I never really listened to them before the Black album, but I do like some of the older stuff. However, I'm more into the later... Black, Load & Reload, S&M and Garage, Inc.
I've never understood what everyone's problem was with them in their changing of style. They were still rock, just not hard core metal... I mean, come on, the guys had been playing that hard core metal style for 15 years by then... they kinda just... changed. You know? I'm a whole different person than I was 15 years ago, and while I do still like some of the same music, I do believe my perspective would change a bit in the interim, which naturally is going to affect my artistic creativity, don't ya think???
Shit, Hetfield was 20 when Kill 'Em All came out... and 33 when Load came out. How different were you at 33 from 20 (to those who are even that age yet)? I can tell you I'm about 1000% different now than I was then.
Oh well.
Granted no one in this thread is attacking them for "selling out" as I've heard so many do, so kudos for that... just mainly stating a preference (except one *** who made some "sissy" reference).
Whatever, I like the newer stuff, but I haven't listened to St. Anger (even though I've had it for like 3 years, lol).