Interview With a Drummer

Noah Reimer

RIDE THE LIGHTNING

Ok, so i decided to review an iconic thrash metal album, Ride the Lightning by Metallica!

Band lineup at the time

James Hetfield -Rhythm guitar and vocals

Kirk Hammet-Lead Guitar

Cliff Burton-Bass  

Lars Ulrich-Drums

The album starts off with song titled Fight Fire With Fire. It has what basically becomes the classic album starter for the band: a slow melodic clean guitar riff that suddenly gets replaced with a hard hitting thrash riff that sends your head banging! The song is a great start to the album and sets the mood for what is to come.

RIDE THE LIGHTNING comes instantly with surprising force. The song talks about the criminal justice system and outlines ideas of the death penalty and the electric chair. The song ends with the same intro riff and leaves you wanting more....

For Whom The Bell Tolls is and will probably always be one of the standby Metallica songs. (screw Enter Sandman) It is based off of the Ernest Hemingway novel and explores ideas of modern war. It is probably the most recognized song from the album, but I don't think its the strongest.

Fade To Black  starts with an acoustic riff that gets played over by a beautiful Kirk Hammet solo. The song slowly increases in speed and heaviness throughout. The lyrics outline a man contemplating life and truly wondering if its worth it to move on. Though it is somewhat a power ballad, it will still get you rocking quite hard... believe me.

Trapped Under Ice is song that gets the album back into its thrashier state. It speaks of a person who is in a helpless cryonic state and can only await the doom that will surely come. The song features many rolling drum fills by Lars and is possibly my favorite song 'drum wise' on the album.

Escape is a song that has a bad name with some people but others absolutely love it. Some people say that James was pushed to write a more 'commercial' type metal song, and Escape was the creation. Many reports state that James himself doesn't even like the song. Though James might have a bad look on the song along with many other metal heads that probably do, I, on the other hand have no problem with it. It feels like it fits right in, and if i wouldn't have ever found out the history behind it, i never wouldve guessed anything along those lines. If any song is going to be criticized because of 'commercial success,' go talk about For Whom The Bell Tolls, but whatever.

Creeping Death is equipped with heavy riffs throughout. It is arguably one of the best 'headbanger' Metallica songs ever. The song is completely biblical and talks mainly about the Plague of the Death of the Firstborn. The song refers throughout about the 'Creeping Death' being the force that roves through the land killing firstborn man. It continues to speak about biblical passages by saying "Blood! Lambs blood painted door, I shall pass." A very strong song.

Call of the Ktulu is the instrumental ender. It is an epic song that has clean, dirty, thrashy and heavy riffs throughout. Though it has no lyrics, it feels like the song takes you on a journey like no other.

So after listening to this album I can honestly say there isn't one song that i don't like, there are are a few that i favor more than others, but it is definitely a metal masterpiece.

If you like Metallica, this album is truly a must have.


5 out of 5 stars.

Being a Bathroom Bystander

                Observing WC Millers main floor boys’ bathroom during the fourth period proved what I thought to be true wrong.

 It turns out the bathroom gets used for exactly what it’s supposed to be used for. Most trips by the young gentleman were only about 3 minutes long, and from my observations, it seems like they all made their way back to their classes.

Both days of observations proved that there are regular goers of the fourth period time slot, and that there is always the odd newcomer, but most guys got in and got out in record times.

                The only stragglers that got caught up and had a ten minute bathroom break were currently on a spare class.

                It seems that teachers shouldn't have any worry when their students politely ask for a quick trip to the lavatories. Instead, they should let the boys go with freedom.

                The only major bathroom detour is the odd time when the lady janitor goes in for a quick clean and the young men must choose to head upstairs or downstairs.

                I had always thought that the bathroom was a quick way to skip out on class for a bit and do nothing, I have now learned otherwise.

Bowling

 Actions, Expressions and Emotions.

 Bowling proved to be an interesting topic for photography.

And at the end of the night, they posed on a car that is owned by someone we don't know.

writing

Its funny how lots of writing can get better after time. Whether its song lyrics that become more powerful, or a book that has a meaning that you couldnt see the first time through. Im writing this because I had set a certain piece of writing aside for a long time and came back to it. I found weak and strong areas. I revised a little bit and found that writing often needs a little time to 'ferment' and mix together, so that when you come back to it, you can see a whole new world of possibilities.

currently....

...at work. its 15 degrees celcius on this nice thursday. Having a good time. Almost done my shift. When i get home I will eat and watch That 70's Show. Yes yes. That is all.


 Have a good one

for the metal fans out there

If you like thrash, technical and heavy metal..... Listen to Tourniquet. They are a band that is quite often overlooked or not even heard of. But its unfair, they have just as much skill and hard hitting riffs as all the big metal bands. (their drummer is also phenomenal) They also have an amazing acoustic album titled 'Acoustic Archives.' Some songs to start off with would be: Sola Christus, Acid Head, Pecking Order, Ark of Suffering, Tears of Korah, Melting the Golden Calf, Where Moth and Rust Destroy, Caixa de Raiva, Erratic Palpitations of the Human Spirit, Crank the Knife, and Crawl to China.
After you have familiarized yourself with some of the songs above you will have no problem picking out your favorites and finding albums that best suit your taste in metal.

Happy Listening