gloco - I could be wrong, but I think most music today undergoes heavy dynamic compression, Metallica included.
Listen to some classical music at an authorative volume level, and don't change the voume and pop in the black album. Sure, rock by nature dosen't have as wide a dynamic range as classical, but the quiet parts are made louder then they should be in most music, in order to sound better on the average stereo, boom box, and car radio.
Also, more simplistic recordings are definantly compressed - for example Victor Wooten - Overjoyed - the only insturment is Wooten's bass, thats it, so some dynamic compression makes it audible
, and in this case it is fully warranted.
Someone correct me if I am wrong please.
Wes - I think you said it right, but it isn't entirely subjective. Transatlantic's CD sounds like crap because it has a load of distortion. Therion's CDs occasionally have some distortion on them too, but not nearly as bad.
There is a good example - Therion shows the use of compression in rock - the strings are much more prominent then in an orchestral type setting even against the loud, distorted huitars.