Metallica - Death Magnetic
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Free Music Notes for Death Magnetic
Free Music Review: The one we've been waiting for....
Hit: 5 Stars
One would have never thought that after so many years of trial and error, the one band that people counted out would have returned. After 1988's ...And Justice For All, Metallica swore off writing 7-8 minute songs (which is why they hadn't really played a lot of their older stuff in many years until their recent tour supporting St. Anger). Their extremely successful 1991 Black Album dropped the thrash metal sound that fans loved in favor of an arena rock sound, while Load and Reload went for more of a toned down, bluesier rock approach. If the cries of "sell-out" weren't bad enough at that point, 2003 saw the release of St. Anger. This album....went platinum and won a grammy. Pretty good, right? When fans read that this was going back to the band's old days, they immediately thought about the first four albums. Nobody thought "garage band." Well, that's what we got and then some. Raw production, tin drum sound, detuned guitars, lack of guitar solos....you see where I'm going? While it was a heavy album, it wasn't what fans had been hoping for. 5 years later, we have Death Magnetic, a welcome return to what fans want to hear. Don't believe me? 5 years after St. Anger, album hasn't been out 2 days yet, and it's already on board to go platinum. Death Magnetic is the first to feature bassist Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne) who lends his expertise of groove-based playing which makes him a better fit for this band than previous member Jason Newsted. Die-hards will probably still hold the late Cliff Burton close to their hearts, but they should not count Rob out. Many will have their own thoughts as to what other albums to compare this one to: Master Of Puppets, Kill 'Em All, etc. Sorry, but don't expect another Master of Puppets. I'm constantly reminded of ...And Justice For All and the Black Album with maybe a little Ride The Lightning. That's my assessment.
As was expected, many people already started complaining well before the album's release. This particular complaint: the sound quality. When select songs were available online, there were concerns of muddiness, distortion, and clipping. Since it's release, the complaints have spread like a virus. In fact, I should point out that I read similar complaints when Slipknot's Vol. 3 was released. Let me point out that Rick Rubin (producer), Greg Fidelman (mixing), and Ted Jensen (mastering) all worked on both albums. While you can never really please everybody, I do wish less people were so critical over some imperfections. If it's meant to sound that way, then fine. Anybody that hasn't bought or heard the album shouldn't worry. If you haven't really had the urge to buy a Metallica cd since Justice, then pick this one up.
Free Music Review: Review is for the music
Hit: 5 Stars
I have to say this is a really good effort of solid metal from Metallica - many ladder rungs above St. Anger in the right direction. Melodies and guitar riffs are very reminiscent of older Metallica despite James Hetfield's at times Load-ish sounding vocals. Guitar riffs don't seem as complex as their 80s material, many straight forward in a particular musical cycle but very thrash metal Metallica. Guitar solos are back here - again you can tell that's Kirk playing with his style and that signature wah-wah, it's nice to hear new Metallica with the solos again. Songs are quite long with song structures resembling the old-Metallica. Even with all the 80s Metallica like stuff on this record, it still sounds new and fresh musically, a new era for Metallica, albeit a better one than St. Anger. Personally I really liked the album and I've listened to it quite a few times for the music. It's definitely not as good as the old Metallica CDs, but it's somewhat of a comeback after Load-St. Anger in a style more familiar to old fans of the band. (Personal favorites: The End Of The Line, That Was Just Your Life, The Judas Kiss)
Okay...now I like the album musically but the production on this album is really bad as you can tell just by ready several of these reviews. Guitar tone sounds fine to me, I can tell it's tube-amp driven but it's very static-y at times and the bass is present...but quite distant and you can only hear it clearly in songs like "Cyanide" where the bass gets some alone time. Drums are better than St. Anger's drum sound especially with the snare but that bass drum clicks and clicks due to the sound clipping on this album. The vocals are a little quiet here and there and get drowned out at times during heavy parts of songs in choruses where the vocals should be louder ("All Nightmare Long" is a good example where the guitars seem to sound dominant over the vocals in the chorus). This album has been mixed too loud of volume and there are some fist-pumping moments where the audio just blares static into your speakers even at low volume. The production to me sounds worse than the Justice album, but better than St. Anger which was more "raw." This album is not "raw," it's just that the volume of the mix is too loud for CD quality audio.
Overall, 5 Stars for the music and the effort, Welcome back Metallica! But a 2 star for the production. It's not 0 stars for it because at least you can hear everything here and you can make out the entire song completely but it's dynamics have been cut down greatly due to the stupid Loudness War. Petition for a remix on this album!
Free Music Review: MetallicA is BACK!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Let me first start off saying that this is by far the BEST album released in since "Black". I know that half of the people who read this will disagree with me but that's okay, last time I've checked this is a free country. I first was introduced to MetallicA via the Masters album which was during the release of the Justice album. I was instantly hooked, I started to buy all things MetallicA. I liked the Black album so much that I saw them live two times that year and including the Summer Sanitarium tour in 2003 and the St. Anger tour later that year I've seen MetallicA live 12 times and they are far better live than on any album.
That being said I've always kept an open mind when I've gotten word of a new album. They all can't be like Kill, Ride, Master, and Justice. MetallicA as a group HAS to evolve, that includes what some might consider "failure" but, without failure you can't succeed. I'm probably a rarity of MetallicA fan since I like all of there albums. Each one has good and bad points. And who really cares if this doesn't get any air play? I don't, I live in BFE and only get one Country station and one Christian Rock station at my house. As an older fan, my music tastes have changed a lot since I was in high school in the late 80's. I've now been listening to Country music for the last 3 years but I STILL break out the MetallicA, Iron Maiden, Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeath, AC/DC, Pantera, Anthrax, Rush,etc. just as much as I listen to Gary Allen, Brad Paisley (The best guitar non-rock solos), Van Zant, and Allen Jackson. Plus I listen to one of the BEST bands out there and as far as I know it only had one song that got very limited air play and that is Dream Theater. All they have proved is that you don't need air play and short 5 minute songs to have a huge fan base. So, basically I would recommend this album for anybody who likes metal based music. It totally blows away anything else released by any of the so called new "metal/hard rock" bands in the last 10 years.
I didn't even know that MetallicA had a new album out until I heard something that sounded like MetallicA playing on a radio in a Best Buy and went to look for it in the shelf. My only complaint is the liner notes having the ridiculous cut outs, but if you cant figure out the lyrics after listening to the album a few times, too bad for you. It's not that difficult. Will I buy their next album? Ear unheard it will be a definite YES. I have over 30 MetallicA CD's in my collection, so why would I want to stop now? Besides I was known as MetallicA MikE in college for a reason.
Free Music Review: They're back! And then some :o)
Hit: 5 Stars
To be blunt, if Death Magnetic had been released after "...And Justice For All" we would all be talking about the 5 albums of classic Metallica before the Black album.
Yes, Death Magnetic is that good.
It's not a Master of Puppets, or a Ride the Lightning and there is no stand out track, no 'One' or 'Creeping Death' but as a whole it does feel like a logical progression from those first four classics.
I've listened to Death Magnetic dozens of times now; at first with a big wide grin on my face and goosebumps; as a long time Metallica fan from the Ride era the weight on my shoulders has been lifted: Metallica are fun again!
Subsequent listens and the hooks are revealling themselves. The "Show your scars/We die hard" refrain in "Broken, Beat & Scarred", the euphoric building of tension in "The Unforgiven III" and the layered guitar frenzy of the instrumental "Suicide & Redemption" are masterful pieces of vintage Metallica. The riff heavy opener and classic bludgeoning closer "My Apocalypse" recalls "Damage Inc" and "The Frayed Ends of Sanity". The slow and brooding "The Day that Never Comes" rolling and rolling until it erupts into a classic Metallica chug "Love is a four letter word, Never spoken here..." and then the thrash descends... It's awesome, it really is and anyone with the vaguest fondness for the Metallithrash is going to be head over heels.
Yes, the album is far from perfect. Lars really needs a new drum kit (i can only imagine how good this would be with Gene Hoglan on the sticks! WOW!) The lyrics are schoolbook stuff and there's none of the gang style sing-a-longs a la "Master, Master..." And whether this is a cynical ploy to recapture their youth or the beginnings of a new era, we'll just have to wait and see.
For now, Death Magnetic buys them the benefit of the doubt. Because it works. Metallica are on fire. James can still growl menacingly and Hammett sure hasn't forgotten how to piece a solo together. The songs stretch 7, 8, and 9 minutes long but nothing here ever outstay's it's welcome. And if they do sound like the best bits of "St. Anger", "...Justice" and (a little bit of) "Metallica/Load", then i'm not complaining. We can all play 'spot the riff' but while you are, i guarantee your foot will be tapping and your head nodding and a smile will be spreading across your face no matter how hard you try to deny it!
Come on... Sing... "and we'll hunt you down without mercy, hunt you down all nightmare long..."
Free Music Review: More another masterpiece than a "comeback album"
Hit: 5 Stars
Many people have been describing this album as a "return to form", linking it to Justice for All and therefore calling it a comeback. It is... partly true.
True, the songs are very complex and mostly long, à la ...Justice. True, Kirk Hammett and his solos are back, with a vengeance.
But this album also incorporates elements from more recent albums: some catchy choruses are reminiscent of the black album (BBS, Unforgiven III, Cyanide), and although nobody seems to notice James' vocals have a raw edge not dissimilar to the one he had on the must-maligned St Anger.
So, the only acceptable negative comment for this album is that for the first time since I listen to them (20 years!), Metallica here has not explored new boundaries or tried to innovate. Stupid metalheads hate Load/ Reload, but those albums were remarkable if only because of the blues, country and jazz influences that they incorporated. S&M is another example of innovation, as is St Anger (please name another band who makes their most violent album after 20 years??)
Still, Death Magnetic is a masterpiece because of the quality of the songs it has, which mostly incorporate the elements that have made Metallica legends in the first place. And since they have also incorporated their later experience, it is not a "step back".
My favorite songs are:
1. That Was Just Your Life is a 7 minute monster, the rythm section and riffage are simply amazing. The intro seems to prove they are alive, and yes they are!! An incredible song
3. BBS Changes in rythm, great lyrics, catchy chorus excellent
4. The Day That Never Comes: The 1st single... If you like Fade, One or Sanitarium, this one is for you. The last part of the song is insanely fast yet one can distinctively hear the overlapping guitar harmonies.
5. All Nightmare Long. Great intro, rythm guitar, chorus although James does not sing as much... huge solos and brutal finish. Incredible
7. Unforgiven 3. Controversial, this one has grown on me, I think the lyrics are beautiful. And this one actually contains an innovation ... shhh surprise
10. My Apocalypse. The Modern Day equivalent of Damage or Dyers Eve
I ve heard Cyanide live twice in September in Europe and I have to say it sounds better and edgier live than on the album.
Enjoy and don t believe the haters that love Metallica bashing, this is another masterpiece!