Clash and combine - A review of Metallica's & San Francisco Symphony's S&M 2

Twenty years after the first collaboration between thrash metal veterans Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony, the exercise has been repeated and now been released with some delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. The combination between heavy metal and classical music was still rather unusual two decades ago but nowadays many bands have collaborated with choirs, orchestras and symphonies. The main issue of this release is that Metallica simply repeats the same exercise it had already done two decades ago without adding anything new to the formula. Even the two set lists are quite similar and this release is only interesting for fans of old date for the six tunes from the past three studio albums and perhaps the courageous interpretation of the instrumental ''(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth''.

The final result is quite mixed to be honest. Some songs work well in the additional symphonic arrangements that add depth, dynamics and soundscapes. ''The Day That Never Comes'' sounds even more dramatic, epic and sad than the original version and is the first highlight of the show. ''The Memory Remains'' doesn't only work due to a homogeneous effort by the band and the symphony but also due to excellent crowd participation which makes this track the most vibrant song of the entire record. ''All Within My Hands'' has been transformed from an angry modern thrash metal song into a simpler, shorter and calmer sinister country ballad that sounds truly surprising. ''Master of Puppets'' sounds incredibly energetic and reminds of the heaviness of Richard Wagner and the likes which makes for the heaviest tune of the bunch.

Other songs simply don't work in the symphonic context. The classical instruments overload ''For Whom the Bell Tolls'' and reduce its atmospheric vibes instead of adding new dynamics to it. ''One'' sounds quite chaotic and the almost joyful orchestral sounds don't fit with the bleak core of this desperate tune at all which makes for the worst effort on the output. ''Enter Sandman'' both overstays its welcome and the symphony doesn't add anything noteworthy to the song, becoming a gimmicky addition doodeling in the background.

The energy of the crowd and passion of the involved musicians from both sides are genuine. However, the overlong speeches and interpretations of classical music unrelated to the thrash metal veterans are filler material that can't even convince fans of this specific type of music. The band and the symphony should have transformed one or two more obscure tracks from the thrash metal veterans' past instead.

The final result is a mixed bag with some great homogeneous efforts and a few nerve-firing clashs. The concert's experimental elements work out for the tribute to Cliff Burton but can't convince when attempting to reinterpret genuine classical compositions. In the end, S&M 2 can only be recommended to fans of the original project, avid collectors and perhaps some people who have never listened to the first collaboration and are only discovering this interesting clash of thrash metal and classical music as we speak.

Final rating: 67%