just listened to blackened, it stands out a bit, maybe that's just because i've heared that song so many times.
it's good and bad, would be great if someone did it properly.
it's like the bass is too clean, know what I mean?
I do know what you mean and I agree. The bass is too clean and sometimes the bass stands out a bit. A lot of the time the bass is just right and fits in perfect.
Metallica should mix it properly, but until that happens, I will be listening to this guys mix. I am really enjoying hearing the bass on this album.
The other week I went and saw a Metallica cover band play down at a local pub and they were fucking awesome. We're talking "Live Shit" qualerty and far better than what the real band are capable of pulling off today.
To cut a long story short while they were playing a couple of Justice songs the Bassist dropped his connection to the amps and nobody even noticed!
That's the idea with thrash...
The bass never plays a significant role in a thrash metal band. Metallica's Kill em All, RTL, MOP, Justice, all the early stuff, mind you sees Cliff and Jason playing subtle versions of James' rhythm parts. Sure, there's some exceptions, certain instrumentals etc. But the same applies for bands like Slayer, Testament, Exodus, Megadeth, Sepultura.
However these days, the bass guitar does play are larger emphasis in most metal outfits, prticulary bands that cross between the metal and hard rock genre
But time to actually listen to this mix...
I think it's well beyond over for Metallica. You know they're completely down the shitter when stuff from Load and Reload sound like metal classics compared to the new shit.
IMO, once cliff died, they lost "something". He was a phenominal bassist, and his loss is still being felt now.
I honestly believe all great bands need a great bassist, or more importantly, all great bands that i can think of have had a great bassist!