Right off the bat I confess to residing on the more jaded side of the fence in regards to Metallica’s chequered career. Much of their material post-Black album has left me underwhelmed, frustrated or just indifferent. Personal qualms aside, the ego-driven juggernaut just keeps on trucking, and to their credit they obviously still enjoy their day jobs and entertaining their legions of diehard followers. Through the Never is a two-disc live album and audio accompaniment to their latest ambitious project – a 3D film and surreal heavy metal adventure featuring a young roadie named Trip. Splicing a fantasy tale with spectacular live cuts sounds like an interesting concept that I’m curious to check out, but until then this live album is a pretty satisfying, albeit slightly predictable substitute.
Apparently the stage set-up, visuals, multi-angled camera work and explosive pyrotechnics embellishing these live performances were highly sophisticated and an absolute feast for the eyes, so naturally, translated to disc, the visual aspect and much of the atmosphere of attending the show has been diminished. However, on the plus side Metallica deliver a typically polished live performance, powering through a career spanning set, with just a couple of surprises from the usual fare. Captured over five different shows in Canada during August of 2012, Through the Never represents a solid example of Metallica’s professionalism and live chops in the modern era, and frankly it’s one of the more interesting releases from the band in recent memory.
The recording is crisp and balanced with just enough cracks in their sound, coupled with snippets of crowd noise and minimal in-between song banter, to give the apt ‘feel’ of a live album. A couple of glitches here and there keep things honest and actually adds a bit of character to the album. Of course in the live arena Metallica are a much more refined bunch these days, so while the band play with loads of energy and the performances are top notch, the raw spirit and recklessness of their youth naturally isn’t what it used to be. This is particularly evident during some of their earlier tunes.
Nevertheless, James Hetfield and co are in fine form as they punch-out a strong selection of songs covering each of their studio albums, bar Load and the deplorable St Anger. Thankfully they give plenty of attention to their 80’s thrash days, ripping through tight renditions of numerous classic tunes, such as ‘Master of Puppets’, ‘Battery’, ‘Creeping Death’, ‘One’, ‘Hit the Lights’ and a somewhat patchy version of ‘Ride the Lightning’. Later-era cuts like Death Magnetic’s ‘Cyanide’ and Reload’s ‘Fuel’ and ‘The Memory Remains’ actually translate quite well in the live setting, while the Black album material, especially ‘Nothing Else Matters’, sounds positively inspired.
But the real treat is when Metallica dust off the epic title track from 1988’s …And Justice For All in all its masterfully structured 9-minute glory. Classic instrumental ‘Orion’ fittingly rounds out the album, played with typical style and precision in what is surely one of metal’s most endearing instrumental songs. Through the Never shows that at least on a live front, Metallica can still deliver the goods.
7.5/10
Reviewer: Luke Saunders