Michael Sweet on Metallica — Not My Style of Metal, I'd Rather Listen to Judas Priest

It is the kind of admission that gets you a beating in metal circles — and Michael Sweet knows it. On the podcast "Wired In The Empire", the Stryper frontman was asked where he stands on Metallica, and answered in two stages.

First, the bow: Metallica's greatness cannot be denied, their achievements are impressive, and practically everyone on the planet knows the band; they are probably the biggest metal band there has ever been. Then the break: he simply is not a fan. It is not his style of metal, it does nothing for him — he would not put on a Metallica record. He would rather listen to Judas Priest; and when he wants something genuinely heavy, he reaches for Pantera far more often.

Sweet is specific about what does not land: the vocal style, the lead playing, even the drumming are not for him. He is aware the take will irritate people — it is like someone admitting they never got into Van Halen or the Beatles. Disrespect, he stresses, is not the intent: what Metallica have achieved, and continue to achieve, is remarkable and deserved.

Source: BraveWords.