Forget St. Anger, this is Metallica at their very best - fantastic riffs, powerful singing and kickass solos.
Turn the clock back to 2001 - long time bassist Jason Newsted had dropped out of Metallica due to conflicting issues within the band. Just as things started to get worse, lead singer James Hetfield entered rehab for his alcohol addiction. With no-one to watch over them, the future of the biggest heavy metal band in history was looking very bleak.
But fans the world over cheered when, in 2003, Metallica appeared to pull it altogether with the release of St. Anger, their eighth studio album. However, their return was not well received - gone were the blistering solos, being replaced with lacklustre guitar riffs and rough sounding drum beats. It was a dark time for the band - Metallica appeared to have completely changed from their 80s style.
In 2006, it was reported that Metallica were back in the studio, writing material for their new album. New songs were played at several concerts, showing that the group were returning to something resembling their old sound. Now, and five years since their last album, Death Magnetic is upon us - and Metallica have shown the heavy metal scene they are still the best in the business.
The Return of the Masters
The ten track album clocks in at 75 minutes, with all the songs breaking five minutes. The general theme of the album is, as one might guess, death. Opening up with 'That Was Just Your Life', which begins with a faint heart beat, this introductory song only gives a small idea of what to expect on the rest of the album. Several songs feel like they should have been released on ...And Justice For All.
The album feels like a combination of their old material. Combine ...And Justice For All and The Black Album with the best parts of Load and Reload and the result is Death Magnetic. Not all the songs are complete thrash, especially 'The Unforgiven III' (following on from The Unforgiven from The Black Album and The Unforgiven II from Reload). The first single to be released, 'The Day That Never Comes', brings back fond memories of 'One' and 'Fade to Black', while 'My Apocalypse' feels like a sequel to 'Dyer's Eve'.
It's also great to have the old Metallica tradition of having an instrumental song on the album, this one called 'Suicide and Redemption'. Out of all of their instrumental songs, this is the heaviest of them. It doesn't have the same style that the late Cliff Burton's brilliant 'Orion' does, but it's still a good addition to Death Magnetic.
Solos? Yes, Please
Hammett has not held back whatsoever this time around, with blisteringly fast solos. Many songs contain several solos, rather than just being restrained to one. Hetfield, on the other hand, may have lost the timbre in his voice from the 80s, but his singing is still brilliant, though the lyrics aren't exactly the best. Ulrich never seems to slow down either, but at times his drumming interferes with the solos.
Death Magnetic is arguably the best Metallica album since ...And Justice For All. From the top level singing from Hetfield, to the powerful solos from Hammett, this is the album all Metallica fans have been waiting for since the early 90s. Welcome back Metallica...we missed you.
9/10
The copyright of the article Death Magnetic Review in Speed/Thrash Metal is owned by Mark Timlin. Permission to republish Death Magnetic Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
welcome back and forward metallica, once again you fuck them all.. probably one of their best album possibly the best band in the world
Sep 8, 2008 12:46 AM
Guest
:
ITS GOOD REALLY GOOD i wouldnt say 10/10 but 9 for sure the more i listen
to the album the more i like it most metallica fans should be happy
Sep 8, 2008 2:42 AM
Guest
:
Best since Justice.
Sep 8, 2008 9:20 AM
Guest
:
believe every word of it..already downloaded the torrent of the album and
cant stop listening to it. ALBUM IS AMAZING!!!!!
Sep 9, 2008 6:51 PM
Guest
:
A really great Album, I would'nt give it a 10 but it's a realy good album.
It's trully more thrasher than the Black album... so I think it's their
best albums since And Justice... It reaches an 8, for sure.
Sep 9, 2008 8:46 PM
Guest
:
Great review... and spot on it is their best album since Justice. Been a
fan since Ride and I can safely say to all the doubters... buy this album
Sep 9, 2008 9:17 PM
Guest
:
haha downloaded the torrent, you better still buy it
Sep 10, 2008 1:38 AM
Guest
:
I managed to listen to the full album and while i agree that it's way
better than saint anger, i have to say it falls short of regaining their
old glory.
you can view my full, song by song review here:
http://geekzkrieg.com/metallicas-death-magnetic-reviewed/
Sep 10, 2008 2:57 AM
Guest
:
Hell yeah! This is the best Metallica album in years! I'm so fukkin' glad
that they're back on track again.
Sep 10, 2008 4:45 AM
Guest
:
This review is very true... I've heard the album, and I can say: Metallica
is back fuckers!!! Brilliant album (though I've always loved everything
Metallica did, sometimes much more that others...), frantic riffs, super
power and a new breath od Metallica. James is really frantic, Kirk is
unleashed and super creative soloing, Lars doesn't stop hammering and Rob
makes the sound so tight... he is awesome (best bass since Cliff). If you
love metal, you must buy this album! It kicks major ass!!!
Sep 10, 2008 7:47 AM
Guest
:
As a long time fan who hated St. Anger and made excuses for Load this album
really lives up the hype. It's funny really, the first time I heard the
first track I just kept smiling and thinking, really?! It's this good? I
can't believe it, but it really is that good. I can't give it enough
praise. Sure some of the lyrics are lame and Lars' drumming needs to be
throttled up some more but overall it kicks ass. Which brings up a point.
Why are they making Lars' drums sound so weak? His hats are open but it
sounds like hes not consistently hitting them..and the drums just sound
kinda quiet...small gripe, just turn up the bass.
Sep 11, 2008 12:10 PM
Guest
:
Hetfield sounds awful.. why the hell did he have singing lessons in the
first place?? And I wish unforgiven III hadn't made it on the album..
Sep 11, 2008 12:23 PM
Guest
:
wellcome back masters of metal! death magnetic is much better than what ive
been expecting,should hear 'the end of the line' 'the judas kiss' too.
i'll say 9/10. also these guys are over 45 now, everybody should remember
this before saying anything. what ever they do they'll stay as the legand
who wrote the metal history, hell yeah!!
Sep 11, 2008 1:43 PM
Guest
:
Album was officiallY released on 12th I was walking past record store today
when they weere stacking shelves an got my copy a day early its fucking
awesome!! Cant wait 2 see them on 15th at o2 arena in london for one
of the 1st 2 full previews of the album VIP lounge here I come!! woot
woot!!
Sep 11, 2008 3:49 PM
Guest
:
I heard the leak and I'm rushing out to buy it tomorrow! Metallica is back
people! This cd fucking rocks!!!!
Sep 12, 2008 8:02 AM
Guest
:
Are you insane? This is by far the second worst(St. Anger still number
one)album from them, the only song which I might say could be worth
anything is "My Apocalypse". I'm a FAN, but I have to be
analytical when reviewing this album, and definitely it's not a high point
in their careers.
Sorry Rock Gods, they're not quite ready yet!
Sep 12, 2008 8:07 AM
Guest
:
Are you insane? This is by far the second worst(St. Anger still number
one)album from them, the only song which I might say could be worth
anything is "My Apocalypse". I'm a FAN, but I have to be
analytical when reviewing this album, and definitely it's not a high point
in their careers.
Sorry Rock Gods, they're not quite ready yet!
Sep 12, 2008 8:45 AM
Guest
:
I got it, played the first song for my buddy... he just stared at me with a
smile.
nuff said.
Sep 12, 2008 9:12 AM
Guest
:
you can hear the album at the website... this is a fucking badass album
Sep 12, 2008 12:13 PM
Guest
:
"Hetfield, on the other hand, may have lost the timber in his voice
from the 80s, but his singing is still brilliant, though the lyrics aren't
exactly the best. Ulrich never seems to slow down either, but at times his
drumming interferes with the solos."
This statement alone
tells you that the album isn't perfect. So no, its not a 10/10.
BUT, Metallica are back with a bang. This album will kick ass live. I
like the fact that Metallica didn't actually try to 'copy' their material
from the past, instead they went back for influence...and the result is one
of best modern thrash metal albums. 9/10!!!!
Metallicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Sep 12, 2008 3:44 PM
Guest
:
Yeah, first thing I thought when I heard some clips was Justice crossed
with the Black album. It's been so long since they released a new album and
you actually hear good reviews. Take that Load!
Sep 12, 2008 4:34 PM
Guest
:
Vintage
Sep 12, 2008 8:16 PM
Guest
:
Welcome back fkers....love the album...then again anything is better than
St.Anger. This album for some reason reminds me of an old Testament
album....Its awsome but I really think hetfield needs to go back to his
"Master" voice...immpaticularly "Battery"
Im
telling you 'This I swear, This I swear, THIS... I.... SWEAR' (The day that
never comes) is hurt! Big time. Listen to 'Battery' stop forcing ur angry
voice. Other thatn that its no "Master" but its sounding fking
A'. Its good to hear Lars and Kirk having a blast...Welcome back
boys...PLEASE DONT STOP!!!!
Sep 12, 2008 10:31 PM
Guest
:
I can see not liking this album if you began listening to the band at or
after reload, but for the older crowd who were lucky enough to know the
band in the 80's WELCOME BACK!!!! The younger group can have there 1000s of
different styles of rock. Make mine METALLICA. Oh how I missed the sound of
a train coming at me full speed. Believe it or not Lars even seems to be
less anoying than normal, it will never be perfect but as long as he can
keep his mouth shut we should be good
Sep 13, 2008 6:06 AM
Guest
:
Yes!Metallica are back....My Apocalypse blows everthing away, that happend
between ...and justice for all and St.anger. It#s great to see that
the old muthafuckas recognized whre they came from.
Sep 13, 2008 9:28 AM
Guest
:
If we didnt live in the download era saleswise metallica would be the
greatest group EVER!! Still death magnetic is here to remind us that
musicwise metallica are the best... heard it many many times its
breathtaking, highly addictive ... the sound wonders in your head all day
long ... pure Metallicaine... Thank you for the music guys ... AWESOME in every aspect... missed you , now you are back..
Sep 13, 2008 10:11 AM
Guest
:
I got the cd yesterday and played it to the entire neighborhood with my PA
because it kicks so much ass
METALLICA IS BACK
Sep 13, 2008 11:59 AM
Guest
:
Welcome back, my favourite band.
The best since 'Justice'
indeed, without a second's doubt! I had come to think Metallica would never
release anything like this again. Thank fuck I was wrong!
Sep 14, 2008 6:00 AM
Guest
:
Jesus Christ! I love how the little bitches have been crying that Metallica
has sold out, their songs aren't long enough or they just sound slower and
weaker than they did in the 80's and now Metallica just delivered some of
the best metal in the past 20 years and the bitches are still bitching. Go
listen to some emo and shut the fuck up!
Metallica just got
their belt back!
I was here in the early 80's to hear them
invent speed metal and I'm here in 2008 to hear them teach it to a new
generation of wanna be metal heads who think Korn invented metal....lol
Here's your clue...Real metal bands don't have turntables.
Sep 14, 2008 4:16 PM
Guest
:
Metallica will always be Metallica. Absolutely the best group
ever..... And their new album is a masterpiece.... anyone who posts
a negative comment will eat his words with chili and poison. Metallica
was is and will be the core of hardcore. Metal orbits around them.
Sep 14, 2008 5:58 PM
Guest
:
The album is terrible if you are cruising home in your car after you buy
the album. You find yourself wanting to speed, drive erratically and
wondering why you don’t have a car that can express all the adrenaline
rushing through your veins, the blood pumping through your body and the
purely raw emotion that Death Magnetic makes you feel.
I hope
you have great speakers to blast this through. If you do not, go to someone
that does or you are not doing it justice. Metallica is back with its fast,
heavy, blast beat, diminished, galloping (YES!!!! GALLOPING IS BACK!) high
distortion, high treble, amazingly NON-tin heavy ass drums and spine
tingling lyrics.
‘Broken, Beat and Scarred’ is perhaps the best
heavy metal song ever written. It tops Battery, One, MoP, Enter Sandman and
Sad But True. I was one of those fans who lost a lot of respect after St.
Anger for the band, but I had to buy this new album to find that faint hope
that James, Lars and Kirk had the heart and balls to take greatest rock
band in the world that is Metallica, out on a high.
My hopes
were very much realized but one thing saddens me. Will any other band be
able to top this or is this the pinnacle of traditional heavy metal that we
can experience?
Much love from Australia.
Sep 14, 2008 9:14 PM
Guest
:
Got the album. Loved it absolutely. This is the one band which can make
music out of thrash metal .... ALL NIGHTMARE LONG is the song of the album
...
Sep 14, 2008 10:24 PM
Guest
:
Yucky...this album is way too heavy. I liked load and re-load. this sounds
like slayer or sumthin. They should go more like Bon Jovi!!!!
Sep 14, 2008 10:52 PM
Guest
:
This album again is a disappointment..... There's nothing intricate about
it, it just drones on. Lars does nothing special... Listen to Master of
puppets and And Justice, it's not just boring old 4/4.
Sep 15, 2008 1:14 AM
Guest
:
Good review man..I would agree!
I wasn`t expecting to hear the
best album ever! Just to go back to what they do best!
Welcome back `tallica indeed!!!
Sep 15, 2008 2:46 AM
Guest
:
The downhill slide is reversed! Metallica are back playing like they should
be. Definitely their best album since 'Justice'- sure there are a couple of
songs that don't quite cut it IMHO ( Judas Kiss, Unforgiven III)but some
great riffs, solos and heavy, heavy metal. Can't wait to see them playing
some of this stuff live!
Sep 15, 2008 6:52 AM
Guest
:
Its about feckin TIME! Metallica have found 'it' again! bought the CD on
the 12th, nothing but smiles since then.
Yeah, they cant
reproduce Master of Puppets, Ride The Lightning or ... And Justice For All
again, but why should they, its been done and it was beyond words..
Now with DM... Metallica is BACK! They found their music abilities
again! They always been rock gods.. age aint catching them too easily..
brillaint stuff, love the album! AWSOME!!!!!
Sep 16, 2008 4:51 AM
Guest
:
this just proves that they never lost anything this is what has been
bottled up inside metallica for the last 20 years i guess it was forced to
hide so that load and reload could make them some money but anyways tallica
is back and better then ever better fucking watch out coldplay the radios
about to get fucking heavy
Sep 16, 2008 10:15 AM
Guest
:
hahaahahaaaaa, YES !!!!!! Welcome back Metal GODZ !!!!!! What an amazing
album !!!!! Well done!!!
Sep 16, 2008 6:09 PM
Guest
:
Speechless. Everything from this cd is incredible, the cover, the solos,
the drumming, even James's singing in his own way. Unforgiven III has got
to be the most beautiful song ever but the whole damn cd is good. The WHOLE
cd. Welcome back Metallica!
Sep 16, 2008 11:10 PM
Guest
:
metallica is number one plus how could they be back if they never
left!!!!METALLICA!!!!
Sep 17, 2008 4:18 AM
Guest
:
I was introduced to metal some years ago by listening to Metallica albums
like 'Master of Puppets' and '...and Justice for All' as i'm sure millions
of people were. I've seen them 3 times now, the last being at Leeds Fest
'08! I cannot put into words how disappointing it is to hear their new
stuff. It sounds like a complete mess! Is it just me that thinks this?!
Lyrically, it's weak beyond belief (someone get James a bottle of whiskey
and a notepad... job done)! But worse than anything is Lars. His technique
used to be moddist, yet tight and effective. Now, he is playing like a
complete novice! Someone please tell him that hitting the snare drum harder
doesn't make it better! Plus, he's clearly never gunna get the hang of
double bass drumming, unlike his scandinavian counterparts! Just go back to
what you know best Lars!
Sep 17, 2008 3:25 PM
Guest
:
Love the new album, but I still say that United Abominations (Megadeth) is
the superior album. Yes, I'm still keeping track of the whole
Megadeth/Metallica war. Metallica may sell more but I still seem to get
more out of listening to Megadeth, pretty much without fail. Don't get me
wrong, though, I love both bands. But still, Death Magnetic isn't far
behind UA... and that's saying something. I was the biggest hater on
Metallica for a LOOOOOOOONG time, and with St. Anger, I thought there was
no possibility of redemption. I was very shocked to find that they have
finally done a new "real" Metallica album. Great job, guys!!!
Sep 17, 2008 3:31 PM
Guest
:
Yeah, it's damned hot. I was so surprised. I thought that they'd try to
get back to their old days, but only manage a fraction of what they were
capable of. That's not the case. The main opinion is that this is the
spiritual successor to "...And Justice for All," and they're 100%
right. It truly is spectacular, and this is coming from a guy from the
Megadeth camp. I never was the biggest Metallica fan, but it's only
responsible to give credit where credit is due. It's fantastic!
Sep 18, 2008 3:36 AM
Guest
:
They need to go back in the studio and write something else besides this.
At least it's better than St. anger. I'm glad Cliff isn't around to hear
the crap they've put out in the last 20 years. He was a MAJOR part of their
sound and they should have quit when he died.
Sep 18, 2008 9:23 AM
Guest
:
Welcome back Metallica! It`s the best Metallica album since ...and Justice
for All, but it isn`t a masterpiece. Stop exaggerating.
Sep 18, 2008 10:16 AM
Guest
:
united abominations blows this away. Much better than St. Anger, but still
nowhere near ...and justice for all
Sep 19, 2008 9:05 AM
Guest
:
I continue to listen to this CD, and it just puts a smile on my face. It's
sick, Looking forward to seeing them tear the house down on tour.
Sep 21, 2008 9:20 PM
Guest
:
i smell grammy...
Sep 22, 2008 2:46 AM
Guest
:
SIMPLY SUPERB...
Sep 22, 2008 7:21 PM
Guest
:
The last Metallica album I purchased was in 1988 when Justice was released.
Was that 20 years ago??? Damn glad to see (and hear) that you guys are
back into thrashing again. Keep 'em coming guys!!!
Sep 23, 2008 9:39 PM
Guest
:
The album definitely grows one; the more I listen to it the more I love
it.. To be honest I was slightly disappointed when I first heard it!
Though now, I appreciate it much more, it's awesome.
Sep 25, 2008 8:56 PM
Guest
:
You drones cannot have heard anything but Metallica. This isn't fast, this
isn't heavy, it's nothing impressive about it. Most of Death Magnetic is
not even metal, it's rather the bluesy alternative rock from Load that
makes for the majority of influences. How can you not hear it? Reckon the
groovy, repetitive and kinda slow riffs throughout the album?
I
like some parts of the album and yes, I was a Metallica fan and I still
appreciate their earlier work from the 80's, and some from the 90's... But
this just doesn't cut it. The songs are too long, and the riffs are too bad
and espacially, too few. Bad songwriting.
And Lars's drumming?
Anyone who says that he is good or is playing fast, should be shot on spot.
It's just ignorant to convey such a statement. He sucks and anyone with a
single grasp of musical expierence knows that he does. Aswell goes for Mr.
Hammet and his wah wah-addiction. He is mediocre and you would agree if you
had heard anything else. Fast riffs, fast solos, fast drumming?
Haha... It's so god damned stupid it's funny.
Oct 1, 2008 11:12 AM
Guest
:
people keep on saying shits about metallica's albums like load and
reload.these albums have songs that are masterpieces.metallica is now back
with vengeance to kick ass and shut the dumbfucks !
Oct 2, 2008 6:30 PM
Guest
:
BROKEN BEAT AND SCARRED! WOW! I CANT STOP LISTENING TO IT END OF THE
LINE- OLD SCHOOL METALLICA THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES- FADE TO BLACK/ONE
ANTHEM AWESOME! ALL NIGHTMARE LONG CLASSIC THE JUDAS KISS
POWERFUL EVIL SUICIDE & REDEMPTION GREAT INSTRUMENTAL REMINDS ME
OF TANKS ROLLING ACROSS TERRAIN BLASTING WITH HATRED AND PAIN MY
APOCALYPSE- DAMAGE INCORPORATED 2
Oct 6, 2008 8:47 PM
Guest
:
Unbelievable.
The best Metallica album ever.
(Yes,
it's thicker and more muscular than "Lightning" or
"Puppets", and more concise and crisper than
"Justice.")
Quite possibly the greatest Metal album
of all time.
No one expected this after the diappointing Load,
Reload, and St. Anger -- but I'm sure posterity will prove me right. All
the nay-sayers can eat crow as sub-par band after band will try to recreate
the sound and feel of Death Magnetic.
Oct 16, 2008 9:50 AM
Guest
:
Death Magnetic is the roots of metallica..my apocolypse and All nightmare
long should of been on master of puppets cause of the complex
rythms...great album
Oct 21, 2008 7:10 AM
Guest
:
why is everyone saying its the best album since justice?. I agree Justice
is quality ,but the black album is the best metal album of all time closly
followed by Slayers reign in blood.
As for Death Magnetic!!!!
what an album....back to there best. cant wait till they come back to the
uk!!!!! not seen Metallica live since 1990...hahahahaha cant wait.!!!!
