Death Magnetic (Audio CD)

Metallica: The Return to Glory Back in 1981, Metallica won the majority of rock fans with their subversive, rough-hearted rock medleys and lyrics and their pacy, iconic instrumental backing. Since entering the modern world, Metallica still have a devoted modern generation in their fanbase, but most Metallica songs have either ranged from average to acceptable, but hardly as striking as the glory days of this much-loved group. Many fans, like myself, consider this to be the band's testament to see if they still have that spark within them that made them so popular in the 80's. This is Metallica's Death Magnetic, and has Metallica still got it? The album begins with a truly refreshing and dark single of "That was just your life". It sounded exactly how Metallica should sound. James Hetfield's rough yet aspiring vocals truly gave the subtly dark state of mind that the group do smoothly insert in their considerably erratic and loud musical stylings. The song sounded fresh, and managed to convey clear feeling, as well as the definition of what metal should be. I was starting to think this was the ultimate return to form for Metallica. The rest of this album is Metallica at a godly status. The songs that followed which were 'The End of the Line', 'Broken, Beat and Scarred' and many more reminded me of the Metallica heydey where it felt new and cool. Metallica's biggest problem, as a group, before this album, was that a lot of their new singles often felt recycled and lacking the department of orginality, that problem is virtually inexisent in this record. Metallica finally felt hip again, fresh and bold. The only criticism I can put towards Metallica's latest album is some forgettable tracks like Cyanide and others. They wern't bad, just some felt a bit too lite for Metallica, or too laid back for the group. But, the rest of the album has music that is up to the iconic standard of the group's glory days. Overall, Death Magnetic is a truly stunning return to glory for Metallica, and Metallica's evident back catalouge use in this album works completely to create something fresh. Metallica, please keep it this way. It's great to have you guys back, and back with a bang.

sack the masterer This is the first review I've written for Amazon. And for a good reason. I love Metallica's 80's albums. Potentially this could have been a return to form - the best since "and justice for all" (yes - I do not like the black album). BUT as other people have commented - the production or mastering on this album is dreadful! I hate to sound like an old fart but it is that bad it is actually unlistenable. Rock music is about distortion and noise but - well put this on your headphones and listen for yourself. Where is flemming rasmussen when you need him? And Lars thinks there's nothing wrong. Yeh alright mate.

Metallica? Didn't they used to be good? No, Metallica used to be Awesome. But it's been a long time since those giddy heights, and while Metallica fans like myself were always going to buy this record, we'd all been expecting another let down. St Anger sounded amazing for the first 20 seconds but then the disappointment was crushing. So, another badly polished poo from a band with an army of (albeit disgruntled) slaves? No. This is without a shadow of a doubt the best album of the year, and comfortably the best Metallica album in 17 years. I bought it on day of release, but the lateness in this review is down to giving the album time to settle, and work it's way into my consciousness. Frankly I needn't have bothered. It's immediate, raw, brilliant and above all, Totally Metallica. It's also the first Metallica album since "Black" that I can listen to from start to finish, over and over again. It's welded to my car stereo, my iPod earphones are nearly worn out and still I want to listen to it again. You could even look at St Anger again now, as a band with a huge amount of energy but missing focus for some well publicised reasons. The focus is now back with a vengeance. Maybe it's no coincidence that this is Trujillo's first album "proper" with the band, as something has obviously clicked for the band as a whole and he's the new blood. Make your own mind up, but his playing is superb and very classic. They've even reintroduced the instrumental track, not seen since 1988's "...And Justice For All" (which was the last song co-written with the late Cliff Burton). The singles (The Day That Never Comes; Cyanide) sound great in album context and the new single (All Nightmare Long) is a monster. I really can't wait to see these played live. I admit to being initially dubious about "Unforgiven III", expecting a tired re-hash of a clasic, but I'm happy to report that it's a standout track, with a blinding chorus and a lovely Ennio Morricone style intro. It's an inevitable single release. Overall, I'm blown away. Death Magnetic makes Metallica sound like the band they were, rather than the pantomime they were looking like becoming. Thank God. If you've bought this already, you'll agree with me. If you haven't, then buy it immediately and find your faith restored in the best way possible. More than that, for the first time in a long time, I want to get my guitar and learn these songs. All of them. I already said that it is the best album of the year and I stand by that. This is in the same year as new albums from the likes of Biffy Clyro, Avenged Sevenfold, Dragonforce, a top notch offering from Slipknot and the highly anticipated new Guns N Roses. Death Magnetic canes them all. I really did not think they still had it in them. How glad I am that I was wrong.

Worst Album Ever !! I've loved metallica for years and can't get enough of their early stuff. Even loaded and reloaded are excellent, however this album for me is a real let down. O.K. I know there's lots of five star reviews for this album and I can't believe so many people have rated it so highly. Ignore the five and four star ratings and read the reviews from three stars downwards they're a much more realistic evaluation of this poor album.

Back from the Dead..Nostalgic or Not..They are Relevant once again Firstly, I'm not gonna go on about critical analysing and dissecting of 'the new return to form album' as everyone and their mothers dog has done that..and its got boring..So basically, as a fan who has been loyal since '88, then dropped away due to a dirge of poor turnouts, see Load, Re-load, St-anker( that did stink!)I was really hoping, come on guys, one last BIG PUSH..they have the money, whats there to loose! And I think they might have just pulled it off in my opinion. It wasn't ever gonna be easy..first the Incredible hype behind it, months of studio footage on their web..the talk of, oh, it's back to Justice days, a bit of Masters..etc.etc, have to say it had me hooked too!!! So on first listens..yes I got shivers..it WAS like returning to 88..the opening, a bold rush to return to Battery begins..BUT, and only really a little one, sometimes they lost the point, kinda off the windy road and back into the comfort zone..then back into rough territory again. So, its not perfect, but no one said it had to be did they? This is flawed genius in some respects.. A major return to form on tracks like All Nightmare Long, The Judas Kiss, and Broken, Beat and Scarred, which has a great chorus in my opinion..even The Day That Never Comes has an infectious quality that merges moments of Fade to Black and One..they might be trying too hard to give the fans what they want..but it is back in the right direction..and thats a good start.. One thing this album certainly does deliver..it has twists and turns, an experiment if you like, of what they were capable of, and can still be..With a few nudges in the right direction, the next one, if they get round to it, could just be their second Master..