Metallica: The Early Years and the Rise of Metal by Neil Daniels

Independent Music Press 2012 www.impbook.com

Oh no not another book on Metallica I hear you groan but this one has two things going its favour – it concentrates on the early years and as it is unauthorised has some honest interviews with fellow writers who covered the band in their early years like ‘Kerrang!’s’ Xavier Russell and Bernard Doe of ‘ the much missed Metal Forces magazine’.

The book takes a chronological look at the band and their first four albums – ‘Kill ‘Em All…’, ‘Ride the Lightning’, ‘Master of Puppets’ and ‘…And Justice for All’. There are reviews of each album by Neil Daniels plus a few other reviews from the times. As the band were not involved there views are taken from older interviews and show how the band is driven by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield (who I found out through this book was naturally shy and not keen on being the vocalist!).

As far as influences on the Metallica sound Diamond Head are one of the biggest and fellow NWOBHM bands, some of whom Metallica have covered down the years. It is the little nuggets of information you pick-up about the band that make this an interesting read, although it may have been good to add interviews with bands influenced by Metallica or fellow thrash metal titans like Megadeth and Anthrax.

The book has some interesting photos of memorabilia dotted throughout it and a selected timeline/discography. The band’s post 1989 career is covered briefly along with a retrospective tribute to American thrash bands (no Flotsam & Jetsam though?).

A good read recommended for fans of the band, new and old (although maybe not so many new fans after the abomination that was the ‘Lulu’ album!).

Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)

To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account

Tweets by Get Ready to ROCK!