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| so let it be written, so let it be done... |
Usually there's one awesome riff in a song that brings out my inner caveman and makes me want to blog about it from the mountaintops. "Creeping Death," has two! Yes, the first Crunch Time riff comes in at the 0:20 second mark. This main riff is pretty much the heart of song and sets the galloping pace that has gotten heads banging and fists pumping (pre Jersey Shore) for decades! Just hearing this part conjures images of invading nomads swooping down on unsuspecting villages atop demonic horses, armed with fiery swords. Why? Because it's just that awesome.
The 2nd riff comes in after the guitar solo at the 3:38 mark. This is Kirk Hammet's riff he recycled from his days with Exodus and their song, "Die By His Hand." No biggie though, Kirk wrote the riff and just transplanted it into a better song. Still, they kept the lyrics almost exactly the same, tweaking the original phrase into, "...die by my hand." Either way, the playing of this riff makes me stop in place and spontaneously chant "DIE. DIE!" at the top of my lungs.
riff #1- 0:20 riff #2- 3:38
Another thing I love about this jam is, the lyrics. Metallica got the idea for this song while watching a scene from The Ten Commandments and bassist Cliff Burton (R.I.P.) described the plagues against the Pharaoh as being, "...like creeping death." I totally picture the young dudes in the picture above drunk off their asses and having a total Keanu/Matrix moment.
So there it is. Everything about this song rules. Fantasical/sci-fi lyrics, some of Kirk's finest guitar soloing, these two Crunch Time riffs, and when played live, the INSANE crowd participation during the breakdown. I've already shared my favorite clip of Metallica performing "Creeping Death"
live in my original Metallica/Jason Newsted rant last year (it's from their Wood Stock 99' performance if you're curious). So here's my 2nd favorite live version, from their 1993 concert in Mexico City.
I know Cliff basically named the song, and Rob is a damn fine player and renewed the band's energy...but this video reminds me why I miss Jason Newsted =/
"Metallica. The biggest metal band on the planet. They're so huge they can cut off their hair, sue their own fans and suck for the better part of thirteen years and STILL play sold out stadiums around the world."
ReplyDeleteDamn, that's so true man. I find Metallica hit or miss and do like them sometimes but you're definitely right with that one.
Yeah some of their stuff I like and some I don't, and hahaha yeah they can do whatever and people just keep coming back for more.
ReplyDeleteThere's no denying how good 'tallica were but they have ben surpassed by their descendants. The standard of drummers in metal these days is so high that Lars Ulrich cannot compete.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like today's metal, but Metallica is a good group
ReplyDeletemy lord and saviors
ReplyDeleteI'll take any excuse to randomly listen to (good) Metallica. I was pretty pissed when I couldn't hear the first link. I'm hearing the live one right now, but this calls for me turning Ride the Lightening on right after it's done.
ReplyDeleteyeah good band
ReplyDeletehandsdown baby!
ReplyDeleteSo Metallica has sucked for the better part of 13 years? Well, I have sucked for over 30. Ha! Take that Metallica!!
ReplyDeleteNice write up :)
ReplyDeleteI've never been a fan.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy reading your posts, I just have nothing nice to say about Metallica, I'm still under the belief that the only good thing to come from Metallica is Megadeth,so I'm just gonna shush. Have a decent Monday though MR! :)
ReplyDeleteI have never really been a HUGE fan of Metallica, but I have been a huge fan of their hair. lol.
ReplyDeleteTheir song "One" is so old, and yet I love it. I keep watching the video over and over again and again. Metallica is just so awesome.
ReplyDeleteI like some Metallica songs. But I just don't like them as people, especially Lars.
ReplyDelete