Metallica/Netherlands 06.08.1984

In 1984, Metallica was creating the masterpiece “Ride the Lightning” and poised to usher in a thrash metal revolution that would captivate the world. Now, two definitive recordings offering an unparalleled experience of that moment are being released simultaneously! This is the second of two simultaneous releases, featuring a powerful audience recording of their June 8, 1984 performance at the Oldensaal (Netherlands). Following the great success of the new masterpiece “Aardschok 1984,” these two releases also utilize the best master recordings provided by the same researcher. However, this recording captures a moment from their “Europe #2” tour, a few months after the February Aardschok release. Given that this was during the period when “Ride the Lightning” was being created, even this slight difference in timing is significant. Let’s begin by taking a look at the schedule from that time. 1984 – January 7-22: North America #1 (6 shows) ← *Official Middletown – February 3-12: Europe #1 (6 shows) ← *AARDSCHOK 1984 《March 14: “RIDE THE LIGHTNING” completed》 – March 27 + April 8: UK (2 shows) ← *MARQUEE 1984 – June 6-10: Europe #2 (5 shows) ← ★HERE★ – July 20: San Francisco show 《July 27: “RIDE THE LIGHTNING” released》 – August 3: New York show – August 29: Breaking Sound Festival appearance – November 16 – December 20: Europe #3 (25 shows) 1985 – January 10 – March 19: North America #2 (55 shows) ← *HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM 1985 * August 17th: “MONSTERS OF ROCK 1985” * August 24th: Berkeley performance * August 31st: Day on the Green performance (September: Production of “MASTER OF PUPPETS” begins) * September 14th: “METAL HAMMER FESTIVAL 1985” * December 29th + 31st: North America #3 (2 performances) A ​​ferocious sound with bullet riffs fired like a machine gun. This is METALLICA in 1984/1985. The Oldensal performance on this release is the third performance of “Europe #2”, and it was the stage just two days (two performances) after the first part, “LEIDEN 1984”, which was released at the same time. It is from the same period and is the best master by the same researcher, but the sound on this release is even more intense. What is overwhelming is the “thickness of the core” and the “clarity” of the “single notes”. Both “AARDSCHOK 1984” and “LEIDEN 1984” were striking, but this album surpasses them even further. The core is incredibly thick, and the contours of each note stand out clearly. Each riff is as strong as a bullet, firing off like a machine gun. You might think that loud and booming sounds are destructive, but that’s not the case. The screaming guitars and blood-spitting vocals, and the vividness of even the smallest details, are what lay bare the brutality. It’s ferocious precisely because it’s clear. It may seem contradictory, but this is the ideal form that only early thrash metal could reach. The “live performance version of KILL ‘EM ALL,” which features all the songs in their entirety, is a particularly concentrated set unique to this period, slamming down with such an extreme and powerful sound. Moreover, it’s not just a collection of early songs, but can also be enjoyed as a “stage version of a masterpiece.” Let’s check out the setlist that makes it so. Bloodstained Hammer (10 songs) – Hit The Lights / The Four Horsemen / Phantom Lord / Motorbreath / No Remorse / Seek & Destroy / (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth / Whiplash / Metal Militia / Jump In The Fire (*) Ride the Lightning (3 songs) – Ride The Lightning / The Call Of Ktulu (★) / Creeping Death (★) *Note: “★” indicates songs not found on the masterpiece “AARDSCHOK 1984”, and “*” indicates songs not found on the simultaneously released “LEIDEN 1984”. …and so on. For the final encore, “Jump In The Fire”, which was not played on the first part “LEIDEN 1984”, was performed, bringing together all 10 songs from their debut album “KILL ‘EM ALL”. In other words, this album literally functions as a “live performance version of KILL ‘EM ALL”. Those iconic songs that defined the very concept of thrash metal are amplified to the extreme with stage tension, and then there’s the title track and “The Call of Ktulu,” Dave Mustaine’s parting gift from “Ride the Lightning,” as well as the killer “Creeping Death.” It’s a full show that embodies the dreams, hopes, and fantasies of thrashers. Not only is the performance and setlist so brutal that even troubles become fuel for the “miracle of the era,” but this show is amazing because you even get to experience a power outage. The trouble first occurs in the middle of “The Four Horsemen.” In the middle of a high-speed performance, the power suddenly goes out, and the music stops. Of course, the venue becomes chaotic, but the situation in this show is a little different. Normally, there would be an atmosphere of bewilderment with people wondering “What happened!?”, but in this case, both the band and the audience seem to have lost their minds, and instead of being dampened, the excitement intensifies, and tremendous cheers and Metallica chants erupt. Simply put, the mood was something like, “Wow, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s amazing!” James further fueled the crowd, and after a quick sound check, they resumed their high-speed performance. The troubles only seemed to increase the excitement, and once it was fixed, they accelerated even more, which was terrifying. After “Phantom Lord,” there was another technical problem that caused a gap between songs, but even then, the excitement didn’t drop. In 1997’s “CUNNING STUNTS,” they turned a fake accident into an entertaining show, but in this one, “a real accident is the fuel.” 1984 was a miraculous year where everything seemed to shine. This album lets you experience that “goddess’s smile power” firsthand. Super-powerful clear sound, ferocious live performance, a full set that’s a “stage version of KILL ‘EM ALL,” and the magnetic force of the venue that even turns troubles into frenzy… All of these elements came together at the highest possible level. This is the finest of all the Metallica audience recordings, and nothing less than a “cultural heritage of thrash metal.” A new masterpiece that you should truly engage with wholeheartedly. A super-powerful audience recording of the “Oldensaal concert on June 8, 1984 (Netherlands).” Provided by an overseas researcher, this is the best master recording, and it has an even thicker core than the same series’ “AARDSCHOK 1984” and “LEIDEN 1984,” with each note standing out and bullet-like riffs firing off like a machine gun. The brutal sound is intense, “ferocious precisely because it’s clear.” Not only is it a “live performance version of KILL ‘EM ALL” with all the songs from their debut album played, but the sense of being there, even fueled by the power trouble that occurs in the first half, is also breathtaking. The finest Metallica audience recording and a cultural heritage album of thrash metal. Jumbo Dancing, Oldenzaal, The Netherlands 8th June 1984 TRULY PERFECT SOUND (from Original Masters) Disc 1 (48:16) 1. The Ecstasy Of Gold 2. Hit The Lights 3. The Four Horsemen 4. Power Failure 1 5. The Four Horsemen (continued) 6. Phantom Lord 7. Power Failure 2 8. Ride The Lightning 9. Motorbreath 10. The Call Of Ktulu 11. No Remorse Disc 2 (39:20) 1. Seek & Destroy 2. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth 3. Whiplash 4. Creeping Death 5. Guitar Solo 6. Metal Militia 7. Jump In The Fire