Rocktober 19: Disposable Heroes, by Metallica [Acoustic vs. Original]

My 31 Days Of Rocktober resumes headbanging after a couple mellow days, and tonight is mandatory Metallica. But we’ll ease into it by comparing a 1986 thrash metal classic with a newer acoustic version. The song is Disposable Heroes, an appropriate warmup for tomorrow’s jobless claims, a weekly job market stat that’s considered to be improving if “only” 400,000 or less have filed for unemployment benefits.

The main lyrics are a first-person soldier’s war stories, and the chorus lyrics are a second-person commanding officer demoralizing the soldier. Like so many Metallica songs, it’s a tour de force lyrically and musically. Below-left is the 1986 studio original, and below-right is a 2007 live acoustic version. Comparing the two, you hear just how incredibly deep Metallica really is. Even if you’re not a metal head. Which would be truly unfortunate for you.