OK, I ll have to admit: Even though I consider myself to be one of the biggest Metallica fans in the world, I believe this is not their best album.

But still, does this disc deserve all the criticism that it received? Hell no. First, let's look at the actual content of these critics:

1. Crappy sound. True, the disc has a "garage", brunt and ugly sound to it, and the drum snares are... well, you will hear. But coming from the same people that complained about Metallica selling out to the masses on Load and Reload, with its softer songs and cleaner sound....this is unacceptable. Lars Ulrich in 99 had said that their next album would have an 'ugly' sound. This is not an overproduced mix of a rock star line up, this is a dark, almost "filthy" raw sound. No sell out band would chose to record this way.

2. "Nu Metal" attempt, Metallica trying to sound "current". This is a pathetic criticism. The only remotely Nu Metal element of this disc is the lack of guitar solos, which has been well documented. On the contrary, this is a more agressive disc not only than all nu metal albums I have ever heard, but also more than all Metallica albums since Kill Em All.

So, here is what I like with this disc:
It is an incredibly violent album. For a band 20 years into existence and which has been labelled as a sell out act for 15 years, this is remarkable.
Songs like Frantic, St Anger and the magnificent All Within My Hands provide the listener with a unique, unpure form of agression.
Coming after Load & Reload, this artistic approach is remarkable and deserves praise for the attempt alone. Given Metallica's "classical sounding" approach to thrash metal, it is also refreshing to hear.
This approach takes Metallica music to a place where it had never been before. You may not like this CD, but never before had Metallica sounded like this, and no one could have guessed it would sound like this. I view St Anger as yet another example of the band's attempt to "take chances" and innovate artistically speaking. Bands like Slayer, who have been rehashing the same album for over 20 years, could never do that. These bands in my opinion are the "sell out" ones, playing it on the safe side, like a company afraid to change a product that works. I guess Slayer resembles a soft drink company in that perspective (I admit I am being a bit provocative here).

I will admit not everything is perfect. Some songs have not stood the test of time as Tier 1 Metallica songs (Invisible Kid, Purified, My World). More importantly, the album was recorded extensively using Pro Tools, and the computerized end product can sound monotoneous when played from beginning to end.

But this particular flaw is corrected by the free rehearsal DVD that comes with the CD. We see here the 4 Horsemen playing those songs live, with Trujillo, and I think the body of work sounds even better than on the album.

In conclusion, I will say that St Anger is "Some Kind of Monster". Despite of its flaws, it is a unique, fascinating body of work. Not for Metallica first timers, but a great disc nonetheless.

PS I will not comment here on the movie SKOM, nor the turmoil that took place around the time of recording. Too many people review the album based on the movie. IMHO I tried to review the album based... on how the album sounds like.
PS2 I would have put 4 stars based on my views of the band's other albums but I wanted to compensate for the bunch of retards who gave this only 1 star.

What if a top metal band decided to explore their punk roots? With a new bassist right out of punk/metal hell, and three veterans who've been there and done that, St. Anger is thrash/metal heaven. Take away the obligatory guitar-hero solos, and what's left? Tight, bone-crunching beats, ingenious arrangements, and lyrics full of angst, malice and malaise. This is a punk/metal crossover masterpiece, born just a little too slow. If you ever thought punk, or metal, might have some tiny merit, GET THIS NOW! Wasted on these snotty kids of today...the title cut alone is worth the price, and it doesn't stop there. I have seen the light!
Otherwise, go listen to some one-hit wonder who's hip today and gone tomorrow. These guys have PAID THEIR DUES. Ignore this album at your own risk. If anyone in the band reads this, God bless each and every one of you. YOU CAN'T STOP THE ROCK!!!
P.S. The DVD is too cool for the MTV generation...documenting the bands practice sessions...punk rock lives!

This is what you'd call an "epic album". Who cares for Ride The Lightning or Master Of Puppets? St. Anger is better than all of Metallica's albums combined. The impressive, crazy drumming in odd time signatures, the face-melting bass, thought-provoking lyrics and deep lyrical themes make this album a true winner. Who can't give this album five stars? Anything lower and I'll accuse you of blasphemy! I'm madly in anger with you! I'm madly in anger with you!

Exceptional bands have there own style and creativity which they are known for. That's why they are exceptional. Metallica clearly has these qualities. Death Magnetic clearly has these qualities. St. Anger clearly does not have these qualities.

For people who defend this album, be rest assured you absolutely would of never heard of the band Metallica if there CD's were low-quality, misguided attempts at rock music such as St. Anger. No question. Metallica would be another generic heavy rock band that didn't make it. And no one would care.

Fortunately, there are people who appreciate exceptional music. That is why a large amount of Metallica/music fans are so upset by the lack of any quality control on this record.

The CD just sounds horrible. It's painful to listen to. There's plenty of potential on the album, but it is lost in the myriad of poor musical decisions, and/or lack of musical direction. St. Anger sounds exactly like a chaotic, disorganized, jam session recorded in a garage.

The sound quality on St. Anger is atrocious. Atrocious. It was PURPOSELY decided to not use quality production. Hard rock & metal CD's are typically highly produced. This is for a reason. Everyone playing loud and doing there own thing = noise pollution. On top of this, the songs with potential are extended and dragged out so long it makes them impotent.

Furthermore, the vocals are inconsistent, whiny, and forced. The drums are so horrendous that the album would be drastically improved by completely removing the percussion. They actually sound like a young child learning how to play drums. The guitar work is all over the place; the problem is that it's constantly happens within the same song. Also, there's a complete lack of solos which could have added some depth and cohesion to the music.

The experiment flopped.

St. Anger might not be one of the best albums but there is some good rythym although the solos have to be there. The drums also need to be a bit louder. St. Anger, Frantic, Purify, are the best tracks!