Search - Tribute to Metallica :: String Quart Tribute to Metallica

Pointless

Geoffrey Holtby | Thunder Bay, ON, Canada | 07/17/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Why would anyone buy this when you could pick up an Apocalyptica album instead? Rather than this half-assed cash-in attempt with no imagination or passion behind it, check out Apocalyptica's "Plays Metallica By Four Cellos" or "Inquisition Symphony". They do much better string versions of Metallica songs."

Say your prayers little one... yeah, pray your ears don't s

Extatique Chaos | Virginia, USA | 01/02/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"After receiving and listing to the "Say your prayers little one: The String Quartet Tribute to Metallica" I found I was rather disappointed in the "tribute" album.



Enter Sandman: The opening is weak... and as forceful as Metallica opens it, it seems like a simple lullaby when played by the Quartet. The notes are wrong, not as punctuated at they could be with clean cut offs and too much dragging out of the strings with the vibrato effect. I expected more thunderous bass lines and didn't appreciate the creative changes made to the song. The Freddy Kruger-like voice reciting the prayer is too over the top, and the changing of that prayer took away some of the poetic beauty of the original song.



Ride the Lightening: The wolf howl heard at the beginning of the song should have never happened. Tragically played... again, choosing to alter the notes rather than stick to the original composure of the song leaves one thinking "What in the hell was that?" Less dragging out of notes on this one... and it's less painful that hearing Enter Sandman. Some of the Quartet's changes from the original version are quite suiting to this song.



One: Not too bad on the ears... but the tempo was just a tad too fast for my liking. This song, when played on classical instruments should not be sped up. To me, the sound of One being played at a slower speed is much more useful, and enables the pain and heartfelt-ness of the original song shine through. It has it's high points, but they are few and far between.



Master of Puppets: The opening is rather nice... until they really get going. I'm noticing a pattern by this point of these guys changing the notes in the songs for reason I can't understand. Cheesy sound effects through out drag this down terribly and make this great song sound rather bad. Don't hate it completely, but I'm not loving it either.



Unforgiven: This is the only song I really like up to this point. The opening is lovely, with a single bell tolling as a lone violin starts up... the entire opening is lovely actually. I was impressed, and the changing of the notes played is suitable for the violin in this number. Great and impressive to the end, this movement, moved me.



Wherever I May Roam: After all that moving from Unforgiven I had picked up some momentum and I came to a dead halt when this one came on. The drum like noise opening this made me cringe, and the constant throbbing of the bass confused my now bleeding ears. They're fast when they should be slow, and slow when they should be fast. Again, more creative note changing in this one.



Through the Never: More stupid sound effects... maybe it's a whistle? Or a garbage truck backing up? Not sure, but that needs to go. Maybe it's just me, but it didn't sound too much like Through the Never to me. This should never have happened. At. All. They shouldn't have even thought about it. Whoever said "Hey, let's cover this one!" Should be slapped stupider than he/she already is.



And Justice for All: Eh.... I don't even listen to it. I tolerate Metallica's version because it's them. But I won't sit through this one. You'll have to find out for yourself.



Hero of the Day: A diamond in the rough. Not too much note changing... and no lame ass sound effects. Pretty moving and surprising, though the ending leaves so much to be desired it's retarded.



Fade to Black: SLOW THE F*CK DOWN! This song is not meant to be played at the speed of light. Again, another good song that would usually sound beautiful on classical instruments is mangled in the need to make it faster. However, it's a nice cover minus the playing at the speed of death metal at times. Sheesh.



Nothing Else Matters: Okay, these guys have serious issues with tempo. Perhaps they don't know what it is? Go back and read what I said about Fade to Black and you have this song.



All and all, I would pass this album by if I actually had to buy it. But if you're like me, and must have any and everything Metallica, then by all means, buy it. I'd advise you didn't get too excited about it though.



If you want good covers of this in the classical type genre, I'd recommend you get Apocalyptica's Inquisition Symphony. Though it only has the Metallica covers for For Whom the Bell Tolls, One, Fade to Black, and Nothing Else Matters, it has a few original works, as well as covers of Sepultura, Faith No More, and Pantera. Much easier on the ears and mind... as well as doing justice to Metallica's greatness."