Synopses & Reviews
Into the Black begins on the eve of the release of Metallica's massive breakthrough with the eponymous LP that became known as "The Black Album." Suddenly, at the dawn of the '90s, Metallica was no longer the biggest thrash metal band in the worldandmdash;they were the biggest
rock band in the world, period.
But with such enormous success came new challenges, as Metallica ran the risk of alienating their original fan base. They were beset by controversy over musical stylistic shifts, supposed concessions to the mainstream, even their choice of haircuts.
During this transformative era, journalists Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood had unprecedented access to Metallica. They accompanied the band on tour and joined them in the studio, getting exhilarating eyewitness views into the belly of the beast. Together they amassed over 75 hours of interview material, much of it never in print before now.
Through changes both musical and personal, Metallica struggled to maintain their identity and remain a viable creative force. A ferocious battle with the file-sharing company Napster saw the quartet attract the worst PR of their career. Meanwhile, communication breakdowns between James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Jason Newsted (who would leave the band in 2001) led to fierce internal arguments, as laid bare in the controversial documentary Some Kind of Monster.
At the end of the century, Metallica had appeared to be a band teetering on the brink of self-destruction, but through setbacks and struggles they endured and thrived. From Load, Reload, and Garage, Inc. to the stunning return to form in Death Magnetic and the massive tours that accompanied themandmdash;including the real story behind the Big Four showsandmdash;Into the Black takes readers inside the heart of Metallica and concludes the saga of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Review
New York Post, 11/5/14and#147;Spills everything including the bad-boy days and bad haircuts.and#8221;
Alibi.com, 11/6/14
and#147;A readable, engaging biography.and#8221;
Synopsis
The second volume of Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwoods biography of Metallica, detailing the latter half of their extraordinary, decades-long career
Synopsis
The final chapter of Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwoods indepth coverage of Metallica details the latter half of the bands extraordinary,decadeslong career.
The second volume of Metallicas definitive biography opens as the band breaks through to mainstream with its fifth album, Metallica (The Black Album”), topping the Billboard charts and its hit single Enter Sandman” dominating the airwaves. By 1993, after a twoyear tour, Metallica had become the biggest hard rock band in the world. Success naturally brought new challenges, and the band ran the risk of alienating its original fans. It was beset by controversy over stylistic shifts, concessions to the mainstream, its stance on file sharing (in Metallica v. Napster), even the band members haircut decisions. By the end of the century, they were a band teetering on the brink of selfdestruction. A stunning return to form awaited, however. Brilliantly chronicled by top UK music writers Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood, this is a masterful conclusion to an epic rock tome.
Synopsis
The definitive story of Metallica, chronicling the transformative and tumultuous years following "The Black Album" through Death Magnetic and beyond...
About the Author
Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood are two of the world's foremost music writers. A contributor to Rolling Stone, Classic Rock, and Metal Hammer magazines, Brannigan is the author of the acclaimed This Is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl, while Winwood has written for Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Mojo, Kerrang!, and the BBC. Together, they authored the predecessor to this volume, Birth School Metallica Death: The Inside Story of Metallica (1981-1991). Both authors reside in London.