MelvinsArmy wrote:Lowgear wrote:...Until after 1991

No doubt. If they had split up before the 90s hit, they would have gone down in history as something special. I still love 80s Metallica, but anymore when I hear their name I cringe a bit.
While I can absolutely see where you’re coming from, I have to respectfully disagree. Me and a few of my friends argue over this on occasion.
I’ll admit they may have lost some of their edge starting in the 90’s, but it’s still great music. Hard, but melodic at the same time which isn’t easy to do over and over again. I know a lot of people bashed their St. Anger album, but I loved it! 8 minute songs with long guitar solos and hard hitting tight bass. And Death Magnetic!! Oh man, they really came with that one. My only beef with it was that it was so over-engineered. It’s like they tried to funnel it. No deep lows or high highs. Other than that it was killer old school Metallica. I’ve read different things. One theory was that it was due to the influx of headphone use with mp3 players, but good headphones like Bose, Shure or Beats have all the range you need from even their earbuds. I wish they’d release a re-master of it.
Not to take anything away from Dio. I loved Sabbath with him and with Ozzy.