You have Bob Rock to blame for James learning to sing, well there are two reasons, first reason is that when the `Black Album` was being produced (1990-91) Bob Rock wanted to `clean up` their sound in order to bring them to a `wider` audience, and part of that was to encourage James to sing more melodically (see the `Year and a half of Metallica` documentary (on DVD for more info) and possibly in his eyes make the music more dynamic (but their music was almost orchestral in arrangement in some places anyway, listen to `Call of Kthulu` and `Orion` to see my point, both the albums `Ride The Lightning` and `Master Of Puppets` have these elements thanks tin part to the late Cliff Burtons visionary songwriting and music theory knowledge).
The other reason I recall, was James saying in an interview that the old singing style was causing alot of damage to his throat (which might of stopped him singing altoghether) so he had to vary his style !!!.
I agree, the first four albums were definatly the strongest in material, even through the `Black Album` has its moments, but what we must remember is that Metallica have always been about doing their own thing, their own way and not worrying about what anyone else is doing , or regurgitatating the same album over and over again !!!.
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For in each delve and greenwood,
far wiser creatures play,
and in their veins and sinews,
live the gods of yesterday.
Be excellent to one another !!!.
