10 Great Songs That Never Made A Studio Album
3. No Leaf Clover - Metallica
Metallica took a bold leap when they decided to work with orchestral composer Michael Kamen for their smash hit "Nothing Else Matters." But their ambitions were far greater than just one song. With the live recording S&M, Metallica and Kamen brought orchestral backing to some of Metallica's classic songs.
While the older material benefits greatly from the orchestral backing, the new original song "No Leaf Clover" turned out to be the true highlight. The song's delicate opening hints that it may be a gentle offering before slamming into a heavy Metallica riff.
The lyrics also portray a cautionary tale about how fame is not all it's cracked up to be. The riffs cascade against each other perfectly, but the real heaviness comes from the string part. The way the cellos and double bass saunter along bring a unique presence. It's as if you're watching a monster marching slowly to demolish you.
With this entire live performance, Metallica had a lot of opportunities where they could have slipped up. But this song is the prime example of what happens when you get the perfect combination of clean and dirty music techniques rubbing against each other to make something beautiful.