This won’t be easy for me to say, but, Metallica, I, I think I’m over you.

<sigh> Look, we’ve had our fair share of good times, I won’t lie.

I’ll never forget my first experience of hearing you. My brother had a cassette tape of Ride the Lightning, and played it in his ’66 Mustang when he and I were going off to run some errands. It was loud, it was fast, it was ominous. It was awesome. Little did I know that over time, the music I heard in the car that day was that of a band that would become my all-time favorite.

I’ll never forget that my very first all-black t-shirt was a Metallica “Wherever I May Roam” shirt I bought in 8th grade. I made my cousin drive me to the then iconic Bill’s Records and Tapes, where nothing has a price on it, the man behind the counter was creepy, and they still sold albums on vinyl. I wore that shirt proudly, even if I did look out of place because my hair wasn’t long, and I didn’t wear Jnco jeans.

I’ll never forget when I received Metallica (The Black Album), on CD, as a gift, but that it actually turned out to be a live Doors album, even though everything about the CD physically said “I’m one of Metallica’s best albums.” I still have that CD.

I’ll never forget when I stood out in the sweltering heat at Texas Stadium, all day, sitting through bands I didn’t really care for back then. Bands like Powerman 5000, System of a Down, Kid Rock, and Korn. I’ll never forget when people started ripping off their seat cushions during a Powerman 5000 song and tossing them down on to the field, and when someone had to come out between songs and tell us to not do that anymore. I waited, through the heat, knowing that James Hetfield wouldn’t even be there because he had injured his back a few nights back. That Metallica still came on stage, using the frontmen from the other bands there to fill in for James, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And to top it off, you told us that you’d come back and play a free show once James was in tip-top shape.

I’ll never forget the night that, after drinking a good deal of beer, and eating enough pizza for two people with my 3 college roommates, I beat both Blackened, and …And Justice For All on expert on the drums on Rock Band. I felt like Lars that night, like I was an unstoppable drummer with a 32 piece drumset in front of me, arms of steel, flailing wildly, hitting patterns that would make even Neil Peart piss his pants.

Alas, those were the days.

But, I’m sorry Metallica, I realized today, during a conversation with Ryan, that, as he put it, “I guess I’ve just moved on from Metallica.” It hit me then, that I too had moved on. It’s a combination of St. Anger leaving such a bad taste in my mouth, and also me just not being into that heavy of music anymore. It’s that there’s an Unforgiven III on your new album Death Magnetic – how can you fit “unforgiven three” into the lyrics of a song?  I guess I’ve just evolved into more of what some might refer to as an “indie snob.” So be it.

On the best of days, I know I will still be able to jump right in to any song on Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, or Metallica, crank up the volume, and remember the good ol’ days of sheer Metallica blisfulness.

Thank you Metallica, for giving me great music to listen to, unforgettable concert experiences, and near impossible Guitar Hero and Rock Band songs to play.

I’ll miss you.

Good bye.