Benedict Metallica

Creating much controversy across the internet, Metallica have suggested in an interview with Rolling Stone that they might follow the lead of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails and embrace the music download culture.  After downplaying the band’s helping hand as RIAA spy or “tool” by suing Napster, drummer Lars Ulrich discusses how the Metallica members have been watching the two bands’ methods and hope to pursue “possibilities with the internet” sometime in the future. 

Basically, Lars Ulrich and Metallica are running scared.

Many music enthusiasts, still sore over the Metallica vs. Napster ordeal, claim that if and when the band releases songs in the “pay what you want” fashion, they will refuse to pay for the music.  While this debate ensues, the pertinent issue is not if consumers will refuse to pay for Metallica music because of their past stance on illegal and legal music downloading; the obvious factor resides in the part of the interview less travelled: Ulrich reveals that Metallica’s upcoming album release will be produced by Rick Rubin.

Of course consumers will not be paying for the next Metallica album.  Remember when Linkin Park made good music?  Yeah, that was before Rubin and Minutes to Midnight.  Rubin’s musical tainting may be genius in other genres and seems to be a hit and miss with Red Hot Chili Peppers and System of a Down (Rage Against the Machine equals brilliance regardless of producer), but Linkin Park bombed and Velvet Revolver knew better.

Rick Rubin should remain in his mainstream-pop genre, and Metallica should return to their roots, focusing on becoming once again a relevant band in the metal realm, and perhaps even a relevant band that embraces and utilizes music downloading.

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