10 Live Songs Better Than The Studio Recordings
7. For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica
Metallica have always been a band that has prided themselves on their ability to bring their punky thrash to the masses. It almost seemed like the band were destined to perform headbanging anthems for the rest of their lives. However, something extraordinary happened once the band teamed up with classical composer Michael Kamen.
Once the band unveiled their S&M concert with an orchestra, most fans were perplexed to say the least. However, all that skepticism slowly dissipated when the band kicked into high gear on "For Whom the Bell Tolls." While the song had already been a metal classic for some time, the song turned into a sonic juggernaut once it was given its classical treatment.
The version fans know and love from Ride the Lightning was suddenly given a completely different identity, with the orchestra blowing the song up to mammoth proportions. Now, the signature bass line of the late Cliff Burton goes from a nice musical introduction to a clarion call of doom as the orchestra washes over your eardrums. No matter how many metal fans cry heresy for Metallica dabbling in non-metal circles, the band's willingness to experiment with their classic sound yielded musical genius on this track.