Metallica - Six Feet DownUnder Part 2

Wed 9th Feb, 2011 in Music Reviews

To help celebrate the return of the world’s biggest metal band, Metallica, to the shores of Australia this past September/October, the group have released a couple of records that compile a number of live tracks from Australian and New Zealand tours. Six Feet Down Under exists in two parts, part one, which was released before the tour, contained live songs taken from past tours ranging from 1989 – 2004. This second half consists of eight songs taken from various states on the latest 2010 tour.

The tracks chosen span the Metallica catalogue, but only focus on the major states, with places like Adelaide and Perth missing out on being immortalised on record. Metallica opened the floor up to their loyal fanclub, asking them to pick the songs that would make the playlist, to be sure that people would be happy with the results. The sound quality is much better than the first instalment, which was taken from fan bootlegs and clearly not recorded with our flashy 2010 technology, and the band sound tight and energetic all the way through.

The opening track, Blackened, was recorded in Brisbane, from which the recordings of Master Of Puppets and …And Justice For All, were also taken. The highlight, thanks to the amazing guitar work of Kirk Hammett, is the version of Ride The Lightning, from the Auckland show. Also included is Welcome Home (Sanitarium) recorded in Melbourne and Fade To Black, from Sydney. Interestingly, there are no songs from the band’s latest record, Death Magnetic, and the EP ends on Damage, Inc, taken from the Christchurch show.

If you happened to be present at any of the above shows then this EP is a great little souvenir and collectors item, if you weren’t there, it’s not that much different to any other Metallica live release, just shorter.