) so I couldn’t recall their New Wave British Metal influence or anything about the birth of Thrash in the US. I later became a fan by default since my older brother obsessively blared them from his bedroom. He and I saw them live recently and, in a burst of nostalgia, I picked up this biography. Central to their story is bassist Cliff Burton’s wholly devastating death in 1986; something they never really recovered from even with their massive success. Mick Wall gets bogged down in the minutiae, but it’s a fascinating history. And they put on one hell of a show now in their late 50s!
March 10, 2023
Does the author even like Metallica? I wouldn't know, because he seems to take every opportunity to discuss literally any band instead of the one band he's supposed to be writing about. I get it, Metallica is influenced by many of their predecessors, contemporaries, even challengers, but I don't need to be reminded of that fact - as well as a detailed list of those bands - every two sentences in every single chapter. Which is a shame, because when he does get around to talk about Metallica and their music, it was excellent; the sections where he discussed the meaning of each song and the story behind each album is absolutely my favourite part of the book, even if I don't fully agree with some of his opinions of them (AJFA is the best even with the inaudible bass, and Load/Reload is very underrated, you can't change my mind). There was also an imbalance between what happened before 1986 and what followed that date, as the book went into great details about the band's early days up until their breakthrough with MOP and the tragedy of Cliff's death, but then didn't focus enough on the later eras, discussing Jason only occasionally and barely mentioning Rob at all.
There is, however, a coherent theme throughout the book, and it's one all too familiar in the music world: the question of should you just stick to your niche, cater to the most fanatical core of your fandom and risking eventually becoming irrelevant, or should you adapt and change your art over time, appeal to a larger audience and gain significantly more fame and influence but also risk being branded as "sellout" as a result? Metallica, it seems to me, has chosen the latter, even if the change was far from straightforward and uniform, and it is of course ridiculous to say that they are no longer the band they were in the pre-Black album days. But the change was nevertheless made, and the book did manage to communicate how that came to be very well, making no judgement of its own so that the readers can decide for themselves whether Metallica had succeeded, and whether it was a good thing to begin with. I, for once, am very happy that Metallica had changed to become more popular, because otherwise I would never have discovered them all those years ago, and they would never have become my favourite band since then. The other highlight of the book is Chapter 13, which discusses the series of events in 2001, when Jason "fucking left the band" (Lars' words), James checked himself into rehab, and Metallica came as close to breaking up as they had ever been. It is an authentic look into how people react under crises and, although not as intimate as the documentary "Some Kind of Monster", a cumulation of the book's emphasis on the human elements behind the art which the author should have focused more on in the first place instead of going on and on and on about 1980s NWOBHM or some other shits.
I first listened to Metallica in my early teenage years and have always enjoyed their music intermittently in the years since, but it wasn't until recently that I truly engage with them in any meaningful way (getting to know who the band members are and examine the lyrics with the intensity of a high school literature teacher, that sort of things). This book was a big help in that regard, and I did generally enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone interested in Metallica and want a companion piece as they dive into the band's discography. But longtime fans of Metallica won't learn anything that they hadn't known already, though I hope they can at least gain somewhat of a new appreciation for the band.
There is, however, a coherent theme throughout the book, and it's one all too familiar in the music world: the question of should you just stick to your niche, cater to the most fanatical core of your fandom and risking eventually becoming irrelevant, or should you adapt and change your art over time, appeal to a larger audience and gain significantly more fame and influence but also risk being branded as "sellout" as a result? Metallica, it seems to me, has chosen the latter, even if the change was far from straightforward and uniform, and it is of course ridiculous to say that they are no longer the band they were in the pre-Black album days. But the change was nevertheless made, and the book did manage to communicate how that came to be very well, making no judgement of its own so that the readers can decide for themselves whether Metallica had succeeded, and whether it was a good thing to begin with. I, for once, am very happy that Metallica had changed to become more popular, because otherwise I would never have discovered them all those years ago, and they would never have become my favourite band since then. The other highlight of the book is Chapter 13, which discusses the series of events in 2001, when Jason "fucking left the band" (Lars' words), James checked himself into rehab, and Metallica came as close to breaking up as they had ever been. It is an authentic look into how people react under crises and, although not as intimate as the documentary "Some Kind of Monster", a cumulation of the book's emphasis on the human elements behind the art which the author should have focused more on in the first place instead of going on and on and on about 1980s NWOBHM or some other shits.
I first listened to Metallica in my early teenage years and have always enjoyed their music intermittently in the years since, but it wasn't until recently that I truly engage with them in any meaningful way (getting to know who the band members are and examine the lyrics with the intensity of a high school literature teacher, that sort of things). This book was a big help in that regard, and I did generally enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone interested in Metallica and want a companion piece as they dive into the band's discography. But longtime fans of Metallica won't learn anything that they hadn't known already, though I hope they can at least gain somewhat of a new appreciation for the band.
October 15, 2011
I learned a lot about the history of Metallica but the author could have cut this book by a third. It was very wordy, particularly in the first section, and didn't have as much information from the band as I would have liked. The author is a music writer by trade so he goes into extreme detail about the background "inspirations" for each band member as well as every friend he introduced in the book. He repeats band names hundreds of times. (I get it. They were inspired by Diamond Head.)
That being said, I love Metallica. Their story is one of flawed people finding success with each other. I look forward to reading more on the subject.
That being said, I love Metallica. Their story is one of flawed people finding success with each other. I look forward to reading more on the subject.
July 21, 2012
For a band that has just celebrated their 30th anniversary, the book seems to skip over a lot that has happened since 1986. Almost half of the book covers these first five years, and the rest of the book seems rushed to cram in the subsequent albums. The worst point to me was the amount of personal opinion was included. I got the impression that Mick Wall is on of those "fans" that only likes the first three albums, hence why he focuses so much on writing about those and then criticising the rest of their releases. Personally this is an attitude I find hypocritical since it is suggested he sees them as "sellouts" yet is quite happy to use their name and success to make himself money. Overall, I bought this book as a fan, not someone who only listens to pre-1986 Metallica, and therefore did not find his personal and sometimes quite harsh opinions to be great reading material. If I wanted to read people slate Metallica I'd go on blabbermouth, not spend £20 on a biography of them!
September 5, 2011
Had to try this bio of Metallica - I listened to them in high school and they're fascinating. It was, on the whole, interesting and informative, but I couldn't stand the writing. It was awful. Beyond the typo-every-page editing, he was just a whiny narrative voice with something to prove to the world at large. He wanted to prove that he knew the guys well (that didn't seem to be the case), he wanted to prove that he was a hard partier, he wanted to prove that his exact opinion of which songs and albums were best and worst were gospel. I agreed with that taste 70% of the time, but it's a biography, not "one fan/music writer's view of what's good about a huge international band."
Anyhow, it was fun to read and find out how fucked up these guys are, and what they put themselves through, but the writing was a little hard to get through.
Anyhow, it was fun to read and find out how fucked up these guys are, and what they put themselves through, but the writing was a little hard to get through.
April 14, 2012
Enter Night is one of the best band biographies I've ever read. It touched upon many important points in Metallica history, answered numerous things I'd only known as rumors or unbelievable, and dug into dirt and a dark side I'd never know about one of my biggest musical influences--things never known to me before because Metallica hid darkness and pain so well...until now.
All that said, the book isn't some tabloid dish, but rather, parts the curtains to reveal the naked evolution of an incredible, juggernaut of band, what the band members have endured in all their years, and it has ultimately given me a much greater appreciation for Metallica. F-ing genius of a book!!!
All that said, the book isn't some tabloid dish, but rather, parts the curtains to reveal the naked evolution of an incredible, juggernaut of band, what the band members have endured in all their years, and it has ultimately given me a much greater appreciation for Metallica. F-ing genius of a book!!!
July 5, 2023
Interesting enough, but I could really have done without the author's bias and opinions.
July 14, 2014
Very good read, if you are a Metallica fan of any sort, you really should read this book. It gave me insight into the band that I never knew. I joined the Metallica crowd with the "And Justice For All" CD back in the late 80's and have been a huge fan ever since, but this gave me perspective on the early stuff that I didn't get to experience like the Dave Mustaine and the Cliff Burton years in the band. It also gave me a perspective on what happened once the band had to replace Cliff Burton and the struggles of overcoming his loss and the hard times Jason Newsted had trying to replace someone like Cliff. The book tried to pain the St. Anger and Death Magnetic CD's in a somewhat favorable light, but while the author shows you the numbers, he is also quite fair on explaining the fan response to the albums. In my opinion, the book is great because while Mick Wall tries to paint a positive picture of the band as a whole, he does not hide anything either and you get a really good sense of what the band was about in the beginning and the things they went through to get to where they are today. After reading this I will honestly say that I am looking forward to seeing what Metallica does in the next few years to add to their legacy.
November 16, 2012
I have read a couple of Mick Wall's biographies, and apart from "When Giants Walked The Earth" and his John Peel bio, they were all rather dull. This isn't exactly dull, but Enter Night is more about the wheeling and dealing of record label execs and promotors, than interesting band adventures.
Pages and pages of boring, seemingly irrelevant details surrounding individuals who happened to be in Metallica's circle of colleagues or friends is not what I bought this book for.
Wall also placed Cliff Burton on far too high a pedestal. Sure he was a crucial part of that band's early sound, but his replacement was just as good a player, and Newstead is mostly just glossed over.
Enter Sandman is written more like an album review, one with lots of quotes from Metallica's less successful contemporaries or influences.
I picked this up because I thought it would be a great exposé on a band that was pivotal in my pre-adolescent music development, but I was disappointed.
For die hard fans only.
Pages and pages of boring, seemingly irrelevant details surrounding individuals who happened to be in Metallica's circle of colleagues or friends is not what I bought this book for.
Wall also placed Cliff Burton on far too high a pedestal. Sure he was a crucial part of that band's early sound, but his replacement was just as good a player, and Newstead is mostly just glossed over.
Enter Sandman is written more like an album review, one with lots of quotes from Metallica's less successful contemporaries or influences.
I picked this up because I thought it would be a great exposé on a band that was pivotal in my pre-adolescent music development, but I was disappointed.
For die hard fans only.
May 31, 2020
It seems that this biography of Metallica is very similar to their discography. It starts really fast and interesting, let's say like the first three albums, then it changes a bit, not necessarily a bad change, let's say like 90s and then it finishes a bit like last three albums, let's say not as good as the first two parts of their career.
The book is interesting and you find out a lot about the band, but the author dwells a lot on some topics and goes briefly through some other topics. I guess he didn't find the right way to tell the story.
He mentioned the problematic relationship of the band and Jason, but I don't think he tried to tell Jason's point of view, maybe 2-3 quotes generally and that's it. And let's face it, it lasted 14 years!
Anyway, if you are a fan read it, but for a general reader I don't think it'd be a interesting reading.
The book is interesting and you find out a lot about the band, but the author dwells a lot on some topics and goes briefly through some other topics. I guess he didn't find the right way to tell the story.
He mentioned the problematic relationship of the band and Jason, but I don't think he tried to tell Jason's point of view, maybe 2-3 quotes generally and that's it. And let's face it, it lasted 14 years!
Anyway, if you are a fan read it, but for a general reader I don't think it'd be a interesting reading.
May 9, 2021
This book has some obvious bias coming from the writer but personally it doesn't ruin the book for me nor does it influence my opinion, and most of Mick's takes and opinions in the book aren't very groundbreaking either. This book does a very good job at explaining the story of how the band began and got big, but doesn't go into very much detail about anything post black album. Metallica is such a huge topic that you could write a book like this about every album they've released and go into great detail about everything that happened so it's a shame to see Mick's preference for their older material slightly get in the way of giving just as much attention to their later work. Nonetheless, Mick does an amazing job highlighting those early years and going into great detail about many topics. A must read for every Metallica fan.
December 19, 2024
This was cool being a life long Metallica fan. Mick walls writing does a great job making it feel more like a conversation than a book. Sadly, most of the stuff in this book I already knew( like I said being a life long Metallica fan). I wanted a more deep dive and this was a solid intro book. Perhaps me as the reader needs a more personalized book i.e. James , Kurt, Lars and of course Robert and Jason. This did make work and home during the holiday season feel more metal and less mirage Carey. Solid read. Would be a good
Gift for any Metallica fan on your list.
Gift for any Metallica fan on your list.
January 21, 2022
Raamat ilmus algselt aastal 2010, eestikeelse tõlke aluseks on 2012 aasta versioon, seega kajastabki Metallica tegemisi umbes sinna ajani.
See on mul vist teine muusikast/muusikutest rääkiv biograafia, mida olen elus lugenud. Queeni oma lugesin kunagi, aga rohkem mitte. No ühe venekeelse King Diamondist rääkiva ajakirja olen ka ema abiga läbi lugenud, see polnud täitsa mahukas biograafia, aga üsna tummine tükk küll. Aga muidu... ei, tume maa. Kuna aga toreda juhuse tõttu õnnestus see raamat saada, siis hea meelega lugesin, mida mu suure lapsepõlvelemmiku kohta kirjutatud on. Eks mu ja Metallica teed on mingis mõttes lahku läinud, tegutsenud on nad 41 aastat ning tükk aega tuli neilt mu silmis puhast kulda. Siis aga, aastal '91, ilmus album "Metallica", millega see seltskond võttis suuna, mis nii mõnedki varasemad fännid turjalt maha raputas, ka minu. Ega ma kuri või pahane ole, nende esimesed neli albumit keerlevad mu plaadimasinas ikka ja jälle. Valisid teise suuna (hiljem veel korduvalt) - noh, nii siis on.
Aga et siis raamat. Raamatu kulgedes sai järjest rohkem aru, et miks ma pole igasuguste kuulsate tegelaste biograafiaid lugenud - sest mind tegelikult ei huvita see, mis "kaadri taga" toimub. Ma lugesin selle raamat küll läbi, huviga. Tõesti, üldjoontes hästi kirjutatud, ning kui ma igasuguse ilukirjandusliku osa välja kraapisin vaimselt, siis ülejäänud oli ju stiilis "nojah-nohh, tore teada saada". Kui ma Queeni-raamatu lugesin vist kusagil sajandivahetuse-kandis, siis paistab, et paarikümne aasta tagant ongi mulle paras sedasorti kirjandust lugeda. Pole mu tassike latte't. Siin on parasjagu seebiooperit, palju joomist (Alcoholica), narkootikume, hullunud naissoost fännidega amelemist ja kõike muud, mida mingil põhjusel normaalseks peetakse selles kontekstis. Teatud piirini oli see kõik sotsioloogiliselt huvitav taust, mingist hetkest alates süvenesin vähem.
Kohati paistis mu silmis autorit liiga palju tekstist läbi. Eriti just peatükkide algused olid pühendatud sellele, kuidas Mick Wall jälle mõne Metallica liikmega sõpsi paneb. See pole üldsegi mitte paha, kui autor ka pändiliikmetega on hästi läbi saanud, aga see mõjus kuidagi kunstlikult ja punnitatult. Õnneks suurem osa teksti on pigem neutraalne, vahepeal küll kumab autori hinnangut muusikale liiga palju läbi.
Mõned vead jäid siin-seal silma, mis natuke tekitas tunde, et autor võib-olla pole alati oma ülesannete kõrgusel. Näiteks kui vahepeal viis jutu black metali radadele, siis rääkis ansambel Burzumi liikmetest ning eriti juhtfiguurist Varg Vikernesest. Burzum on ühemehebänd. Lisaks oli kohti, kus Wall andis laia labidaga absoluutseid hinnanguid muusika kohta, mis panid kohati kulme kergitama (vahel tekitas tahtmise kasutada tema jutu kohta sõna "möga"). Samas neid veidrusi väga palju ka polnud, ning selline lähiajalugu ongi parasjagu emotsionaalne kompott.
Raamatu lõpuosa oligi mu jaoks mingis mõttes huvitavam, ehk siis see, mis peale aastat 1991 toimus, kuna sellest ajast on Metallica mu jaoks üsna kadunud olnud. S&M, igasugused stiilimuutused, uuenev imago, Napster ja fännidele "ärapanemine", James Hetfieldi võõrutuskuur, Lulu jne - tuttavad detailid, nüüd sain rohkem teada, mis toimus. Samas jällegi, mis seal salata, ma jään ikka inimeseks, kes eelistab nautida muusikute loomingut. See, mida nad teevad eraelus või kuidas on loomeprotsess - ei ole mu jaoks oluline. Eks oli natuke kainestav teada saada, et kuidas käib selliste suurte ja kuulsate tegelaste puhul tootearendusprotsess, milline masinavärk taustal pöörleb. Jällegi, ei midagi uut - aga teinekord on hea seda endale meelde tuletada.
Seega lühidalt: normaalne raamat, ei kahetse lugemist, korralikult kirjutatud. Pole lihtsalt selline kirjandus, mis mu hingekeeli paitaks.
See on mul vist teine muusikast/muusikutest rääkiv biograafia, mida olen elus lugenud. Queeni oma lugesin kunagi, aga rohkem mitte. No ühe venekeelse King Diamondist rääkiva ajakirja olen ka ema abiga läbi lugenud, see polnud täitsa mahukas biograafia, aga üsna tummine tükk küll. Aga muidu... ei, tume maa. Kuna aga toreda juhuse tõttu õnnestus see raamat saada, siis hea meelega lugesin, mida mu suure lapsepõlvelemmiku kohta kirjutatud on. Eks mu ja Metallica teed on mingis mõttes lahku läinud, tegutsenud on nad 41 aastat ning tükk aega tuli neilt mu silmis puhast kulda. Siis aga, aastal '91, ilmus album "Metallica", millega see seltskond võttis suuna, mis nii mõnedki varasemad fännid turjalt maha raputas, ka minu. Ega ma kuri või pahane ole, nende esimesed neli albumit keerlevad mu plaadimasinas ikka ja jälle. Valisid teise suuna (hiljem veel korduvalt) - noh, nii siis on.
Aga et siis raamat. Raamatu kulgedes sai järjest rohkem aru, et miks ma pole igasuguste kuulsate tegelaste biograafiaid lugenud - sest mind tegelikult ei huvita see, mis "kaadri taga" toimub. Ma lugesin selle raamat küll läbi, huviga. Tõesti, üldjoontes hästi kirjutatud, ning kui ma igasuguse ilukirjandusliku osa välja kraapisin vaimselt, siis ülejäänud oli ju stiilis "nojah-nohh, tore teada saada". Kui ma Queeni-raamatu lugesin vist kusagil sajandivahetuse-kandis, siis paistab, et paarikümne aasta tagant ongi mulle paras sedasorti kirjandust lugeda. Pole mu tassike latte't. Siin on parasjagu seebiooperit, palju joomist (Alcoholica), narkootikume, hullunud naissoost fännidega amelemist ja kõike muud, mida mingil põhjusel normaalseks peetakse selles kontekstis. Teatud piirini oli see kõik sotsioloogiliselt huvitav taust, mingist hetkest alates süvenesin vähem.
Kohati paistis mu silmis autorit liiga palju tekstist läbi. Eriti just peatükkide algused olid pühendatud sellele, kuidas Mick Wall jälle mõne Metallica liikmega sõpsi paneb. See pole üldsegi mitte paha, kui autor ka pändiliikmetega on hästi läbi saanud, aga see mõjus kuidagi kunstlikult ja punnitatult. Õnneks suurem osa teksti on pigem neutraalne, vahepeal küll kumab autori hinnangut muusikale liiga palju läbi.
Mõned vead jäid siin-seal silma, mis natuke tekitas tunde, et autor võib-olla pole alati oma ülesannete kõrgusel. Näiteks kui vahepeal viis jutu black metali radadele, siis rääkis ansambel Burzumi liikmetest ning eriti juhtfiguurist Varg Vikernesest. Burzum on ühemehebänd. Lisaks oli kohti, kus Wall andis laia labidaga absoluutseid hinnanguid muusika kohta, mis panid kohati kulme kergitama (vahel tekitas tahtmise kasutada tema jutu kohta sõna "möga"). Samas neid veidrusi väga palju ka polnud, ning selline lähiajalugu ongi parasjagu emotsionaalne kompott.
Raamatu lõpuosa oligi mu jaoks mingis mõttes huvitavam, ehk siis see, mis peale aastat 1991 toimus, kuna sellest ajast on Metallica mu jaoks üsna kadunud olnud. S&M, igasugused stiilimuutused, uuenev imago, Napster ja fännidele "ärapanemine", James Hetfieldi võõrutuskuur, Lulu jne - tuttavad detailid, nüüd sain rohkem teada, mis toimus. Samas jällegi, mis seal salata, ma jään ikka inimeseks, kes eelistab nautida muusikute loomingut. See, mida nad teevad eraelus või kuidas on loomeprotsess - ei ole mu jaoks oluline. Eks oli natuke kainestav teada saada, et kuidas käib selliste suurte ja kuulsate tegelaste puhul tootearendusprotsess, milline masinavärk taustal pöörleb. Jällegi, ei midagi uut - aga teinekord on hea seda endale meelde tuletada.
Seega lühidalt: normaalne raamat, ei kahetse lugemist, korralikult kirjutatud. Pole lihtsalt selline kirjandus, mis mu hingekeeli paitaks.
November 7, 2019
Mick Wall on tuntud rokibiograafiate kirjutaja. Eriti hästi kukuvad tal välja tema ampluaasse kuuluvad, 70ndatel alustanud klassikalise rocki suurkujud - ilmselt selletõttu et ta tunneb materjali kõige paremini. Metallica läheb mitmes mõttes tema spektrist välja kuigi ta üritab seda varjata igatpidi. Mina aga olen Metallicat kuulanud järjepidevalt 1988. aastast, esimest korda kuulsin veelgi varem, umbes 1986, kui nende praeguseks juba krestomaatiliseks muutunud MOP album välja tuli. Seetõttu hakkas autori suhtumine umbes poolest raamatust kergelt närvidele käima. Metallica fänne on igasuguseid. On vanu, kes aktiivse muusikakuulamise-fännimise eas alustasid esimeste plaatidega ja kes hilisemaid enam väga kuulda ei taha (mina olen ka selline), on selliseid, kelle jaoks oli esimene M. plaat üldse kas "Load" või "Reload" või (hoidku jumal) "St. Angeri" nimeline õudus. Mick Wall on selline kellele ei meeldi isegi mitte esimesed 4 või 5 (5. plaat jagaski fännide suhtumise teravalt kaheks) vaid esimesed 3. Ehk siis tänapäeva mõistes ehedad, kergelt primitiivsed, noorte ja vihaste meeste tehtud vihane žanriloov muusika. Ega sellest polegi midagi aga herr Wall võtab raamatus kätte ja halvustab, teeb maha ja ironiseerib tarbetult M. kõige geniaalsema, AJFA albumi üle. See näitab, et ega ta suurt jaga, "And Justice for All'i" peetakse Metallica geniaalsusepuhangu vaieldamatuks tipuks, olgugi et sama legendaarne on selle plaadi võimatult haige miks ja ülikummaline saund.
Autor üritab ka vist enda tähtsust tõsta iga peatüki alguses olevate pildikestega, kus ei juhtu muud midagi kui et autor kirjeldab mingeid kohtumisi M. liikmetega - peamiselt küll enimvihatud tegelase, trummari Lars Ulrichiga. Ilmselt on nende olupildikeste eesmärgiks jätta mulje Metallicast kui vanadest semudest, olgugi, et isegi neist saab aru et Ulrich teda nüüd niiväga sõbraks ka ei pea, pigem tüütuks kuid vajalikuks kärbseks, ajakirjanik või plaadifirma pressiesindaja või keegi.
Raamatu lõpp mainib ämbrikolinat nimega "Lulu", see õudus ilmus 2011. aastal. Vahepeal on ilmunud veel üks album (2016.aastal) ja sooritatud hulk tuure, muuhulgas ka väisatud 2019. aastal taaskord Eestit. Ka nende kohta oleks huvitav lugeda kuid paraku tuleb selleks oodata uut biograafiat. Samas, ega midagi olulist enam ütlemata pole.
Tõsistele huvilistele julgeks soovitada hoopis mitte seda "poliitkorrektset" teost, vaid hoopis "autoriseerimata", see tähendab, bändi heakskiiduta kirjutatud fännide Paul Brannigani ja Ian Winwoodi kirjutatud "Birth School Metallica Death'i", mis sisaldab nii ausaid hinnanguid ja ilustamata ülevaadet, et bänd püüdis takistada selle ilmumist ning keelas oma töötajatele (Metallical on taga tegelikult päris suur masinavärk, Q Prime'i nimeline firma), sõpradele ja tuttavatele autoritega suhtlemise. Tõsi küll, see raamat on ainult inglise keeles ja vaevalt et seda kunagi eesti keelde tõlgitakse.
Autor üritab ka vist enda tähtsust tõsta iga peatüki alguses olevate pildikestega, kus ei juhtu muud midagi kui et autor kirjeldab mingeid kohtumisi M. liikmetega - peamiselt küll enimvihatud tegelase, trummari Lars Ulrichiga. Ilmselt on nende olupildikeste eesmärgiks jätta mulje Metallicast kui vanadest semudest, olgugi, et isegi neist saab aru et Ulrich teda nüüd niiväga sõbraks ka ei pea, pigem tüütuks kuid vajalikuks kärbseks, ajakirjanik või plaadifirma pressiesindaja või keegi.
Raamatu lõpp mainib ämbrikolinat nimega "Lulu", see õudus ilmus 2011. aastal. Vahepeal on ilmunud veel üks album (2016.aastal) ja sooritatud hulk tuure, muuhulgas ka väisatud 2019. aastal taaskord Eestit. Ka nende kohta oleks huvitav lugeda kuid paraku tuleb selleks oodata uut biograafiat. Samas, ega midagi olulist enam ütlemata pole.
Tõsistele huvilistele julgeks soovitada hoopis mitte seda "poliitkorrektset" teost, vaid hoopis "autoriseerimata", see tähendab, bändi heakskiiduta kirjutatud fännide Paul Brannigani ja Ian Winwoodi kirjutatud "Birth School Metallica Death'i", mis sisaldab nii ausaid hinnanguid ja ilustamata ülevaadet, et bänd püüdis takistada selle ilmumist ning keelas oma töötajatele (Metallical on taga tegelikult päris suur masinavärk, Q Prime'i nimeline firma), sõpradele ja tuttavatele autoritega suhtlemise. Tõsi küll, see raamat on ainult inglise keeles ja vaevalt et seda kunagi eesti keelde tõlgitakse.
June 20, 2019
I cried like four times reading this, mostly because I just couldn't handle them talking about Master of Puppets (for two of them), so I'm like, a little biased.
But on a book-standpoint rather than just a holy-fuck-I-love-Metallica standpoint, I did like how this guy wrote this book. I like how he set it up, how he would weave together the stories, the little italic parts in the beginning. I also liked how he didn't even try to be objective. He wasn't like, outright "I hate this album", but he would explain it in a way that you could tell, yeah, this guy hates Reload, but also he really really likes Kirk Hammett, because almost every time he's talking about an album, he makes it a point for at least one song to say "...and the song was saved by KIRK HAMMETT " and it's like my dude I am a Kirk girl myself, but your mancrush is showing.
But no, I really enjoyed this. Made me emotional. Lars's tenacity/entitlement/stubbornness?/whatever you call it never ceases to amaze me.
But on a book-standpoint rather than just a holy-fuck-I-love-Metallica standpoint, I did like how this guy wrote this book. I like how he set it up, how he would weave together the stories, the little italic parts in the beginning. I also liked how he didn't even try to be objective. He wasn't like, outright "I hate this album", but he would explain it in a way that you could tell, yeah, this guy hates Reload, but also he really really likes Kirk Hammett, because almost every time he's talking about an album, he makes it a point for at least one song to say "...and the song was saved by KIRK HAMMETT " and it's like my dude I am a Kirk girl myself, but your mancrush is showing.
But no, I really enjoyed this. Made me emotional. Lars's tenacity/entitlement/stubbornness?/whatever you call it never ceases to amaze me.
June 1, 2025
I think the first half of this book is fantastic and a great history of the early key figures in the Us Thrash / Metal scene. I’d give the second half of the book 3 stars but it was still interesting, just more focused on older men dealing with fame.
March 8, 2021
I didn't want to finish this book! :D At first it took some time to get going but at some point i found myself being really excited. It was hard to put the book down. Even at work i kept thinking about it. There were days where i didn't read this book at all but once i read it went fast.
Have always liked them. Now i love them. Such a great book. I felt so bad for Jason. They should have taken time to mourn Cliff. He was bigger influence on them than i thought. Sad and terrible accident.
At first i was kinda thrown off how much talk there was about other bands and i was so annoyed by Mustaine. But things got better. Lot of great information. LOT of names. And that's great.
When it came to Napster case i was def team Lars/Metallica. It was so understandable that he was pissed. They are so great to their fans who can be such an assholes. It was such a nice surprise when after the concert they stayed on stage for quite some time. Being chill and plain awesome. Absolutely loved that every place they performed there were specific shirts. Totally love my Met in Tartu (Estonia) shirt. So cool. Respect.
Have always liked them. Now i love them. Such a great book. I felt so bad for Jason. They should have taken time to mourn Cliff. He was bigger influence on them than i thought. Sad and terrible accident.
At first i was kinda thrown off how much talk there was about other bands and i was so annoyed by Mustaine. But things got better. Lot of great information. LOT of names. And that's great.
When it came to Napster case i was def team Lars/Metallica. It was so understandable that he was pissed. They are so great to their fans who can be such an assholes. It was such a nice surprise when after the concert they stayed on stage for quite some time. Being chill and plain awesome. Absolutely loved that every place they performed there were specific shirts. Totally love my Met in Tartu (Estonia) shirt. So cool. Respect.
December 29, 2011
What a great book! Let me say first that I am a huge fan of heavy metal. That being said, Metallica was one of my first favorites as a teenager and they have influenced so many other bands. I followed Metallica over the years as they got bigger and went through a series of changes. What surprised me is how many stories in this book were new to me. The book is written well and chronicles the early years to present. A lot of the focus (which I liked about this book) is on the earlier years. It covers the time when Dave Mustaine was on lead guitar (although I think the author does not like Mustaine very much). The book includes some great stories and captures the band with a "back-stage" mentality. This is a must-read for any fan of heavy metal. My only gripe with the book is how the author describes the Metallica release "And Justice for All". He downplays the album quite a bit with criticism - I happen to think that album is great. As fans, we can't all agree. Without a doubt, I give this book 5 stars!
November 13, 2013
Like for every legend it's easy to believe we know it all about Metallica. Yet, Mick Wall (a great writer, check out his other books!) manage to deliver here the unthinkable: tell Metallica's journey in a plethora of details even the fan I am had no clue about!
Complete, surprisingly for a friend of the band (he had Lars Ulrich staying at his home several times) the author is also without any complacency and, dare dealing head-on with the controversial issues of their career -from their relationship with the whole thrash metal scene to Napster, the 'Some Kind of Monster' documentary or, again, their unfair treatment of Jason Newsted. Indeed, touching, 'Enter Night' is also striking for its deeply human aspect as, the different personalities of each members explode in pages after pages -intriguing (James Hetfield) or striking (Lars Ulrich, Dave Mustaine, Cliff Burton -whose ghost haunts the book as he haunts the band since his tragic death in 1986).
Thorough, it's a must have for the fans.
Complete, surprisingly for a friend of the band (he had Lars Ulrich staying at his home several times) the author is also without any complacency and, dare dealing head-on with the controversial issues of their career -from their relationship with the whole thrash metal scene to Napster, the 'Some Kind of Monster' documentary or, again, their unfair treatment of Jason Newsted. Indeed, touching, 'Enter Night' is also striking for its deeply human aspect as, the different personalities of each members explode in pages after pages -intriguing (James Hetfield) or striking (Lars Ulrich, Dave Mustaine, Cliff Burton -whose ghost haunts the book as he haunts the band since his tragic death in 1986).
Thorough, it's a must have for the fans.
December 6, 2021
This book is only for serious Metallica fans. I do not think it would be interesting to anybody else. It goes through the bands career in exquisite details even the business and promotion deals. I thought the most interesting parts were the beginning through master of puppets , and the st anger/Napster era parts. I didn’t know that Lars was a terrible drummer and needed drum lessons , haha, but was really strong on the business side of things. It’s also interesting to see how lucky the band was , showed up at the right time and helped by the right people. Their music is great and my favorite band, but there are many bands who make great music that never make
It to the top because they didn’t have Lars who would make things happen .
It to the top because they didn’t have Lars who would make things happen .
February 13, 2021
Che viaggio, ragazzi. E quanto tempo che è passato. E' stato veramente bello ripercorrere tute le tappe che hanno portato un gruppo di ragazzi a costruire una delle più grandi ed importanti metal band della storia. Questa bellissima biografia, che comunque ha già qualche anno è veramente ben scritta e mi sento di consigliarla a chiunque conosca e voglia approfondire la storia di questo grande gruppo. Ma la consiglio anche a chi non conosce i Metallica e cerca il migliore approccio alla loro musica.
April 5, 2013
Interesting book. Realized two important facts: Master of Puppets might very well be one of the greatest albums ever recorded and I still listen to those first three albums regularly; I haven't bought or listened to a single new Metallica album since Metallica in 1991, which was also the last time I saw them live.
Mick Wall's take seems similar to my own impression: not very much good happening musically after Cliff.
June 2, 2015
Such a great biography.
January 14, 2026
I went into Enter Night expecting it to be great, and boy did author Mick Wall ever not disappoint. It might help that he has known the band very well since the height of their heyday, but the way Metallica's biography was written truly felt more honest than any other I've ever read, despite the fact that Wall wrote this knowing that it's about close colleagues that would eventually see it.
Obviously, it runs chronologically, starting with Lars Ulrich and his move to the U.S. without getting too detailed about all of our characters, slowly introducing each one as they would encounter each other with back-stories inserted organically. This applied to everyone as prolific as James and Lars themselves, the backbone, to producers like Rick Rubin or ex founding members Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney. Every single era of the band's existence was touched on with the perfect amount of detail, from the pre-Kill 'Em All "No Life Til Leather" days up through Death Magnetic, as the book was written a few years after its release (it also touched on the Guitar Hero Metallica at the end, a neat touch, as that jettisoned my new-found love of the band and genre as a whole). Not shying away from the in-betweeners, the stories around the likes of Garage Days Re-Revisited, the live albums in the '90s, and the Some Kind Of Monster documentary, Wall added even more human elements, especially with the ridiculousness of the Napster situation around 2000.
And that's what makes Enter Night so incredible, how human it feels, as if honesty wasn't enough. For one, every, and I mean *every* band member gets served some helping around problematic behaviors or destructive incidents; not just the ex-members, not just Dave Mustaine, but James Hetfield too. The only one he may have been soft on was Cliff Burton, however I chalk that up to the fact that his legacy ended so early, and his role during the early days of the band had such a level of sophistication and leadership that it was hard to fault him for too much.
Speaking of which, the role of Cliff was handled beautifully, even better than anticipated. Rather than putting him into this holier-than-thou (pun intended) god-like status, he was simply given the credit he deserved as someone who was super influential in leading the band as a slightly older member and one with a drastically different musical background. The rumors that weird metalheads like to run with about how the band wouldn't have "changed" had he lived are dispelled, and in fact, Wall asserts that Cliff could have just as easily egged it on further. Moreover, Jason Newsted's position is outlined more than I expected, and frankly, I have a newfound soft spot for him. To put it lightly, the rest of the band were total assholes to him up until his leaving, which the author addresses near the end, a symptom of them never truly dealing with the loss of Cliff Burton. This gave me a perspective I never would have thought up.
And perhaps most importantly, Enter Night talks of the music so objectively, and the detail put into the inspirations and explanation of just about every single song up through 2008 was probably my favorite part. Never was Wall afraid of shitting on an album (but always in a professional way). Hell, I even expected him to go light on Death Magnetic as it was the band's "return to form" album, but even here he showed no hesitation of discussing how every song was far too long, and some too ambitious. He definitely holds Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets, and Metallica (black album) on a pedestal higher than all else, but everything short of St. Anger and ReLoad get at least some level of praise, be it a lot or a little. My literal *only* complaint is how much he ripped into ...And Justice For All, a record I see as a perfect masterpiece, bass or no bass; but that's my subjective opinion.
Enter Night is everything a band biography should be. Personal details about their lives, but not too much; praise for their achievements, but not treated like gods; pacing that feels even, but doesn't give every year the same amount of detail; everything stays relevant. When I read these books, I read them not because I want to read a story of "great man" worship, but a story of rockstars that, at the core, I can relate to. Themes around James Hetfield being a nervous, pimply-faced kid who didn't gain any stage confidence until well after Ride The Lightning in 1985, tales of Kirk Hammett being an awkward comic book nerd, or Lars being a smelly European immigrant that couldn't find any fellow metalheads; it creates a story about humans who transcended something unexpected through art, and I can say this is one of the best music-related books I've ever read.
Obviously, it runs chronologically, starting with Lars Ulrich and his move to the U.S. without getting too detailed about all of our characters, slowly introducing each one as they would encounter each other with back-stories inserted organically. This applied to everyone as prolific as James and Lars themselves, the backbone, to producers like Rick Rubin or ex founding members Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney. Every single era of the band's existence was touched on with the perfect amount of detail, from the pre-Kill 'Em All "No Life Til Leather" days up through Death Magnetic, as the book was written a few years after its release (it also touched on the Guitar Hero Metallica at the end, a neat touch, as that jettisoned my new-found love of the band and genre as a whole). Not shying away from the in-betweeners, the stories around the likes of Garage Days Re-Revisited, the live albums in the '90s, and the Some Kind Of Monster documentary, Wall added even more human elements, especially with the ridiculousness of the Napster situation around 2000.
And that's what makes Enter Night so incredible, how human it feels, as if honesty wasn't enough. For one, every, and I mean *every* band member gets served some helping around problematic behaviors or destructive incidents; not just the ex-members, not just Dave Mustaine, but James Hetfield too. The only one he may have been soft on was Cliff Burton, however I chalk that up to the fact that his legacy ended so early, and his role during the early days of the band had such a level of sophistication and leadership that it was hard to fault him for too much.
Speaking of which, the role of Cliff was handled beautifully, even better than anticipated. Rather than putting him into this holier-than-thou (pun intended) god-like status, he was simply given the credit he deserved as someone who was super influential in leading the band as a slightly older member and one with a drastically different musical background. The rumors that weird metalheads like to run with about how the band wouldn't have "changed" had he lived are dispelled, and in fact, Wall asserts that Cliff could have just as easily egged it on further. Moreover, Jason Newsted's position is outlined more than I expected, and frankly, I have a newfound soft spot for him. To put it lightly, the rest of the band were total assholes to him up until his leaving, which the author addresses near the end, a symptom of them never truly dealing with the loss of Cliff Burton. This gave me a perspective I never would have thought up.
And perhaps most importantly, Enter Night talks of the music so objectively, and the detail put into the inspirations and explanation of just about every single song up through 2008 was probably my favorite part. Never was Wall afraid of shitting on an album (but always in a professional way). Hell, I even expected him to go light on Death Magnetic as it was the band's "return to form" album, but even here he showed no hesitation of discussing how every song was far too long, and some too ambitious. He definitely holds Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets, and Metallica (black album) on a pedestal higher than all else, but everything short of St. Anger and ReLoad get at least some level of praise, be it a lot or a little. My literal *only* complaint is how much he ripped into ...And Justice For All, a record I see as a perfect masterpiece, bass or no bass; but that's my subjective opinion.
Enter Night is everything a band biography should be. Personal details about their lives, but not too much; praise for their achievements, but not treated like gods; pacing that feels even, but doesn't give every year the same amount of detail; everything stays relevant. When I read these books, I read them not because I want to read a story of "great man" worship, but a story of rockstars that, at the core, I can relate to. Themes around James Hetfield being a nervous, pimply-faced kid who didn't gain any stage confidence until well after Ride The Lightning in 1985, tales of Kirk Hammett being an awkward comic book nerd, or Lars being a smelly European immigrant that couldn't find any fellow metalheads; it creates a story about humans who transcended something unexpected through art, and I can say this is one of the best music-related books I've ever read.
December 25, 2022
Oh lord. I didn’t intend for this review to be so long, but the subject of this book is something I’m extremely enthusiastic about. Please bear with me a second…
I’ve had this biography lying around in my room for a while — nearly 4 years by this point. Metallica is my all-time favourite band, but this book was quite a letdown. As I spent most of my latter teenage years totally obsessed with James and co., absorbing all of the information there was to find about them and even seeing them live in concert, I certainly wasn’t expecting to have my mind blown by anything in here. But neither was I prepared for a choppy, turgid mess that will unquestionably alienate both longtime fans and those less familiar with metal’s biggest band.
I have no doubts that Mick Wall is an experienced music journalist, and has a considerable amount of inside knowledge about Metallica, although this fact actually turns out to be somewhat of a hindrance. However detailed his knowledge of the industry may be, the excessive diatribes about the ins-and-outs of record deals will be daunting to the vast majority of readers. This is not an accessible introduction to Metallica like Dave Mustaine’s autobiography is to Megadeth, nor is it particularly fan-friendly. There’s a small glimmer of hope in Mick’s personal accounts at the beginning of chapters, and a prologue which sets the scene fantastically, but as a whole, the book is needlessly drawn-out, especially regarding the pace in which the chronology of the band is told.
It takes around half of this mighty tome’s entire length to conclude rattling off about Metallica’s formation and first three albums — which reflects a span of 5 years. To put it in perspective, Metallica had been together for 29 years at the time of its publication. While there needs to be some background information about the band and its influences as not to leave readers completely baffled, the rather exhaustive amount of detail in the first half feels jarring compared to the much faster pace of the second. There is a clear amount of bias towards Metallica’s earlier material in the narrative, which, while not inherently a bad thing, leads the reading experience to feel very tedious.
Despite my many problems with this book, it did do a good job of outlining the James’ and Lars’ respective stories and motivations, as well as how they came to form the band. Had it been more concise and/or cohesive, I’m convinced Enter Night could easily have been a four or five-star read. There’s certainly potential here, but it’s not executed nearly as well as I would have hoped.
Regarding the inevitable issue of a biography published in 2010 being out of date, it’s about time we get an biography about Metallica — especially now that their new album, 72 Seasons, is due to release in April next year.
I’ve had this biography lying around in my room for a while — nearly 4 years by this point. Metallica is my all-time favourite band, but this book was quite a letdown. As I spent most of my latter teenage years totally obsessed with James and co., absorbing all of the information there was to find about them and even seeing them live in concert, I certainly wasn’t expecting to have my mind blown by anything in here. But neither was I prepared for a choppy, turgid mess that will unquestionably alienate both longtime fans and those less familiar with metal’s biggest band.
I have no doubts that Mick Wall is an experienced music journalist, and has a considerable amount of inside knowledge about Metallica, although this fact actually turns out to be somewhat of a hindrance. However detailed his knowledge of the industry may be, the excessive diatribes about the ins-and-outs of record deals will be daunting to the vast majority of readers. This is not an accessible introduction to Metallica like Dave Mustaine’s autobiography is to Megadeth, nor is it particularly fan-friendly. There’s a small glimmer of hope in Mick’s personal accounts at the beginning of chapters, and a prologue which sets the scene fantastically, but as a whole, the book is needlessly drawn-out, especially regarding the pace in which the chronology of the band is told.
It takes around half of this mighty tome’s entire length to conclude rattling off about Metallica’s formation and first three albums — which reflects a span of 5 years. To put it in perspective, Metallica had been together for 29 years at the time of its publication. While there needs to be some background information about the band and its influences as not to leave readers completely baffled, the rather exhaustive amount of detail in the first half feels jarring compared to the much faster pace of the second. There is a clear amount of bias towards Metallica’s earlier material in the narrative, which, while not inherently a bad thing, leads the reading experience to feel very tedious.
Despite my many problems with this book, it did do a good job of outlining the James’ and Lars’ respective stories and motivations, as well as how they came to form the band. Had it been more concise and/or cohesive, I’m convinced Enter Night could easily have been a four or five-star read. There’s certainly potential here, but it’s not executed nearly as well as I would have hoped.
Regarding the inevitable issue of a biography published in 2010 being out of date, it’s about time we get an biography about Metallica — especially now that their new album, 72 Seasons, is due to release in April next year.
December 31, 2022
This book has been sitting on my shelf for nearly ten years now and I finally got round to reading it, at a second attempt I might add. I admire Mick Wall as a writer, a lot of journalists don’t make great authors but it’s not the first book I’ve read by him. His hard hitting style of understanding his material and unbiased perspective are brought to bear through these pages.
A lot goes on behind the scenes of probably the biggest selling Metal band in the world: the seventh biggest selling band in the U.S. alone. That’s only half the story.
Determined by an insatiable appetite and desire for fame, Lars who couldn’t play drums in the beginning and in my opinion is not the best rock/metal drummer out there but that’s another story. After watching Some Kind Of Monster, the documentary which looks at the band at a critical juncture in their careers and their creativity. I rate Lars very little as a musician and now I rate him even less as a human being. Throughout this book his personality and diminutive stature warrants a Napoleon style tricorn hat. I wonder what the band would have been like without James Hetfield because once they lost Cliff Burton, Metallica lost one of their most creative influences and musicians. His influences of different genres of music had an impact on the group. For me musically,they never reached the dizzy heights of Master Of Puppets. It is still my favourite Metallica album and although originally disdained by certain critics and sections of the media it has become one of the greatest Metal albums of all time. Any poll or Google will have it listed as the best Metallica album ever and it often appears in the top 10 of Greatest Metal Albums of all time polls official and unofficial.
I recently listened to St. Anger and originally I wasn’t sure about it. The drums for me were a big turn off but through the years a couple of the songs have actually grown on me but the general consensus is from not only the book but in general is Bob Rock outstayed his welcome as producer. Albums before this such as Load and Reload are proof of this.
Unfortunately when Cliff Burton was replaced after his tragic death, albeit he was replaced too soon and no matter how talented the new bassist was he was never going to have a chance in writing songs etc, hence the fractious relationship between Lars and Jason Newsted who unfortunately was given the derogatory nickname Jason Newkid. He never had a chance and how he lasted for so long in the group is a mystery. He also wanted to do solo work which the other members weren’t happy about.
If you’re a lifelong Metallica fan you may actually enjoy this but it’s very revealing and you might disagree with some of the stuff but the author has at least 40 plus pages of sources and notes. In other words, a well researched book.
I have seen Metallica on many occasions and I will probably see them again but I still think that if Danny Carey from Tool or Dave Grohl played drums for them they’d be a much tighter outfit. I mean who hasn’t Dave Grohl played drums for?
A lot goes on behind the scenes of probably the biggest selling Metal band in the world: the seventh biggest selling band in the U.S. alone. That’s only half the story.
Determined by an insatiable appetite and desire for fame, Lars who couldn’t play drums in the beginning and in my opinion is not the best rock/metal drummer out there but that’s another story. After watching Some Kind Of Monster, the documentary which looks at the band at a critical juncture in their careers and their creativity. I rate Lars very little as a musician and now I rate him even less as a human being. Throughout this book his personality and diminutive stature warrants a Napoleon style tricorn hat. I wonder what the band would have been like without James Hetfield because once they lost Cliff Burton, Metallica lost one of their most creative influences and musicians. His influences of different genres of music had an impact on the group. For me musically,they never reached the dizzy heights of Master Of Puppets. It is still my favourite Metallica album and although originally disdained by certain critics and sections of the media it has become one of the greatest Metal albums of all time. Any poll or Google will have it listed as the best Metallica album ever and it often appears in the top 10 of Greatest Metal Albums of all time polls official and unofficial.
I recently listened to St. Anger and originally I wasn’t sure about it. The drums for me were a big turn off but through the years a couple of the songs have actually grown on me but the general consensus is from not only the book but in general is Bob Rock outstayed his welcome as producer. Albums before this such as Load and Reload are proof of this.
Unfortunately when Cliff Burton was replaced after his tragic death, albeit he was replaced too soon and no matter how talented the new bassist was he was never going to have a chance in writing songs etc, hence the fractious relationship between Lars and Jason Newsted who unfortunately was given the derogatory nickname Jason Newkid. He never had a chance and how he lasted for so long in the group is a mystery. He also wanted to do solo work which the other members weren’t happy about.
If you’re a lifelong Metallica fan you may actually enjoy this but it’s very revealing and you might disagree with some of the stuff but the author has at least 40 plus pages of sources and notes. In other words, a well researched book.
I have seen Metallica on many occasions and I will probably see them again but I still think that if Danny Carey from Tool or Dave Grohl played drums for them they’d be a much tighter outfit. I mean who hasn’t Dave Grohl played drums for?
November 11, 2019
Metallica.
Zespół obrośnięty legendą, od lat pod ostrzałem piór i obiektywów. A oni dalej potrafią skopać tyłki i to jest MOC.
Nie jestem pod wielkim wrażeniem książki Wall'a. Nie do końca podzielam jego opinię na temat zespołu, płyt czy konkretnych utworów. Oczywiście doceniam pracę, którą włożył w napisanie tej biografii, dlatego ocenia jest tak wysoka, ale pewne rzeczy są dla mnie niewybaczalne. To dlatego "Enter Night" długo była pierwszą i jedyną biografią Metalliki, z którą się zapoznałam. Dlaczego jedyną? Przecież uwielbiam Metallikę. Przyczyna jest prosta - mam uczulenie na... gadanie głupot. Biografia była dla mnie znośna do momentu, w którym dotrzemy do "Load", a później zaczyna się standardowo: jak oni mogli ściąć włosy, pomalować oczy, nagrać takie płyty, S&M to gówno, sprzedali się.
Pieprzyć to! Zrobili co chcieli i tyle. Jakby każdy artysta oglądał się wyłącznie na oczekiwania fanów, to nie byłby artystą tylko rzemieślnikiem. Wielcy panowie dziennikarze muzyczni dowalają się do wszystkiego siedząc przed swoimi komputerami, a ja chodzę na koncerty, na których nadal czuję to, co mnie do Metalliki przyciągnęło. A na S&M2 mam już bilety. I będę się dobrze bawić.
Metallica to nie tylko marka i wcale nie trzeba było "Some Kind of Monster", żeby zobaczyć tam zwykłych, może momentami zagubionych, ludzi.
"To zabawne - mówi David Ellefson - bo przy Some Kind of Monster ludzie mówią 'O, a oni mieli terapeutę'. A ja na to: a dajcie wy im, kurwa, spokój! [W Megadeth] mieliśmy ze czterech terapeutów! - śmieje się. Ja tam, kurwa, byłem, przechodziłem przez to, żyłem jak w tym filmie. Właściwie w tej jednej rzeczy dojebaliśmy Metallice. Dojebaliśmy im w terapiach grupowych!
Mówi Alexander Milas: Pamiętam, że gdy pierwszy raz go zobaczyłem, zrobiło się naprawdę emocjonalnie. Metallica w tym czasie stała się pinatą, dla mnie jako dziennikarza, ale też dla fanów, to zawsze była kwestia: ach, wszystko było dużo lepiej przed Black Album, wtedy się skończyło - wraz z Cliffem".
Z wiekiem coraz mniej mnie obchodzi takie pierdolenie, a zdanie tych malkontentów konsekwentnie mam w dupie. Płaczą jak Mustaine, że go wypieprzyli z Metalliki. Co by było gdyby. A kogo to, kurwa, obchodzi?
[WYBACZCIE nagromadzenie wulgaryzmów, ale to wina czytania tych wszystkich wywiadów]
\m/\m/
6/10
Zespół obrośnięty legendą, od lat pod ostrzałem piór i obiektywów. A oni dalej potrafią skopać tyłki i to jest MOC.
Nie jestem pod wielkim wrażeniem książki Wall'a. Nie do końca podzielam jego opinię na temat zespołu, płyt czy konkretnych utworów. Oczywiście doceniam pracę, którą włożył w napisanie tej biografii, dlatego ocenia jest tak wysoka, ale pewne rzeczy są dla mnie niewybaczalne. To dlatego "Enter Night" długo była pierwszą i jedyną biografią Metalliki, z którą się zapoznałam. Dlaczego jedyną? Przecież uwielbiam Metallikę. Przyczyna jest prosta - mam uczulenie na... gadanie głupot. Biografia była dla mnie znośna do momentu, w którym dotrzemy do "Load", a później zaczyna się standardowo: jak oni mogli ściąć włosy, pomalować oczy, nagrać takie płyty, S&M to gówno, sprzedali się.
Pieprzyć to! Zrobili co chcieli i tyle. Jakby każdy artysta oglądał się wyłącznie na oczekiwania fanów, to nie byłby artystą tylko rzemieślnikiem. Wielcy panowie dziennikarze muzyczni dowalają się do wszystkiego siedząc przed swoimi komputerami, a ja chodzę na koncerty, na których nadal czuję to, co mnie do Metalliki przyciągnęło. A na S&M2 mam już bilety. I będę się dobrze bawić.
Metallica to nie tylko marka i wcale nie trzeba było "Some Kind of Monster", żeby zobaczyć tam zwykłych, może momentami zagubionych, ludzi.
"To zabawne - mówi David Ellefson - bo przy Some Kind of Monster ludzie mówią 'O, a oni mieli terapeutę'. A ja na to: a dajcie wy im, kurwa, spokój! [W Megadeth] mieliśmy ze czterech terapeutów! - śmieje się. Ja tam, kurwa, byłem, przechodziłem przez to, żyłem jak w tym filmie. Właściwie w tej jednej rzeczy dojebaliśmy Metallice. Dojebaliśmy im w terapiach grupowych!
Mówi Alexander Milas: Pamiętam, że gdy pierwszy raz go zobaczyłem, zrobiło się naprawdę emocjonalnie. Metallica w tym czasie stała się pinatą, dla mnie jako dziennikarza, ale też dla fanów, to zawsze była kwestia: ach, wszystko było dużo lepiej przed Black Album, wtedy się skończyło - wraz z Cliffem".
Z wiekiem coraz mniej mnie obchodzi takie pierdolenie, a zdanie tych malkontentów konsekwentnie mam w dupie. Płaczą jak Mustaine, że go wypieprzyli z Metalliki. Co by było gdyby. A kogo to, kurwa, obchodzi?
[WYBACZCIE nagromadzenie wulgaryzmów, ale to wina czytania tych wszystkich wywiadów]
\m/\m/
6/10
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