“In either very late 2007 or early 2008, Metallica will be releasing their long awaited ninth studio album. While many metal heads are eagerly anticipating this release, there are also just as many who are somewhat concerned by its impending outcomes based upon the band’s recent history. This is a history that is perceived by many as a band losing sight of both their roots and their fan base.

During the 1980’s, Metallica had firmly established themselves as one of the major pioneers of the thrash metal scene - a movement that brought creativity in the realm of heavy metal to a new level; a movement that pushed metal to get heavier. They pushed this solidarity forward along with other bands such as Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Testament, and Overkill.

At first, though, it was not an easy establishment to push. The 1980’s heavy metal scene was dominated by the early beginnings of hair metal: bands like Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, and W.A.S.P. were stomping their popularity among the masses, and this legacy would be followed through by bands like RATT, Poison, and Bon Jovi during the later part of the decade.

Metallica and the thrash scene, on the other hand, was clearly more of an underground attitude and feel. They were truly the alternative metal of the era: the music that metal heads were looking for once they tired of the hair metal evolution. The thrash scene was a breath of fresh air…”

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