The S&M DVD is possibly the best live work Metallica have done. Through sheer quantity Binge & Purge may be more highly regarded, but quality-wise I think S&M is better. Every track (barring Outlaw Torn) is just amazing, all benefiting from the extra dimensions a symphony gives - and the expert vision of Michael Kamen.
We start off with The Ecstacy Of Gold, performed beautifully by the San Francisco Orchestra.
The Call Of Ktulu, a much overlooked classic is the first Metallica song played and it sets the mood splendidly, it has power but also grace, 9/10.
Master Of Puppets is next up, which as always, is amazing, 10/10 on this one.
Of Wolf And Man is the first of many tracks on this DVD that are much improved with the aid of a symphony. I'm not a massive fan of the album version but I love the S&M version, 10/10.
The Thing That Should Not Be is well done but i'm not the biggest fan of the song, 8/10.
Fuel, always a crowd favourite, again benefits from the orchestra and earns it's 10/10.
The Memory Remains is also well performed with good crowd interactions, 9/10.
No Leaf Clover, a new song, is quite good, not heavy but likable all the same, 8/10.
Hero Of The Day is next and possibly my favourite performance on this DVD. Not their best song but is the most improved with the symphony 10/10.
Devil's Dance again, as above, not a great song but they manage to pull it off well, 8/10.
Bleeding Me tends to close the first DVD as Ktulu opened it, an epic song well done, 8/10.
The 2nd DVD starts off with Nothing Else Matters, a classic and was originally done with an orchestra, so is more than adaptable, 10/10 for sure on this one.
Until It Sleeps is a good post-black album song and holds it's own here, not the best performance of the day but still good, 7.5/10.
For Whom The Bell Tolls... Well, what can I say? They made a near perfect song another step closer to that title, 10/10.
-Human is the 2nd new song. Heavier and the symphony help out this song, 8/10.
Wherever I may Roam was next up and is my favourite track off the Black album, it's well done but not the outstanding performance on this DVD, 8/10.
Outlaw Torn was next up and I just can't bring myself to like it. A fan of the song might think differently but I can't give this more than a 6/10.
Sad But True is another great song which is performed well but i'm not overly convinced the symphony add too much to it, still a great performance though, 9/10.
One - Possibly the best Metallica song ever and is expertly performed by both Metallica and the symphony, can't fault it: 10/10.
Enter Sandman, a favourite of most was, like Wherever I May Roam, not an outstanding performance, in my opinion the symphony drowned out Kirk and James, and for a song like Enter Sandman that is not a good thing, 8.5/10.
Battery closes this DVD and has a brilliant intro by the symphony, 9.5/10.
Overall this is a brilliant performance to own, but musically and visually stunning. Any fan of Metallica would love this possibly even a few fans of classical music. A very solid 9/10 overall, with special mention to Hero Of The Day, Of Wolf And Man, Master Of Puppets and Nothing Else Matters.
