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4.3
Average of 10 reviews
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Wow, this album is absolutely amazing! I gotta say, I've been a huge Metallica fan for pretty much my whole life, so when they dropped the first S&M, I'll be honest, I wasn't feeling it and skipped it when it first hit the shelves. I'm all about classical music, but the idea of Metallica with a symphony? Not my cup of tea. I still haven't given the first S&M a listen. But then I was at my local record store, saw this one, and thought, 'Eh, why not? They've done two of these now, time to give it a shot.' Holy crap, it's f***ing brilliant!!! I'm not comparing it to anything else, just saying, the quality of this release and Metallica's performance is off the charts. Everyone's performances are top-notch, no question. I don't agree with some folks about the mixing and the sound of the guitars and vocals...It's a whole different beast to mix something as massive as Metallica plus a full symphony, there are gonna be some compromises to make it all work together...I personally think this release was mixed really well, it's not all clinical and sterile, but it captures the vibe of the venue, the crowd, and the performance. And the vinyl pressing is surprisingly good for being marbled and colored, hardly any surface noise, quiet passages. Metallica forever, man!
The code on the spine should be BLCKND043-1, not BLCKND043-1C. Make sure to fix this.
The audio quality is quite nice, though I'd still pick the 45 rpm S&M boxset over this one. It's got solid bass and decent dynamics, but nothing too extraordinary. It's a neat collectible, and I managed to snag it for a good price. That said, I wouldn't exactly rush to shell out $130 for it myself.
The packaging for this unique event release is absolutely delightful. THAT SAID, the audio mix is dreadfully squashed and devoid of any real punch. Metallica and the symphony just blend into one big mush of noise, which, frankly, a band as rich as Metallica should've managed to mix better. There are tons of "not as wealthy" symphonic metal bands out there that put out fantastic, well-mixed albums that are an absolute joy to listen to. It's baffling why big names like Metallica can't seem to nail it.
Does S&M 2 outshine the original? I'd say they're on par, or perhaps simply...unique. While the first was innovative and exciting, the second feels more refined with time. It's incredible how Metallica still sounds so incredible after all these years...I'd even say Ulrich's drumming is stronger now than before. The production and recording quality are outstanding, and the sound of my copy is fantastic. Highly recommend it!
| Date | Lowest price | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2025 | $69.98 | $69.98 |
| May 28, 2025 | $69.98 | $69.98 |
| Jun 28, 2025 | $69.98 | $69.98 |
| Jul 31, 2025 | $69.98 | $71.23 |
| Aug 30, 2025 | $69.98 | $72.98 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | $69.98 | $73.73 |
| Oct 31, 2025 | $69.98 | $73.73 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | $69.98 | $73.73 |
| Dec 31, 2025 | $69.98 | $74.99 |
| Jan 31, 2026 | $69.98 | $74.99 |
| Feb 28, 2026 | $69.98 | $74.99 |
| Mar 26, 2026 | $69.98 | $74.99 |