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25 Years Ago, Metallica’s Recording Sessions for ‘St. Anger’ Grew so Intense That the Band Hired a Group Therapist

Jason Newsted’s departure from Metallica in 2001 was allegedly the catalyst for St. Anger‘s messy emotional explosion.

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Metallica began recording their eighth album, St. Anger, on April 23, 2001, but they wouldn’t finish it until two years later. The process was so emotionally intense that the band brought in a group therapist to mediate the sessions. After all was said and done, they finally released St. Anger in June 2003.

The album earned mixed reviews for its raw, unpolished messiness. But the entire two-year process of recording facilitated the chaos of the finished product. Still, many listeners didn’t really know how to approach its stripped-back intensity, and some critics openly disliked it. Pitchfork called it “boring,” while Playlouder found it “too dense and daunting to be truly enjoyable.”

‘St. Anger’ Took a Toll on Metallica, But Jason Newsted’s Departure Was the Catalyst for Positive Changes

A Rolling Stone review praised the album’s authenticity, calling attention to its distinct lack of commercially viable tracks as a positive move for........

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