Metallica's 1991 classic Black Album is inescapable in terms of both its songs and its influence. The record has sold nearly 17 million copies in the United States alone, and is one of the best-selling albums in the Nielsen SoundScan era (so 1991 and beyond). One of the very many ears the album has touched over the years is Mastodon guitarist and vocalist Bill Kelliher, who expressed his love for it in a recent interview with Guitar World. Kelliher also called the "Sad But True" riff "perfect," adding that it's also a blast to play.
"The thing about The Black Album is that there are so many fucking awesome riffs on it. When I first heard it, I was a bit, not disappointed, but because of the cleaner singing I was kinda like, 'Whatever!" But later I went back to listen to it and was like, 'Holy fuck!' That record is so good. It's an absolute crusher. I could name any song or any riff as a defining moment.
"The 'Sad But True' riff is perfect, for example. I actually learned it on guitar pretty recently because it sounds so simple yet sounds so big with the palm muting. It's a real chugga-chugga record, every song has lots of that going on… which I love."
Mastodon will release their new record Hushed And Grim on October 29 and will hit the road shortly after with Opeth and Zeal & Ardor.
11/16 Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena
11/18 Boston, MA – The Wang Theatre
11/19 Albany, NY – Palace Theatre
11/20 New York City – Hammerstein Ballroom
11/21 Washington, DC – The Anthem
11/23 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
11/24 Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
11/26 Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
11/27 Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
11/28 Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
11/30 Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheatre
12/01 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
12/02 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
12/04 Salt Lake City, UT – The Union
12/05 Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom
