tl;dr: One of many reminders why 80's Metallica were as good a cover band as they were an originals act.
What?: Covers EP, the first release with new bass player Jason. All tracks are from New Wave Of British Heavy Metal acts, all of whom heavily influenced Metallica. "Re-Revisited" as the cover songs on their "Creeping Death/Jump In The Fire" EP were the original "Garage Days Revisited" sessions.
Why?: That's slightly complicated. I own "Garage Inc.", the 1998 covers compilation which includes all of these tracks and more, but my copy (and I believe most others?) has a manufacturing error in "Green Hell". Further, this CD was for most of my record collecting life the "holy grail" of Metallica CDs, most often bootlegged, usually priced at $200 of more. When I saw it at a second-hand market for $10 I grabbed it, no matter how scratched up it was.
Tell me more!: One of the elements I love the most about these tracks is the audible bass. It gives me a small glance at what "...And Justice For All" might have sounded like without the band deliberately removing Jason from the mix. To me it sounds brilliant, adding a harder edged dirty punk element to Metallica's sound.
Metallica are often called the world's best metal cover band. I think that is way overstated by fan-boys, but they are very good at taking seriously rough tracks and making them great. Diamond Head are the best example, with Metallica covering damn near the whole "Lightning to the Nations" album during their career. That album is fantastic and I highly recommend it. I think it's the clearest example of pre-existing Metallica sounding songs.
Diamond Head's "Helpless" is first on the EP and sounds epic with the Metallica sound. Holocaust's "The Small Hours" introduction riff and drum beat are so un-Metallica I still get a thrill listening to them, but I have to say I've never much liked James' singing on the track. The guitar solo in the middle-8 though is amazing. James' voice is hidden slightly by effects in Killing Joke's "The Wait" and I think it helps. Budgie's "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" is no "Breadfan" but again it's the solo and crazy bass middle-8 that saves the day.
Finally Misfits' "Last Caress" and "Green Hell". I knew of Last Caress from live recordings of Metallica well before I heard this version, and to this day it still sounds a bit slow and strange with James' '87 voice compared to their early 90's rendition. Live they usually followed "Last Caress" with "Am I Evil" so I'm still surprised to hear "Green Hell" kick in.
And now that I've finally, as of the last year or so, heard some Iron Maiden, I finally understand the horrible riff they play at the end of the EP... I've got to say, even now I don't really don't like "Run To The Hills"...
6/10: It's hard to review this, as I'd generally recommend someone buy "Garage Inc." as it comes with plenty more excellent cover tracks and rounds out the listening experience a little better.
By itself though, the "Re-Revisited" tracks still hold up. It's a great little package, and if it doesn't prompt you to track down one of the bands covered (Diamond Head!) and listen some more there is something wrong with you. The internet removes all excuses of obscurity.
