Metallica - Cunning Stunts (DVD)

Having seen Metallica live at Donington Monsters of Rock in 1995, I expected to have a good idea of the quality of this DVD before I bought it. How wrong I was.....it turned out to be a great number of times better than I could have ever expected!

'Cunning Stunts' is a 2 DVD set, recorded live at a concert in Fort Worth, Texas back in May 1997. The concert itself spans both discs, and on each disk there are also additional bonus features, ...
...cleverly now fades into a Metallica classic, 'Nothing Else Matters', which is best described as a rock ballad. Their ability to perform all kinds of musci is now highlighted, showing their broad range of talents, not often seen in today's metal bands!

The heavy, fast pace of the concert continues throughout, and the work load needed to keep this up is clearly evident on the faces of all the band, none more than the drummer Lars, who ... more

Having seen Metallica live at Donington Monsters of Rock in 1995, I expected to have a good idea of the quality of this DVD before I bought it. How wrong I was.....it turned out to be a great number of times better than I could have ever expected!

'Cunning Stunts' is a 2 DVD set, recorded live at a concert in Fort Worth, Texas back in May 1997. The concert itself spans both discs, and on each disk there are also additional bonus features, including back stage footage, photos from the tour and multiple camera angles. Beware though, the DVD is rated 15, due to the language used by the band throughout!

For those who may not know of Metallica, then you are in for a treat. This is a band who play pure heavy rock. It is intelligent and sophisticated too, not your typical thrash, un-recognisable vocal stuff. It is rock at it's best!

I will review this DVD by first looking at the concert itself, then the special features available.

The Concert
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The venue for this concert is awesome. The stage is built in the centre of the arena, with the crowd pretty much on all 4 sides of it. The band emerge, greeting their fans, in an arean lit as bright day, very unusual for such a concert. This allows you to see the extent of the stage set-up, built using large steel structures that look like enourmous electricity pylons, covered in barbed wire. It gives the fell of the concert being set in a dis-used, run-down industrial site!
Lars, the drummer, is set up in the centre of the stage. The other 3 members each perform from various points around the edge of the stage, frequently leaving it to go and play right in the faces of their fans. When the lights finally dim, the stage really comes to life. An immense system of lighting has been set up, that is constantly changing to enhance selected aspects of the concert/each track. Such enhancements range from higlighting the awesome drum beats perofrmed by Lars to mood lighting to help bring further life to the songs. All this can be seen within the first track or so of the concert, so before going any further, I feel it necessary to give you the playlist!

So What
Creeping Death
Sad But True
Ain't My Bitch
Hero Of The Day
King Nothing
One
Fuel
Nothing Else Matters
Until It Sleeps
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Wherever I May Roam
Fade To Black
Kill/Ride Medley (various tracks from these albums)
Last Caress
Master Of Puppets
Enter Sandman
Am I Evil?
Motorbreath

It would take an extremely long op to detail all of these tracks, so a more detailed view on them should be found on reviews of Metallica's albums. However, I will try and give you a feel for the style of the music played in case you are not too familiar with their sound!

The opening track comprises fast paced drum beats, powerful bass guitar and in your face lead guitar, typical of many hard rock/metal bands. By the time of the 3rd track, James Hetfield (lead singer) speaks to the crowd to 'find out' what they are really here for, suggesting that they want to hear some 'seriously heavy' music. Well, that's certainly what they get. 'Sad But True' epitomises Metallica's sound. It is a very strong, powerful track that carries a hell of a lot of weight behind it, rather like the sound and force you would associate with a large clap or rumble of thunder. James's voice is equally as powerful, rather husky and gruff (forgive my adjectives!), adding to the force of the sound. This, combined with the awesome lighting and visual effects will leave you stunned, and this is only teack 3!

The power of the music builds, culminating in 'One', a track loaded with the sounds of guns and cannons. To make this even more of a spectacle, the explosions used in the track are brought to life using real live pyrotechnics all around the stage. These certainly need to be seen to be believed, and the response from the crowds emulates this.

A new track (at the time of performance) is then played, even though it still remains un-named and largely unrehearsed! This, in my eyes, just shows how confident and capable these guys are in their music. Needless to say, the track goes down a storm.

It now becomes time for the bass and lead guitar solos (or doodles, as they call them). Having see many great gutiarists in my time, these rate very highly, and provide a certain degree of chill to the concert. These cleverly now fades into a Metallica classic, 'Nothing Else Matters', which is best described as a rock ballad. Their ability to perform all kinds of musci is now highlighted, showing their broad range of talents, not often seen in today's metal bands!

The heavy, fast pace of the concert continues throughout, and the work load needed to keep this up is clearly evident on the faces of all the band, none more than the drummer Lars, who is forwever wiping sweat from himself!

A medley of track from the albums 'Kill 'Em All' and 'Ride The Lightning' leads you through to another Metallica classic, this time the immnsely powerful 'Master of Puppets', a track which always tends to be sung mostly by the crowd, giving the lead singer a well desreved break!

The highlight of the show now begins to rear it's head. It is nothing short of pure genius, an awesome spectacle and nothing that I could have imagine, even having seen the band before! If you intend to view this DVD, and don't want this spoilt, skip ahead to the Special Features' section of this review!!

'Enter Sandman',Metallica's best ever track, now rears it head, opening with it's haunting solo guitar rhythm. As the rest of the band and drums come in, the stage erupts in an explosion of flames, always used for this track. The song continues, making the crowd go wild, with its in-ya-face drums, heavy guitars and powerful vocals. As it nears it's end, there is a chilling pause, as all sound ceases, exceot for one drawn out guitar note. Anticipation grows, awaiting the final chorus. As the drums come in, the stage erupts again, yet this time, things are made to 'appear' to go terribly wrong. Crew members from up in the lighting areas fall to the stage, one burning from head-to-toe, whilst some of the large steel constructions begin to collapse to the ground. Band members also fall to the ground in further explosions, whilst paramedics and fire cres rush on to deal with things. All the lighting gradually goes out, and an end to the show is aspparent! Beats the usual 'Thank you and good night' approach for sure!

After a few minutes or so, figures begin to appear to pick up the instruments. Each seems to be tested to see if it still works, and the band huddle together around the drum kit under a few make shift, pull cord emergency lights. After a quick jam together, and asking the audience if they can be heard or not, they begin their encore. To be honest, they could have come out and played anything and no-one would have given a damn after a spectacle like they'd just seen!

STUNNING!

Special Features
==================

Multiple Camera Angles:
For 3 of the tracks, it is possible to choose which of the band members you watch throughout the song. Each one is very well put together, and the 3 tracks chosen are all very different, allowing their full range of talents to be viewed! even though you are only watching one member, you still get a number of different camera angles for each, so things don't become too static!

Back Stage Show:
This collection also allows you to join the band backstage before the concert. You see an insight into the real them, seeing how they prepare, what they are like outside of their music and the sort of things they get from it. Very interesting.

Fans:
This DVD alss introduces you to Metallica fans, allowing you to see just who it is that supports them, and the different types of people that will all come together under one roof to see them. You also get to see the band's opinions on the fans too!

Band interviews:
An essential part of a good DVD, you get to see interviews with each band member. Pretty self-explanatory really!

Photo Gallery:
Not a lot to say here really, expect there is a great range of photos here from various parts of the tour that this concert was from. Best viwed on a PC, as you can then save them and use them if you so desire!

All in all, this is a DVD well worth buying. Whether you are a serious Metallica fan, or just someone who is interested in heraring some of this music performed live for the first time, then this DVD is an absolute must.

One of the greatest heavy metal bands at their greatest! 

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