There are live recordings and then there are live recordings that capture the entire musical essence of a gig. The soundtrack to the film Through The Never not only falls into the category of the latter, but seeks to redefine what live recording means.
Masterfully mixed by Greg Fidelman, (Adele, Johnny Cash) Through The Never manages to deliver a fine example of modern recording techniques and cinematic grandeur to create a live album best played loud and through a good sound system.
Adding to its event-like qualities and showing off its high production standards, Through The Never opens with the spaghetti western instrumental, “The Ecstasy of Gold” (Ennio Morricone cover) and closes with their own epic, “Orion”. What lies in-between is a selection of songs spanning Metallica’s 30-odd year reign of the heavy metal world.
James Hetfield’s vocals show only slight signs of losing its grunt, while Lars Ulrich’s drums are clear and precise. Kirk Hammett’s mastery on guitar is evident throughout, especially in the rarely-played-live “…And Justice For All.” Robert Trujillo’s bass continues to bring the same attitude that got him that million–dollar signing bonus.
Excerpts from the film are kept in, such as tech issues towards the end of “Enter Sandman”. Hetfield’s banter with the crowd can also be heard on the recording, but it’s more of an annoyance than anything else.
Through The Never will give the new gen a taste of the hype, whilst delivering those familiar with the band a highlight of a truly impressive career. It’s probably best for die-hard fans to add to their collection, as well as being a case study for audio engineering students.
Listen to “Nothing Else Matters” from Through The Never here:
