10 Hyped Hard Rock Albums That Weren't Worth The Wait

The early 2000's were an uncertain time for Metallica. The band sued Napster, bassist Jason Newsted departed and their only new material released since the mid-late '90s was I Disappear, written for the soundtrack of the utterly forgettable Mission: Impossible II.

Controversies aside, this time gave fans a big 'Tallica void that was needing filled. Elektra Entertainment turned the release into a major event, promoting it worldwide and ramping up the suspense. At this point, many fans would happily have said that anything would do, so long as it was fed by the Hetfield/Ulrich powerhouse that had provided such a rich back catalogue of rock and metal standards.

More fool them.

Metallica emerged in 2003 with St. Anger and a new style that placed them farther from their roots than ever. Gone were the two-minute guitar solos, and here to stay were tinny, dustbin drums, inane, repetitive lyrics, and a nu metal influenced wall of dissonant noise.

And, as the band's constant badgering of Newsted had lost them their talented four-stringer, producer Bob Rock took up bass duties, leeching away all of the distinctive qualities that typified both Jason Newsted and Cliff Burton's contributions to the ensemble.

While St. Anger only takes second place in the ranking of Metallica's worst albums (pipped to the post by the aforementioned Lulu), the hype that led up to its arrival far overshadows anything that has come since, suggesting that they may have taken this misfire to heart.