In 1999, Metallica released S&M. At the time, combining an orchestra with a metal band had certainly been done, but never this successfully. S&M was a multi-platinum release that made it to number two on the Billboard 200 chart and won a Grammy.
In September of 2019, Metallica once again joined forces with the San Francisco Symphony for two shows, which became S&M2. Itβs available in numerous formats including digital, CD, DVD, Blu-ray and vinyl. The concert film is a new edit different than the theatrical version. The DVD/Blu-ray also includes a behind the scenes documentary of the show.
Putting together shows of this magnitude must be staggeringly complicated. Deciding which songs to play, coming up with the orchestral arrangements, rehearsing and playing live with a nearly 80 piece orchestra is a daunting task. Thatβs why is not too surprising that more than half the songs on S&M2 were also performed on S&M, though the arrangements are not identical.
In the 20 years since S&M Metallica have released three studio albums: St. Anger, Death Magnetic and Hardwired…To Self Destruct. There is material from all three albums on S&M2. βMoth Into Flame,β βConfusionβ and βHalo On Fireβ from Hardwired work really well in symphonic form, as does Death Magneticβs βThe Unforgiven IIIβ and βAll Within My Handsβ from St. Anger.
Metallica share the spotlight with the orchestra even more this time around. Like S&M, S&M2 opens with the instrumentals βThe Ecstasy Of Goldβ and βThe Call Of Ktulu.β Thereβs also a moving rendition of β(Anesthesia) Pulling Teethβ from Kill βEm All, with the Symphonyβs Scott Pingel playing Cliff Burtonβs parts on upright bass.
The orchestra solos on Sergei Prokofievβs βScythian Suite, Opus 20: The Enemy God And The Dance Of The Dark Spirits,β bringing Metallica on board for the instrumental βThe Iron Foundry, Opus 19β by Russian composer Alexander Mosolov.
The band concludes the nearly 2 Β½ hour show with a murdererβs row of hits, wrapping up with βWherever I May Roam,β βOne,β βMaster Of Puppets,β βNothing Else Mattersβ and βEnter Sandman.β The setlist was masterfully constructed, flowing smoothly between mellower numbers, instrumentals and uptempo songs.
Blending Metallica songs with classical arrangements shows the versatility of the compositions and augments them without changing the DNA of the originals. Thatβs the synergy between classical and metal, whose power is on full display on S&M2. Hopefully Metallica will still be around in 20 years for S&M3.
(released August 28, 2020 on Blackened Records)
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Watch Metallica & San Francisco Symphony – “Moth Into Flame” Video