Oh my fucking god.
Metallica is back in a big way with 2008’s implausibly exceptional Death Magnetic. Their best album in 17 years and one of the best pure metal albums of the millennium finds the band cutting a fierce swath of diabolical thrash metal through 10 superb tracks of metal brilliance.
After attempting to sound “raw” on St. Anger and dropping two records of hard rock sanitation prior to that, Metallica’s ninth studio album is mostly fast as fuck and places the 40-something thrashers in the middle of a set of songs that contain enough unruly energy to fuel a jumbo jet filled with psychopaths.
The bashing and hammering is reminiscent of their late-80s insanity, making Rick Rubin a perfect fit for the proceedings. The recording was done at Sound City Studios, marking the first time the band has recorded outside of the Bay Area since their self-titled 1991 masterpiece. After mixing songs and performing a few new ones live at various concerts, Death Magnetic was finally ready to be released to a famished public.
It hits stores on September 12, 2008.
The first conspicuous thing about the record is that the songs are lengthy and colossal. There are two tracks over the eight-minute-mark and all of them exceed five minutes. And for the first time since …And Justice For All, there’s an instrumental cut.
A heartbeat starts things off unhurriedly on “That Was Just Your Life,” a haunting song with a nice slow guitar build and an ear-splitting preface that explodes in about six different directions to formulate a proper thrash stunner. Lars Ulrich keeps a feverish velocity and James Hetfield’s vocals tear through it. The breathless pace is a solid warning of what is to come.
“The End of the Line” continues the Metallica song structure that coats the album, launching an extended introduction that leads into a weighty jam of Kirk Hammett and Hetfield guitars. It has a great “live” feel, as though the track was cut in one take with illimitable energy prevailing over the proceedings. Watch for Hammett’s searing solo, too.
Robert Trujillo’s bass accentuates the deafening intro to “Broken, Beat, & Scarred.” The tune’s riff is the showstopper as it cuts through the air like a blade through tissue and gives the song another rhythm above Ulrich’s clattering milieu. Heavy as it is, it’s actually strangely funky and harmonious too. And Hetfield’s “What don’t kill ya make ya more strong” lyrics make the whole thing kind of…optimistic?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Lee
LOL I love you. Seriously. Great review. Obviously you loved it. I had some reservations about a few things, like some of the solos were WOW, and some of them fell flat. A few of the riffs sounded circus-y (the riff before Kirk's non-wah solo in the Day), but hey, it's all good. You warm up to songs.
But I have to say, when I heard End of the Line the first time, I said to myself, "This is not Metallica. It can't be Metallica. IS THIS METALLICA?" And by the time I heard All Nightmare Long, I was incoherent and dead. I mean, that fucking track right there? That's the exemplification of why this band was on top for years and was the beau of the metal community.
Here's to an amazing 10th album that beats the shit out of this one. Because if they can do that -- I repeat your sentiment: OH MY FUCKING GOD.
2 - Vijay
A really amazing album. Every fucking song Kicks Ass. They know how not to disappoint their fans.
A 30-something guy who still loves what the 40-something guys rock !
3 - Snig
Great review, gave me chills as I had it on Flat out when I read it! Im glad the the riffs are back not just St. anger power chords flat out. It gets better every time I listen to it.
OH MY FUCKING GOD!
4 - Lonboy
Listened to all the tracks. Wow, I thought great metal albums didn't exist anymore. All Nightmare long is so incredible I had to pinch myself because I couldn't believe it. I'm am so happy with this new album I could dance. The instrumental on the first listen had my excited, on the second listen I know now it will be a metal legend. Oh My Fucking God Metallica owns.
5 - David Gerard
"It's the way business is done these days," Mr Ulrich said. "And there's the novelty of anyone wanting to listen to a new Metallica album."
6 - Mike in L.A.
The Metal Masters are back to reclaim their throne, All Hail Metallica! Easily their best album in many years and one worthy enough to be placed right alongside their first 4 masterworks. After 5 days and probably 15 full listens through I'm still in shock that Metallica had it in them to produce such an epic album. I guess now we can say their main problem was Bob Rock, the second they brought in Rick Rubin he was able to have them tap into their greatness. I think Bob Rock started acting like he was their fifth member, they were wise to get rid of him but one has to think what albums they could have been making these past 2 decades under thrash-savvy Rick Rubin instead. All I know I am ecstatic Metallica hasn't 'lost it' and we're all lucky to have them back -finally-
All Hail Metallica, they've come back to regain their throne!!!
7 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
HA! There's no more entity to sue(Napster), so we get the flexible mindset from Mr.Ulrich: "It's the way business is done these days,".
8 - Cannonshop
So...what you're saying is, Metallica is finally good again? I'd about given up on them entirely after the craptacular sound they had in the nineties.
9 - OrgasmO
metallica rulez for years here in the philippines!!!
10 - METAL MANIA
I have to say i have been a fan of Metallica since i was 12 i am now 28. my mother took me to the spectrum in Philly for the black album tour in 1992/93. This is the first album since the black album that i can Proudly turn up as loud as my stereo systems can handle.
I love ALL NIGHTMARE LONG, what a song!!
11 - KillYouQuick
This album is, dare I say, one of Metallica's best ever made. I never gave up on them and now I get my reward. All Nightmare Long is the shit. This album makes me want to buttfuck for 3 days.
12 - Peter James
this Album is better than Master of Puppets. There has to be some-one who says it. Don't be scared, it really is THAT good! Kirk would be VERY happy
13 - Jordan Richardson
This album is better than Master of Puppets!
There ya go, Peter. ;)
14 - Tom Johnson
KillYouQuick, it's easy to say it makes YOU want to "buttfuck for 3 days" but the important thing is does it make the person on the receiving end want to?
Nothing I've heard so far indicates it's the better of MoP, Justice, or even the black album, but it's close. It sounds like where the band should have been in the Load era rather than going for the Southern-metal vibe that inexplicably came to the forefront.
15 - ali alvarado
im glad to say that im a diehard fan of metallica since 18 years, in this time im just not the lately young boy with a long hair in my back, im 34 years old, im working in a bank called BANPRO(IN NICARAGUA) im married, with a children forward to come in this world in a couple of months, AND IM STILL LOVE THE MUSIC FROM THIS BAND, IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF MY LIFE, AND IM SO GLAD LIKE CREAM BAND SAID IN THE PAST, " IM SO GLAD THAT METALLICA IS WITH A BRAND NEW ALBUM!!
16 - jason
back and better than ever
17 - RidingTheLightning
Oddly enough, "OH MY FUCKING GOD" was actually what I did say after listening to this album. More, please.
18 - Rob
This CD is just what we all hoped St Anger would be when we were told it was a return to old school Metallica.
This CD is a riff-o-rama that only Hetfield has delivered in years past on the classics.James has always been the Riff Master and this showcases so many riffs on one or two songs alone you find it hard to believe he has more to offer up.
Love it.Have had my copy for 2 days now and must say i hope the next CD isn't 5 years in the making but if it is,it's gonna be hard to top this.
I think this effort falls in between AJFA and the Black album.This one is sure to shut critics up until the next chance they get to try and tear them down..To end with lyrics from a favorite of mine of there to all naysayers.
"When you thought it was all said and done..BOW DOWN!"
19 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
'Bout time a Metallica album with some double bass again!
Definitely not better than Master... but I have to give them credit for a slight return to form. Though, I think because of all those watered down years that they need to work harder to lose the "Southern Rock" influence. Next album they should focus purely on the Thrash w/ Hammett getting rid of that f*cking wah-wah pedal!
High Note: All Nightmare Long
Low Note: The Unforgiven III
Final Note: A Metallica CD in approx. 15 years that I wanna burn for my friends & not in my microwave!!
20 - JamieB
Not sure this album is better than MOP, maybe on the same level. It is definitely better than Black/Load/Reload/St. Anger. Not saying much though is it. I love Suicide & Redemption, 10 minutes of in your face fuck off and die. YES!!!!!
21 - Jordan Richardson
A Metallica CD in approx. 15 years that I wanna burn for my friends & not in my microwave!!
LOL! Well said, Brian.
22 - Deadkid
Metallica, they really put the riff in riff raff. LOL. Fuckin' awesome album, All Nightmare Long kicked the hell out of me. Oh my fuckin' God? Absofuckinlutely!
23 - Tom Johnson
Yep, this is really, really good. Rick Rubin really worked some magic with these guys. I only wish James would stop with the "emotive" singing that he picked up with the Loads, which is luckily minimized most of the time. Yell, James, don't sing.
24 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Why thank you Jordan...
I'm trying to be lenient here considering I do agree with Jamie B that there stuff after And Justice... up till now has sucked big time. This album is a turn for the better and they shouldn't stop here! They should keep Rick Rubin on the board, hone in on the skills by focusing on Thrash & losing the ballads. Tightening up the technical parts & not producing long tracks just for the sake of being long. Then they could tour the world with acts like Spellbound, Municipal Waste,Illogicist,etc.. AND not be considered some Retroreminiscence [<-possible coining].
I hope it only gets better from here!!!
METAL UP YOUR ASS!!
25 - Small P
The boys had to redeem themselves from St. Anger. The Movie was a glimpse into the reasons for its lack of success( if not failure). Too much thought, second guessing etc. This album has me hooked from the beginning. Fast and hard thought provoking and ass kicking. It leaves you with no alternative...Play it again! I was curious and skeptical about The Unforgiven III,but I was surprised that the "sequel gimic" did not apply here. I have been a fan since Ride The Lightning, I did not care that they cut their hair for the Black Album. Did not understand or care why Jason left the band, or Napster etc. Bottom line I feel like they have gotten their shit together and are showing their prowess at a genre that has been regarded as old and so last decade.I say LET METAL RULE ONCE AGAIN!!!