Metallica: 10 Best Songs AFTER St. Anger
4. The Day That Never Comes
They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. We see that on full display with The Day That Never Comes. This is a love letter of sorts to their classic track One, featuring similar style and structure.
This is very much a song of two halves. The first section of the song spotlights a chiming, melodic guitar and overall calmer pace. This gives plenty room for James Hetfield and his signature vocals to tackle the subject of war. As the song progresses we hear slow changes with some heavier guitar riffs seeping in. Before long The Day That Never Comes evolves into a fast-paced, thrash-light song. There are some complex changes and progression found on the song with a great lead guitar pieces that are evocative of the Diamond Head classic Am I Evil?.
Metallica's reverence for their earlier work is on full display here. They emulated a formula that worked before at a time when they most needed it and it worked out excellently. While not exactly a mainstay of their live performances, the song receives some attention occasionally at gigs. Most recently it was a highlight of the group's S&M2 concerts and fit in perfectly with the symphonic additions.