As a collector and fan of bootlegs, I found it quite easy to listen to this collection. For those people who cannot listen to live recordings unless they are a pristine, 100% reproduction of the songs as they appear on the studio albums, there is no use coming near this release. In the long run, this wasn't released for those fans.
On the other hand, if you are a Metallica fan, who has seen the band on all of their tours of Australia, this is an interesting trip down memory lane. And THAT is who this release is for.
Containing two songs from each of their Australian tours (1989, 1993, 1999 and 2004), the quality of each song varies from location to location, and era to era. And that is how it should be. Just because Metallica now record every show they do, and offer it for sale at LiveMetallica.com does not mean they always did, and if you want a record of their material from those early eras, then bootlegs are your only choice.
So - my low rating for this EP does not come from the quality of the recording. It comes from the song selection. Quite simply, I do not like four of the eight songs here - "The Unforgiven", "Low Man's Lyric", "Devil's Dance" and "Frantic" are below par Metallica songs. They don't cut it, from an era of Metallica that, for me, is a bit hard to swallow.
If you enjoy the albums from the 90's, ignore the quality of the recordings and enjoy Metallica in their great live setting. If you are more a fan from the 80's era, then apart from the two brilliant songs here from ...And Justice For All you are probably like me in being able to put this aside.
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