Dear Metallica...
I was in Best Buy earlier. In the music section, combing through CD's, entertaining the idea of picking up something new (or something old.)
As I went slowly, section by section, I came across your albums, old and new. I gazed upon the old albums, near and dear to me, the ones that meant so much: Kill 'Em All, and Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets and And Justice For All...
...and I want you to know, for a moment, I sat there, really, really tempted. Tempted to pick up the albums that used to mean so much, the ones I loved, to give all those old songs a spin again and reconnect.
...and then the old wounds welled up. The memory of that fateful night, sitting in the family room of my parent's home. We were all gathered around, my brother and I, and some friends of ours. Sitting in front of the television with MTV on, waiting for the world premier of 'Enter Sandman' from the new album that was soon to be released.
I remember clearly watching the video, all of us listening, and trying to get into it, wanting to like it, but in the end, just sitting there in a sense of dull confusion. And then and there it became clear the way that the winds would be blowing for the new Metallica.
I recalled that night clearly, as I stood there in Best Buy, and I put the CD's back, the muted heat of anger still throbbing. I thought if I really wanted to spit my contempt in your direction, I could just torrent your albums instead, but alas, my anger was still greater than even that.
No... In that moment, I came to a realization that after 19 years...
I still have not forgiven you.
As I went slowly, section by section, I came across your albums, old and new. I gazed upon the old albums, near and dear to me, the ones that meant so much: Kill 'Em All, and Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets and And Justice For All...
...and I want you to know, for a moment, I sat there, really, really tempted. Tempted to pick up the albums that used to mean so much, the ones I loved, to give all those old songs a spin again and reconnect.
...and then the old wounds welled up. The memory of that fateful night, sitting in the family room of my parent's home. We were all gathered around, my brother and I, and some friends of ours. Sitting in front of the television with MTV on, waiting for the world premier of 'Enter Sandman' from the new album that was soon to be released.
I remember clearly watching the video, all of us listening, and trying to get into it, wanting to like it, but in the end, just sitting there in a sense of dull confusion. And then and there it became clear the way that the winds would be blowing for the new Metallica.
I recalled that night clearly, as I stood there in Best Buy, and I put the CD's back, the muted heat of anger still throbbing. I thought if I really wanted to spit my contempt in your direction, I could just torrent your albums instead, but alas, my anger was still greater than even that.
No... In that moment, I came to a realization that after 19 years...
I still have not forgiven you.