Metallica released the Some Kind of Monster EP on July 13, 2004, the same week that a film of the same name opened in limited release, touting it as a “soundtrack” to the “band in therapy” project. The EP itself is OK, nothing special, though fans of the “old days” likely enjoyed hearing material like “Damage, Inc.” and “Ride the Lightning” from the first three albums recorded live from Le Bataclan in Paris during the St. Anger tour.
While it’s not an essential item, the Some Kind of Monster EP was good, it was fun, and it was relatively cheap. Still, there was really no need to go running out to get it – other than a badly needed remix of the title track.
At this point, Metallica had taken quite a beating due mostly to the rough, loud, abrasive mix their music was being given. I’m not ashamed to admit I actually liked St. Anger. I think most of the bashing the band has taken is more due to a backlash from the the fans, a sort of revenge for the whole Napster deal they had wanted to exact upon Metallica but couldn’t find a real, tangible outlet for.
When St. Anger didn’t sound like what they wanted – another Black Album or another Master of Puppets – fans and non-fans alike found an easy target. I saw the same kinds of reaction when Load and Re-Load came out, and those two albums are now looked upon with much less venom now: Time lessens the pain.
It’s obvious Metallica heard the complaints about their sound. Even as I admit that I liked St. Anger, I also must still admit that the production is flawed: Too loud, too harsh, too grating. The band took the Some Kind of Monster EP as an opportunity to correct at least one track, “Some Kind Of Monster” – and the results make for a much more pleasant listening experience.
Tamed is Lars’ tin-kettle snare, smoothed and softened and pushed a little into the background, and the rough edges of the other instruments have been smoothed as well. The result is a much more professional mix: This is the way St. Anger should have sounded.
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