Domingo 4 Jan 2015, 8h:04

This is my top 365 tracks (as of January 3rd 2015, according to Last.FM charts). That means a song per day.

Day 4, (shared) 361. Metallica - The Unforgiven II (from the album Reload)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Bn_kD6QN4

I remember when I first heard that there was gonna be part two of The Unforgiven on Reload. I wasn't sure what to think of it. The Unforgiven on Metallica album is such an epic and even iconic song, that what's the point in returning to that? There's no way you can top that one. But since then I've realised that it's not about "topping" or making it better.

Part 2 is not trying to rewrite the first part. Sure there's melodies and chord progressions that variate the ones from the first song and the lyrics are revolving around the same issues.

But now I can see why James Hetfield likes to visit these themes and melodies. If you watch the making of documentaries of Death Magnetic, he speaks about it when he introduces The Unforgiven III to the record label executives. It's the melodies and the themes that he likes to explore and return to again and again.

In my opinion all three Unforgivens make up a pretty solid "trilogy". Songs are different enough to stand alone on their own feet (especially the third one) but they also fit together nicely.

Fun trivia: The Unforgiven II has only been played live once on Billboard Awards in 1997. And here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxly3xq7nWE