Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica

by Iron Horse

Overview

After bluegrass Pink Floyd, bluegrass metal was the obvious next step, although the dark hues of Metallica seem an unlikely choice. But here they are, ten Metallica songs done in bluegrass fashion -- or at least as bluegrass as it's possible for Metallica songs to be. There are plenty of innate differences in the styles that make a fusion difficult -- the concept of melody being one. This album pinpoints the fact that in their original versions, these songs contain precious little melody, especially in the vocals, and here they have to work hard to extract that and create harmonies behind the tenor lead -- indeed, the piece that seems most open is "Fuel." The playing, of course, is superb, with mandolin player Tony Robertson turning in some stunning solos on "Nothing Else Matters" and "Wherever I May Roam" and Vance Henry offering some shimmering guitar on "Fuel." Part of the problem is that while perhaps three of these songs are generally well-known, coming from that brief period when Metallica was a general big deal, most of the material will be familiar only to those who've heard several Metallica albums. And though bluegrass has its share of dark lyrics, they're generally not as nihilistic or apocalyptic as anything in this metal field. A lot of thought has gone into the arrangements here, and there's a definite irony in the fact that the disc contains no drums -- the instrument of Metallica's leader. Interesting, with some fabulous playing, but you can't help feeling that the talent could be put to better use on some other project. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/14/2003
Label:	Cmh Records
UPC:	0027297840126
Rank:	67846

Tracks

1. Unforgiven  - Kirk Hammett  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
2. Nothing Else Matters  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
3. Enter Sandman  - Kirk Hammett  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
4. Hero of the Day  - Kirk Hammett  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
5. Fade to Black  - Cliff Burton  - Kirk Hammett  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
6. One  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
7. Ride the Lightning  - Cliff Burton  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Dave Mustaine  - Lars Ulrich
8. Wherever I May Roam  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
9. Fuel  - Kirk Hammett  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Lars Ulrich
10. The Four Horsemen  - James Hetfield  -  Iron Horse  - Dave Mustaine  - Lars Ulrich

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Iron Horse   Primary Artist
Tony Robertson   Vocals,Mandolin,Tenor (Vocal)
Vincent Henry   Guitar,Vocals,Tenor (Vocal),Guitar (Rhythm)

Technical Credits

Dennis Clifton   Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer
Dave Mustaine   Composer
Steve Reilly   Photography
Tony Robertson   Group Member
David Naerle   Executive Producer
Kevin Morehouse   Executive Producer
Aretha Sills   A&R,Executive Producer
Lee Leftridge   Project Coordinator
Joel Spielman   Project Coordinator
Adam Byrne   Graphic Design
Steve Baccus   Producer
Iron Horse   Producer
Kirk Hammett   Composer
Col. Jim Silvers   A&R
Lars Ulrich   Composer
James Hetfield   Composer
Cliff Burton   Composer
Vincent Henry   Group Member