Feb 09, 2005 02:50 AM
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(Updated Feb 09, 2005 03:39 PM)
An abundance of accolades have already been showered on Metallica and the Black Album has been hailed as the greatest metal album ever. I am quietly going to concur with each and every one of those statements and bow with reverence.
With Jaymz'penetrating vocals, the best drummer and the second best guitarist of the world in their ensemble, Metallica is certainly a monumental band and true to their nomenclature in every sense of the word. Just as it is in science and religion, the purpose of art lies in the quest for that elusive quality - Beauty.
Through the undeniable power of the metal, their music strikes a harmony with the soul, stoking the flame and soothing the spirit, all at the same time. Amidst the chaotic sounds of most other metal bands, Metallica's music explodes with a powerful tranquility consuming everything in its way.
But I am surprised to see that only a few have recognized the significance of ''The Unforgiven II''(Reload - 1997) and its place as the most important milestone in the journey of Metallica, the artist. This song is an aggregation of all their previous works both in form and content. No other Metallica song exposes the artist or spawns from their cores as much as this one does. The first time I listened to it, it was like an epiphany unwinding inside me followed by a sense of infinite peace. I immediately knew that I had just listened to Metallica's Starry Night.
Unforgivenfrom the Black Album serves as the foundation on which this monument is built. A powerful ballad in spirit, it introduces the tormented soul of a Man who goes through life denied and devoid of self-expression. After a lifelong futile battle with himself, instead of blaming the world, he merely declares it unforgiven. All that you perceive is the shadow of an unexpressed sorrow and six years later, with The Unforgiven II, the artist had developed enough courage and clarity to expose himself.
The Unforgiven II is as universal as it is personal. It tells the story of the same man who finally finds a beacon of light amidst the darkness that He lives in only to find out that She too is just another illusion. There is a fine line between pleasure and pain and there is a finer line separating trust and betrayal. You cannot appreciate the depth of one without experiencing the intensity of the other. And this song hits you in a spot at home where you have never been before.
The Unforgiven II is more unmasked in its lyrics, more powerful in delivery, more intricate in composition, harder on the riffs and heavier on the snare and yet the umbilical cord is subtly pervasive throughout the song. It is the verses that are harsh in the first one while it is the chorus in the second. The lyrics are partially derived from Unforgiven but only to add more meaning and definition to them. Even the guitar chords are extended to sound differently familiar. The song fervently builds up to a crescendo but quietly signs off with a note tying up the two songs. And everything is executed the Metallica way - unadulteratedly metal.
The video for this song is nothing short of spectacular either. Literal to the undiscerning and biblical to the astute, the images from the video further heighten the intensity of the inner-battle that the song portrays. Masterful musicianship, heart-wrenching lyrics, devouring delivery and a consummate artistry make this song the best ballad in my opinion. I could write a large essay about every moment in this song but I will leave the joy of discovery to you.
P.S: Broadband users, the music video is available at launch.yahoo.com.
