Metallica - Blackened (Pianist continues his exploration of heavy metal)

Judson’s first time hearing “Blackened” by ​⁠‪@metallica‬
Original song: • Blackened (Remastered)
Richard’s shirt: • Vulvodynia - Psychosad...
‪@UniqueLeaderRecords‬ ‪@DuncanBentleyOfficial‬
Judson’s piano intro:
Neutral Milk Hotel - “Oh Comely”
• Oh Comely
We use ​⁠‪@rodemic‬ headphones and microphones
*We are not sponsored by them*
Judson is playing a ​⁠‪@steinway‬ piano.
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[@julianortiz4151]

James Hetfield once said this song was their attempt at writing a Slayer song. Jason Newsted came up with the main riff and James, Kirk, and Lars added the rest. This was just a couple of years after Reign In Blood turned the Thrash word on its head and all the big bands were still in some semblance of competition. I’d say Metallica not only succeeded in this quest, they also wrote one of the heaviest and most sinister sounding songs in their catalog. It’s easily in my Top 5 favorite Metallica songs. Judson is correct… this song is a challenge to play. It took me years to get close. It’s the timing for sure… if you can’t count in this song correctly, it falls apart. Still, it’s fun to play on guitar and if I haven’t played it in a while, it’s almost like starting at the beginning and you have to work at getting it back into shape. I just love it. I have a hard time choosing my favorite Metallica album, but …And Justice For All is in perpetual competition with Master Of Puppets for me. Great reaction as always. 🤘🏼🔥🎉

[@Nissardpertugiu]

The funny thing is Arise Sepultura riff is kind of Blackened

[@dnmoscato92]

Blackened is always in my top 3

[@randomOAS7]

@@Nissardpertugiu I absolutely love both songs, but never noticed any similarity until you pointed it out! They're still pretty different, but there's something there for sure. EDIT: It's in several places in their song "Charmony."

[@kennethhelle6000]

No he didnt🤣🤣

[@alcoholica1986]

...And Judson For All!!!

[@jonnyguitar747]

Anyone remember Mandatory Metallica on the radio??

[@DallasGunther]

Yeah, it was on one of the rock stations here in Utah.

[@mikew.3128]

X103 in Indianapolis did it too.

[@Hippie459MN]

Had Mandatory Metallica here in Minneapolis too. Late 90's I want to say. Its been a long time.

[@roguewookiee]

Saturday nights on WMMS in Cleveland as well! 🤘

[@ndfnq7811]

Z Rock. Nationally syndicated out of Dallas, Texas. 1986-1995

[@swagilyph]

7:34 judson taps the E on the piano and just nods his head lmao

[@Greatmeasures]

😂

[@alexrus5495]

Rather SLAMS it with utter confidence, like 'yea, what else could it be?" 😂

[@TheDeadStretch]

@@alexrus5495 Legit what I was thinking. "Of course it's in E!" lmao

[@trapjaw84]

Blackened is a Masterpiece!

[@ominayu]

Blackened is the end

[@trapjaw84]

@@ominayu 😄

[@kostispanselinos6778]

Lars absolutely nailed this song. Iconic drumming

[@rand0m.u5er]

There's a lot of tape cut and paste in the drums. But the drum arrangements are absolutley great. The greatest I ever heard.

[@NoahParker98]

@@rand0m.u5erI was finna say all that matters is the arrangement

[@nixongasmo5114]

@@rand0m.u5erlike shortening the drum parts is what u mean

[@mattyjay8896]

​@rand0m.u5er It still amazes me there's alot of people who chit on Lars.

[@playermartin286]

Despite what a lot of people say, lars is actually a great musician

[@dannyreyes8690]

Scorpions “The Sails of Charon”

[@marshaltito7369]

I'm one of very few people who thinks Testament's cover is better than the original. For me it's the voice, giving it a more haunting quality.

[@rickdeckard2240]

@@marshaltito7369 Testament's version is great, my favorite though is Uli Jon Roth's own version on his Scorpions revisited double album, the definitive version in my opinion, he made it an epic piece with great jams in it.

[@BrianYates-ue8hf]

I'm a drummer and I really like the overall tone of Lars' kit on this album He got a lot of crap over the yrs (and still does haha) but pll forget that on the first 3 albums Lars was an innovator and has influenced many a player and deserves credit where it's due DISCLAIMER: I WON'T EVEN GET INTO HOW HE PLAYS LIVE THESE DAYS 🧐😎✌️🤘

[@marshaltito7369]

As a fellow drummer, I love the sound of Lars' kit on this album.

[@shawnmorris4479]

These days he’s actually playing pretty well (check out some of their recent live videos). He certainly went through a long period where it seemed that his live chops were not a priority. As to the drum sound, this was the first thrash album I ever bought so I love the sound of this album. Chris Adler mentioned that the dry kick drum sound on this was notable.

[@jasoncurry207]

Yeah hes savage on justice

[@oregonwoodelf]

I used to listen to this song SO damn much in the early 90s when I was just getting into metal. Was a unique era of Metallica, great album🤘

[@eltetta20]

I love the guitar tone in this album, one of my favorites of all metal albums.

[@Tommy-he7dx]

James is an absolute riff monster of this album.

[@KabukiKid]

Yeah... it is impressive that the guitar tone is so good, you can survive with the bass being so low in the mix. You sort of don't miss it with the guitar sound as it is.

[@mootkickee]

The tone of everything is great, even the bass turned down 😂

[@stevenbatke2475]

With so little bass, it leaves the frequency range wide open to mix huge guitars.

[@drock55551]

​@@KabukiKidI respectfully disagree.

[@WorkofAmbience]

I love it when you guys are acting chaotic, becoming one of my fave channels doing this sort of thing

[@johnjackson1270]

This song is amazing and boldly declares one important fact about this era of Metallica...they should have let Jason write more.

[@LiamHaberstroh]

PLEASE DO DYERS EVE

[@Ghlod]

Please?

[@Greatmeasures]

For sure. Got a couple other Metallica tracks to get to, but we’ll get there.

[@2jzdashgte]

+1 upvote for dyer's eve

[@DallasGunther]

Yeah, that song is badass.

[@KabukiKid]

Angriest song James ever wrote.

[@Tanikaze2]

I'm sure judson will say what it is, but that piano bit *has* to be Oh Comely by Neutral Milk Hotel edit: hell yea I was right

[@davemiii]

Sounded interesting so I went and checked it out. Pretty cool track. Oddly powerful.

[@jasonhearn768]

The guy on the left nailed it. The song is about Nuclear war and the eradication of humanity.

[@Lateralus138]

@@jasonhearn768 James literally said this song is about cancer.

[@rahbeat9785]

11:57 the way that new groove comes in is always so FIRE !!!

[@DM-rc4yu]

As a guitarist that part used to mess me up until I realized the riff is played the same, it's the beat that changes.

[@bradenrichardson4269]

@@DM-rc4yu I still wonder if Lars did that intentionally...or if it's just a happy accident.

[@jeremyv3010]

That’s always been my favorite part of the song. They didn’t play this part of the song for the longest time and I never understood why.

[@gondelio]

And justice for Jason! 🤘😈🤘

[@hornethive]

And Jason for All! 😡👿😡

[@rafaelbsCFH]

Melhor álbum do Metallica, mesmo sem o som do baixo.

[@kariic3824]

The bass in some parts of this album is very muddy, he even said it himself.

[@mattyjay8896]

Absolutely 🫡🤘🤘

[@grimfist79]

😴🥱

[@infinittrob9409]

Judson "reacting" is the best most authentic thing on this channel. Love it!!!!

[@mariohnyc]

Never thought of Blackened as an anti-smoking song, lol.

[@nc330-9]

This song is mostly about how people are slowly killing the earth due to global warming and pollution hense "blackened"

[@chriswooldridge1301]

Love seeing that yall are still doing your thing. Congrats on another day.

[@siskens470]

Sooooo many amazing Metallica songs not yet discovered. I look forward to it.

[@juliopoveda]

amazing talk guys!, love this channel so much

[@oneclipleft]

Nicotine might represent humanity's tendency toward self-destruction in general. We're addicted to all the things that will eventually wipe us out.

[@zeigbert1743]

Justice is my favourite Metallica album. Lars is crushing it on this one.

[@CynicVids]

If you've never heard it, you need to listen to the intro in reverse (the correct way round). Its really cool.

[@chriscrim751]

Not many people realize the intro is played backwards

[@bubblegum0912]

No fucking way, just had to look that up 😂 sounds good then correct way round but reverse just gives the bumps hahaha

[@randomOAS7]

There is a band called Electro Quarterstaff, that had three guitarists and no bassist, and on their album Gretzky they have it played in one of the songs (can't recall which at the moment). Worth a listen!

[@CynicVids]

@@randomOAS7 just gave it a listen. They are really good. Its about a minute in to Charmony.

[@tmakster]

Great job guys, as usual!!

[@chrisgertz8250]

You guys are such a riot!!

[@randomsksksk]

Great Measures!!!

[@actavisprime514]

9:18 this drop is what I came here for and it did not disappoint 😂

[@jeremyv3010]

I didn’t see a comment about this yet so had to mention - The intro you hear in the song is played back in reverse. There’s videos on KZbin where you can hear the original version. Great choice by them to reverse it cuz it’s now so iconic.

[@LiamHaberstroh]

Thanks for doing this one. a deserving song

[@robertbordevik5072]

It’s the best intro to a metal song ever. It’s plays just as good if you play it backwards. That’s when you know you have a great riff.

[@drneildurrant]

Man, your doodles at the start of each video speak to my soul…

[@scorpionking4012]

I have a feeling you going to love the four horseman, as the middle section is so classic!!

[@Hoscitt]

By the look on his face I'm glad that he picked up on the 8th note switches coming out of the solo 😁🤘

[@jameslars4423]

That intro. After all these years i still crying.

[@guyfyffe5920]

Ever watched the video on how that was a melody that was reversed??? THAT blew me away

[@dubkjay]

Diggin the OP t-shirt, Judson 👍🏼

[@lockstar169]

They opened with the song on this tour. The used a taped version of the intro and brought up volume just like you hear it on the record and I thought THAT was loud. I was about 20 rows back on the floor and the front array was angled right at me. Lars's snare felt like I was being punched right in the chest. I've never experienced anything like it before or since 🤘

[@skarlottt]

Happy to see you back

[@skarlottt]

Eeeeeee... thanks.🤘🥰🥰

[@user-pl4yr7si7e]

This song solidified my love of music as a child. Love your delves into Metallica and tool. Great stuff guys

[@glennblanchard4193]

Great as per usual

[@DemiseUnseen]

Possibly my favorite Metallica song. It's mostly about how ridiculous and sad it would be for us humans to not only kill each other with Nuclear warfare, but also everything else around us. It has almost happened and still may yet. I find this song incredibly moving. You guys rock.

[@stigpetersen9701]

….miilions of our years in minutes disappear 🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘😍

[@OfftheMarkhey]

Bookends of this album, outstanding

[@Greatmeasures]

🔥🔥

[@whisperingeye823]

Neutral Milk Hotel!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂

[@eldinhadzovic]

came here for this. amazing

[@bobsurface908]

It's about nuclear war, and the end of the world. Even goes on about nuclear winter. It's... nukes.

[@moppingblood]

I think the song is less about just the world ending, and more about the damage we do it and each other, and how that will kill Earth and all who live on it, which is why the "deadly nicotine kills what might of been" line is in there

[@someparts]

Imagine hearing this for the first time again instead of in 1987 as a junior high schooler.

[@davidmajor5393]

I was 17, remember it well

[@TaureanMixing]

haha you guys have great repartee, and the frivolous "tension" 😆 ...btw AJFA probably my favorite. I remember watching the One video in 6th grade🤘

[@tobyhubler9902]

Doris is Lady Justice name...

[@Greatmeasures]

I never knew this. Where did they come up with that name?

[@Mordownick]

This nicotine thing is stuck in my head now and the more I think about it the more sense it makes, man...

[@andrewcastillo9558]

Damn.. me too.

[@Greatmeasures]

Please don’t let Judson be right about this 😂

[@spockhozzer7207]

Darkest color, blistered Earth. True death of life

[@mfree80286]

It's the addiction to war.

[@martinmallowfrosting888]

Never heard of Neutral Milk Hotel but now im glad i did! Lol thanks guys

[@tristanblack6609]

Always love the good mighty Metallica vids. Haven't gotten back to Type O Negative in a while, or Sabbath . Keep up the great work

[@Juoma]

I just love the banter.

[@user-hf2ik1uf1l]

It is about all different forms of pollution destroying humankind if we don't get inspired to do something about it.. And yes, Richard, that includes smoking causing black lungs and cancer.. Hence the lyrics, "Deadly nicotine, kills what might have been" Like you said, the lyrics are pretty self-explanatory!! 🌍🌑

[@FinkleisEinhorn52]

“See our mother put to death, see our mother die” Mother Earth It’s 100% about the earth coming to an end

[@JohnTheDoeDoe]

It's about global warming. More specifically.

[@subsume7904]

​@@JohnTheDoeDoe no it's about nuclear war lol "fire is the outcome of hypocrisy"

[@whiplash2002b]

@@JohnTheDoeDoe It's about global thermonuclear warfare. Which is what people were worried about in 1989. It's really not hard to figure it out. Look at the lyrics with that in mind. "Whipping dance of the dead" is the violent motion that happens from the shockwave of a nuclear blast. Trees whip away from the blast and then back after the shockwave passes. "Deadly nicotine, kills what might have been." Is a reference to nuclear weapons proliferation. Russia and the USA were addicted to making more and more world killing weapons.

[@icomefromtheworld]

Or... the mother died of a lung cancer caused by smoking! 😁 I'm kidding, but Judson's interpretation made my day.

[@TheNaqoyqatZ]

Earth will be fine. We're the ones that are fucked.

[@EUCRAZY_AU]

This album is pure GENUIS !

[@carlocitroen1848]

When Metallica was Metallica ,good job guys....👍 Go on like this .....ciao from Taranto..... Italia🇮🇹👏

[@pauloakley2124]

Great opener for the album. 🤘

[@TheAZAZEL35]

Classic

[@fernandoserrudocarpio5360]

This song has one of the best solos of Metallica if not the best... That solo of Kirk is just blows my mind every time...

[@jumpman8282]

All I have to say about Neutral Milk Hotel is that if you like one of their songs you automatically like 90% of their songs. But after Judson's sincere reflection on the consequences of Richard's sudden, self-inflicted, and so far hypothetical demise I am willing to forgive him for everything.

[@skarlottt]

My favorite on the "album"!.

[@shornoMALONEY]

I love your one shots, might not seem that they're adding anything but I love the conversation before and after. Good stuff guys, big up. Edit: actually humans have started using neonicotinoids as insectisides, been going on for a while, it's not new. Kinda apt considering the song.

[@Hailme75]

I just learned bass today, and instantly learned all of Jason’s parts. Took me 45 minutes

[@ensarjack]

Such a high grade song

[@LC-gs6qv]

Justice is by far my favourite. It's the one that got me into Metallica back in the day.

[@skarlottt]

Love how you're singing along with me!

[@VALTEEE]

Loved the basslines

[@skarlottt]

I agree I wish I could sit down with someone and just play the whole album and we just enjoy it but nobody else I know now wants to do that stuff. You're a lucky guy

[@e3d0p]

One of my favourite if not my favourite Metallica song ever. The intro send shivers down my spine every time like it's the first. ...And Justice for All is truly an underrated masterpiece

[@chriscrim751]

Dig the Vulvodynia shirt!

[@cristealaurentiu2440]

GOAT

[@MatthewC137]

That was an awesome tour. I saw them in Omaha on June 14th 1989. Little did I know that the next time I'd see them (in Las Cruces NM 1992) they'd be playing to about ten times the people (60,000 in that stadium). I was a big fan of theirs in the '80s and early '90s but of course I hadn't run into Judson yet! 😏

[@chriscrim751]

And Justice for All...is the best for me as a 49 year old. Everyone has their favorite, it's all good.

[@MichelJPW]

OOOHHH COMELY

[@drivendown84]

Love your channel! You should have played for him the original un-reversed intro to blackened!!

[@Kickenwing13]

I can't see a world in which he doesn't like this one. Definitely intrigued

[@dobrev733]

Not sure if you've already reacted but Dyers EVE is also very good.

[@darrenmetal3338]

Their best album!🤘🤘🤘

[@bobobobee9708]

The song is about nuclear Armageddon

[@2380MG]

Lung cancer is an interesting take!! But IMO: It seems to deal with themes of environmental destruction, the death of the Earth, and the end of humanity. The imagery used in the lyrics evokes a sense of apocalyptic devastation, which could be interpreted in various ways. The mention of "deadly nicotine" and "blistering of Earth" could indeed be seen as metaphors. "Deadly nicotine" might suggest the destructive impact of pollution and chemicals, potentially alluding to lung cancer as one of the many consequences of environmental damage. However, the broader context of the song focuses on the larger scale of planetary destruction and the catastrophic end of life on Earth. While lung cancer could be one possible interpretation, the primary theme appears to be the irreversible damage humanity is inflicting on the environment, leading to a bleak and desolate future. The lyrics encapsulate the broader message of ecological collapse and the resulting demise of life on the planet.

[@DoylePTB]

I think that the Nicotine part was a metaphor for how humans are clogging the lungs of the planet.

[@titusprime5240]

Also nicotine may turn lungs black but maybe it’s just the tar in the tobacco lol

[@Lateralus138]

I don't know about what others are saying on here, but James did say this song is specifically about Cancer.

[@brutalrock927]

Almost 35 years I listen this song (Justice always been my favorite Metallica's album). Never cared about 'nicotine sense" of this song, but I must admit that the most I think about it, the most it takes sense. Thank for this interesting point of vue !

[@okolek6527]

i gat you

[@Jayzon666]

Cool Vulvodynia shirt!

[@C0maT0ast]

My favourite track from that album. Got the cassette tape from a mate for my 16th birthday back in 1990 and absolutely 'thrashed' it until my stereo chewed the tape up. Rough what they did to Jason, but they made great music back then.

[@sxelady]

This video’s got a different energy, cant quite put my finger on it, but fun! and pls never stop imitating Hetflield’s singing, rly does it for me tbh

[@arandominternetuser9099]

This sounds like a song about humans destroying the Earth, and then the Earth becoming uninhabitable for humans as a result of what humans themselves did.

[@H1SD]

Hell yeah, nice to see some of Metallica's classics again! I'd really want to see your guys' reaction to some of Cattle Decapitation's "ballads" (like Death Atlas or Just Another Body), the dichotomy between the brutal and melodic parts is really interesting and I'd love to see Judson's thoughts on them.

[@KoRy900]

Saludos desde Costa Rica!!... Son los mejores reaccionando!!

[@KoRy900]

You both are the best!!

[@s.e.gutierrez]

-It says Fire! you know... like fire 🚬🔥👈. Peak Judson right there.

[@scorpionking4012]

And justice for all is not an easy album , but its a masterpiece and achievement for such young musicians !!!

[@newrandomguy4218]

Judson knows the better music and the other guy shoul react to it 😸

[@billybobtexas]

He needs to hear One. Such a landmark track…

[@lasseiversen1815]

🤘

[@orion8157]

Lyrically ahead of its time

[@Androx-fj6xh]

One of the best metal songs ever made

[@realBkay]

Ever seen what a nuclear weapon does to the human body? “To begin Whipping dance of the dead Blackened is the end To begin Whipping dance of the dead Color our world Blackened”