it’s decent (meaning better than anything on st. anger) for the first half of the song. The second half is the most unoriginal riffing I have ever heard. I think they have just ran out of ideas. And you would figure after 25 years, Lars would be a better drummer.

I agree with Sammy. For my complete review check out NONE LOUDER

While I want to immediately like this, I don’t. Maybe after a few more listens……….I hope this CD isn’t going to be another steaming pile……….

My longer opinion is that it starts out as a Load/Reload ballad with thin guitars, then moves into mid-tempo rocker territory, still thin guitars, then older thrashy Metallica with lots of leads/solos (that I like), but still with thin guitars. At least it’s produced professionally and Hetfield (HOPEFULLY) has retired that odd whiney thing he’s been doing vocally for 13 years now – as well as the “baby” thrown in on every song of every live performance.

if you pretend st. anger never came out, this sounds like a natural extension of the load reload era. I personally am not really a fan because i hate james hetfield’s voice, but it seems like it will be a decent release otherwise.

Metallica > God Forbid

i happened to think it’s very bad ass…it sounds like the band that recorded the load albums trying to take the lumbering groove of those albums and add a bit more of an epic flavor to it…i think the people that dont like it either have shit for ears or should stop expecting them to sound like they did when they were younger drunker and had much more piss and vinegar

I LOOOOOOVE IT! Wicked song!

First half wasn’t really into it, but right about the middle I started digging it, the last half is pretty good.

wow. that’s not a return to form! it sounds like a Load B-side. It has the same whimpy vocals turned up too high and crappy guitar tone. Disturbed has more crunch than this. Playing fast with your gain down low just makes you sound silly. Can’t say I’m let down. In fact, I’m happy I don’t have to eat crow and give it to them for getting their shit together.

Meh. The second half starts to get more interesting, and the last third is actually fairly cool-ish. Certainly nothing Earth-shattering, but then it is only the first single, so maybe the other tracks won’t be quite such radio-friendly generica. Still, it’s better than 95% of the material from St. Anger and Re-Load. Also, after hearing all the admittedly very brief snippets of songs & riffs via Mission:Metallica over the summer, I’d have to say that this particular song is pretty much the least interesting thing I’ve heard yet, so I guess there’s still hope that the other nine tracks will be quite solid. And as noted above, Cyanide is definitely a better tune.

Other observations after just one listen:

For someone who has apparently been playing drums for 30 years, Lars is fucking awful. Sloppy, rudimentary and uninteresting. Also, sloppy. Frankly, it seems rather evident to me that he almost never practices and hasn’t done so since 1989 or so. He is definitely the weak link in the band. Too bad, too, as I think he really could be/could’ve been a great drummer if he really wanted to.

James’ voice sounds… well, pretty weak. Thin & reedy. Decent-ish riffs, for the most part, and as always, very-well executed. At least his rhythm playing hasn’t lost much of a step at all.

Kirk’s solo(s) are good, but also very familiar-sounding. Like he’s quoting his own past work. Definitely some recycled-sounding licks & runs in there.

Rob is also in the band.

@ Bannister Slash: Maybe it’s “LOAD is a four-letter word…”

And couldn’t agree more with “KICK-SNARE-KICK-SNARE-KICK-SNARE-KICK-SNARE-KICK-SNARE.” Pretty fucking lazy, Lars, just fucking lazy.

If you’re looking for a mix of “One”-esque solos and “Load”-esque lyrics/drums by a band that can’t really pull off either anymore then by God is this your lucky day.

why would this band have a “single”? what radio station would ever play this, regardless of quality? Will the video be on tv? Of course not.

@tim – Metallica is played on the radio constantly….I’m confused. Sarcasm maybe?

decent at best. they still can’t seem to make it over the hump. can’t wait to hear unforgiven III. heh.

based on a first impression:

it’s a stylistic tour-de-force of the work of Metallica’s past. flavors of “Fade To Black”, “One”, “Bleeding Me”, even a hint of “Orion”. it’s peaked my interest definately. i like “Cyanide” even though it was a grower. it’s weird that this would be a first single but it’s a good song.

this all based on a first impression. i just have to say that this is AT LEAST a step in the right direction.

wow, Explosions in the Sky has a vocalist now?

Jeez- people put such high expectations, limits, and standards on Metallica. A band. They make music. Just fucking music. They’re not saving fucking lives or anything. It sure seems easy to sit back behind the keyboard as a no talent hack and trash pretty much everything these days.

For what it’s worth, I thought the song was pretty good. I wasn’t blown away (in terms of it being ground breaking new music- but that’s not what I expected), but I think it could definitely grow on me. It sounds pretty much like a Metallica song (if you blend every album together)- as it should! I think some people are forgetting that. It’s not some other band. It’s Metallica. In spite of people’s opinions of their material coming out of the Bob Rock days that stuff is a huge part of their catalogue and sound. Like it or not. So I’m not surprised to hear a bit of that era in there. There’s hints of practically every record and style in the song.

Bottom line. They’ve upped the production from the St. Anger days which I think is good. It’s a bit tighter song (for them) and pretty fun to listen to. And it sounds like Metallica. As it should. So- if you don’t like it- don’t listen- but don’t expect that they’re going to come out sounding like some completely new band.

I do have to indulge in a comment about Lars drumming. Is it my imagination or does it seem like they cranked up the snare (with proper tuning this time) in the mix? Perhaps to make a point?

bucketochicken you complain about that, and yet im sure you beat it to blast beats all day

Clearly, nothing they put out will satify the masses anymore. And everyone that complains they hate the song will still go out and buy the CD anyway.

They can’t win and as long as they realize that, then they are golden.

This is not 1985. If they sounded like they did in the 80s we’d all complain they sound dated. So, they have progressed and they have regressed over their career. There was nowhere to go but up from St. Anger – so they’ve progressed again by default. But wasn’t this what the masses were asking for? A trip back to the days of thrash and bringing the solos back. And that’s what they did. They took their Load sound and mixed it with some retro thrash and a brutal last three minutes. I love it.

I think we now understand why there is a huge vagina on the cover of the album.

uh id rather snort some blow, chop off my ePeen and join the oprah book club than buy this album based off this track.

this coming from a guy who jammed on his axe to metallica tracks for 9 hours a day back in the late 80′s early 90s.

whatever – why dont they just go join menudo and get it over with?

One word…awful…I pray that this is the last fucking album they make. They are now officially a rock band and no longer metal….fucking brutal and not in the true metal sense of the word.

OMG, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit….

Well, I’ve taken it for a spin four or five more times, and it’s grown on me a little bit. Still not great, and Lars still sounds like he phoned it in, but over all it’s not terrible. I still like Cyanide better… But still, this one is ok. Very serviceable.

That song was so boring that I actually thought I was in a coma.

I’m at work and I’ll be leaving late so I’ll hear it late at night. I’m eager to hear this song, I’m quite surprised because in blabbermouth there’s a lot of praise to the song, while here is the opposite……this GodForbidrules guy said something interesting: “the don’t sound metal anymore”….well for today metal standards, Metallica aren’t really heavy anymore. Back in the 80′s, Metallica where like what Lamb of God is today for young metalheads. Most of us went from Priest to Slayer to Nile, just to give an example. Like Chuck and bucketochicken said, Metallica made their leagcy in their first 5 albums. Is useless to expect them to make an album like those ones again…..and no any other legendary metal monster band has made a really outstanding album again. None. Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Judas Priest, ….maybe Kreator is an exeption….but as far as I remember and listened from them, they just have released solid material. Just Solid. I expect DM to be solid as a f*ckin mountain, but I’ll give a proper opinion after I hear the whole song.

Chuck and Bucketochicken,

I’ve been buying Metallica albums, posters, t-shirts, motherfucking etcetera, since I was 14. Fuck, I may be 37 now, but I saw Metallica open for Ozzy with Cliff Burton, and there’s nothing I want more than Metallica to be Metallica. Sadly, they’re parodies of themselves now. It sucks when a band you love jumps the shark.

It;s true: No one judges Led Zeppelin or bases their legacy on “Coda” or “In Through The Out Door.” Point made. However, the questions is: Are Metallica now a nostalgia act, like Sabbath, Ozzy, and the Rolling Stones? I’m suggesting that the band that created “Master of Puppets” is doomed to playing the old shit over and over. That’s all we want to hear and we don’t give a shit about “The Day That Never Comes.” Seriously, when’s the last time you were psyched to hear “I Disappear” live? Metallica is what it is now. I trust that they’ll have the fortitude to break-up now (the Beatles had that going for them… could you imagine if Metallica broke up after the “Black Album”?

Nonetheless, the new song is fucking stupid; it’s like Metallica trying to be Metallica. Parodies of themselves. At this point, I’m just hoping for 2-4 good songs on Death Fagnetic. Otherwise, there’s always Trivium.

well, there goes another one…

i already listened to the album, metallica is the band that opened my eyes to metal…but this new album….bah, no passion no soul.

TORBEN ULRICH SAYS-YOU MUST DELETE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

The intro really reminds me of “Fade to Black”. The vocals sound like “black album” era. The riffs towards the end were pretty unoriginal, but I didn’t mind too much because it was fast and Kirk was playing a solo. Neither which happened on the last album. I think it’s got some potential.

If I had not heard that the second half of the song picks up, then I would have turn it off immediately. The last 1/3 of the song is decent.

There is no excuse for that horrible drumming unless Lars got his left leg chopped off at he knee and didn’t report it.

I didn’t expect it to be mind blowing, but it is NOT the fabled bridge between Master of Puppets and The Black album. But, it’s just one single,, so I may be suprised. Maybe not.

That said also, Metallica will always have a medley part of their live shows, which is where a lot of these great but poorly arranged riffs will probably end up.

The second worst thing that ever happened to this band was James deciding to adopt that stupid country yodeling style of singing. I just think it’s horrible. What’s the difference between a metal vocalist & a metal singer? The vocalist is not delusional. I also agree re: the drum sound. Interesting how in the last few years Metallica seems to have some difficulty with recording the drum parts…(everyone in the room turns & silently stares at Lars).

After listening to it twice, I would rather listen to something else. I didn’t like it. That’s all I got to say.

i tried reading what everryone has to say but it was waaaaaaay to much. either way i liked it i only heard cyanide once and i thought it was decent and this one is pretty good i liked the second half better though. i highly doubt they will ever fully redeem themselves but hopefully this album will give them some credibility.

It’s a really really good song! Don’t understand all the “souds like load era” etc… Hey, Metallica did slow song from “Ride The Ligntning” on! Remember “Fade To Black”? “Sanitarium?”
I can understand the fact that All Shall Perish fans don’t like it (and I have to say it’s also one of my favourite band) but, come on, this is a great Metallica song! It has a great feeling, great inspiration, James vocal lines are real good (and i don’t mean “he sings right” but “his vocal melodies are good”), even Lars is good and creative again!
It’s only my opinion, but I really really like this song. Even better than Cyanide. And better than half of the black album (It’s a good album but I don’t know why, I don’t really dig “Sad But True” and “Enter Sandman”).

It seems to me that there’s always an arrogant double standard going with pissed off Metallica fans: “You guys really should do better because you’re great but you can’t do better because you suck.” I’m still trying to figure out the logic in that.

I honestly can’t believe that people actually expect them to turn in music of One and Puppets standard after all these years and the St Anger debacle! It’s simply absurd to expect that. Who honestly believed this would bridge the gap between the black album and earlier albums? Honestly?

This is as good as I could have hoped for considering they now make music by committee. Some of it sounds a little forced but I just don’t care anymore. To actually want to listen to one of their newer songs is something. My expectations are lower than many here but it’s better than this barrage of hate that I keep seeing.

Laz,
Kinda funny that you mentioned that and, as much as I can understand that argument, most people would tell the jilted person (Metallica fan) in that relationship, “Get over it.”

It’s a coincidence because I wrote a really long post earlier psychoanalyzing pissed off Metallica fans but declined to post it because I thought it was too long and nobody would give a shit about reading it. Somewhere in there I mentioned that Metallica fans, especially the pissed off ones who don’t seem to care about the band but who seem to go to infinite lengths to criticize them, are like a crazy, possessive, obsessive ex girlfriend. The band can’t even own their own legacy, their own lives, or make the music they want to make anymore. It’s the fans’, or so goes the logic. The fans want to literally *own* them. On some level the band resents this, but they also exploit it like they did with the Some Kind of Monster movie. I agree that on some level they owe it to their fans to make good music, but ultimately the only people they have to please are themselves. If people are smart or dumb enough to buy it along the way, that’s their privilege or problem. The band is well aware of their legacy and are trying to keep it going. They don’t need to keep doing it for the money, and they’re certainly not creating classic material with each post 1991 attempt. They would probably make better quality material more quickly if there wasn’t such huge and unrealistic pressure on them to make something amazing.

Personally, I think 95% of the personal, hate filled attacks on Metallica are still over the Napster issue, which is idiotic. But that’s for another post entirely.

Consider 3 things:
I like the Load/ReLoad period because, while the songs aren’t as good overall, they’re more honest. Those songs were songs they wanted to make at the time because they were purposely rebelling against overproduced epic records that came out between 87 and 92 like Queensryche’s Empire, Crue’s Dr. Feelgood, Leppard’s Hysteria, and of course, Black. By comparison, Load and Reload sound like a band playing because it wants to. Black sounds like the usual overproduced early 90s radio friendly stuff that all metal bands were doing then, even though the songs were better on Black. It feels overproduced, overhyped, and generic.

Second, most people who complain about Metallica don’t even play an instrument, let alone have played music all their adult lives, busted their asses and made it in a highly competitive field, hundreds of shows a year for decades (during which time the stuff that people want to hear gets really annoying due to all the times you’ve played the same old shit) or raised a family. They also know nothing about the music industry as a business or how volatile it has been since 2000 (which is part of the reason why stuff is made “by committee.”) A lot of the people who complain about Metallica can’t even remember before this metalcore stuff came out in 02, much less the pre-Korn days. You can’t expect them to relate to people changing their views on music when a lot of those people weren’t even buying their own music 10 years ago. I do agree with a lot of the posters that 99% of Metallica’s problem is a lack of enthusiasm, not a lack of skill, creativity, or talent, due to a simple change in priorities. They can’t relate to their younger fans, and they’ve lost their edge. Eventually it happens to every band, and I think Korn is going through it right now as they reach the “middle age” stage for a band.

Third, a lot more bands sound like Metallica now thanks to the rise of metalcore, which makes it harder for even Metallica to be original. Most of the riffs in the new songs sound generic and similar because a ton of other bands are doing them and getting played on regular radio (Atreyu, As I Lay Dying, All That Remains, Trivium, and all these sound alike post-Gothenburg American bands come to mind). If this new Metallica stuff had been done in the mid 90s, it would be considered differently. All metalcore is doing is putting those stupid hardcore vocals in place of a death metal growl over some Iron Maiden harmonies and calling it new. It’s also glutted the market, and it’s slowly going to die out over the next few years I think. To put it another way in a different musical genre, on some level, yes, Tool, Korn, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden did begin to suck toward the end, but it also didn’t help them that every band was sounding like them at the same time.

Five years ago with St. Anger, Metallica was chasing nu metal to prove they could be heavy and fast again. Now they’re sort of chasing metalcore. Once again, they’re too late. Ironic, considering they were one of the first bands to start the whole thing. As for the people who complain that it isn’t the same, as a guitarist, I heard mostly what the band is known for: it sounded like it was in E minor, had Kirk doing a lot of trills, pentatonic runs, and a few things in harmonic minor, and had Lars’s little stutter fills like One. Robert’s basslines were so much like Sanitarium in places with the long slides I thought I was listening to Cliff. The difference is, time has passed and more bands are doing similar things.

Look at it with this analogy: people are expecting this old 1988 Ferrari to be as cool now as it was then, and maybe even be better than the new 2008 models. But it’s not going to happen, because it’s still a twenty year old design. That might be just fine if you’re into classic stuff, but if you’re looking for something classic and something new in the same thing, then that’s pretty hard to find.

@ Aaron Thank you for the effort you put into that comment. WAY too long for this blog site. Perhaps you can find a spot on PBS to dicuss the social ramifications of the degression of Metallica’s artistic choices and the relationships to the record industry and digruntled fans. As a musician, I stick by my comment on the drumming. No excuse for that performance expect maybe an undisclosed medical issue.

Aaron,

Thank you for providing some very interesting and considered points – proof that sometimes long posts are worth reading. Food for thought no doubt.

Wow, you idiots rode Metallica’s ass for 5 years over St. Anger and how the direction and sound completely sucked and you wanted the old Metallica back. They’re fucking back..they’re riffing the shit out of these songs and putting out some excellent shit reminiscent of the old Metallica. And now you’re crying about they’re trying to “re-create” the classics? Fuck off! You just want to be part of the “in-crowd” that hates anything they do anymore just because they changed musical direction and put out a few mediocre albums, admit it. Contradictions, contradictions, contradictions..

Wow, you guys are so much nicer and more understanding than a lot of the metal forums. Kudos to kind people. I remember an In Flames vs. Dark Tranquillity forum about 5 years ago on ultimatemetal that turned into a little Vietnam experience…this is so much better by comparison, but the ironic title metalsucks for a site designed for metal lovers shows that this is a bit of a higher brow crowd.

The worst thing about the song is it sounds like Metallica *covering* Metallica. You can reference your old stuff without outright redoing it and changing just a few notes, but then again, that’s what a lot of bands do. I mean, when Megadeth wrote “When”, wtf was that all about?

Lol and such to the PBS comment (don’t forget NPR, but that’s for Radiohead and REM).

To joethecabdriver, the drumming is funny in that it sounds like Lars is fine, then he has a spasm, struggles to get back into the beat, is fine for a bit, then repeats all over again. But like Tommy Lee, I’ve always considered Lars to be a feel drummer with a distinctive, if not overly technical style. I’d say better that than Josh Freese, who manages to sound so much like Danny Carey on the APC records with he must have been smuggled into Tool recording sessions in the drum god’s ass.

I’m glad I’m leaving a good impression. I openly invite everyone to explore the hyperlink and tell me I suck. Poor James needs a break.

Not to get off topic, but to make people a little more optimistic about music, doesn’t Devin Townsend surprise and astonish every year?

during certain parts of the song james sounds like weird al, but james voice sounds like a teenager who just hit puberty and held it since the load era.

the intro doesnt sound like the metallica i like, at the beginning of the vocal i actually thought i clicked the wrong link; thus hering a song from another band.. a littlebit later it seems that i didnt… i want old metallica back! this is just wierd

By the way, I have GREAT respect for Jason, who left just in the right moment, who in my EYES is a TRUE and OPEN-MINDED _musician_ who also has a heart not only for METAL but for so much different music…

Yeah, Jason is alright and a good player.. It’s just this things like starting his Chophouse Label for undiscovered, maybe obscure Bands and musicians.
He doesnt have to be the greatest player or achieve some big succses on his own (i think he maybe just had enough of fame).
But i just somehow feel he IS doing it for the MUSIC and with his HEART put it it. That’s what i can connect with, on the human side…It doesnt mean, I like every band where he would play…But this is the PASSION _I_ just dont feel anymore with the other 3 guys.
If somebody else does, great, enjoy, live it as long as it lasts !

My choice is what i chose to do;
and if I’m causin no harm,
it shouldn’t bother you.
Your choice is who you chose to be;
and if your causin to harm, then your alright with me.

If you dont like my fire, then dont come around, cause I’m gona burn one down.

All I know is that if a band had an album coming out in the near future, most likely the 1st single they would release would be their best. That way they would get the best publicity and most anticipation possible. I feel its a sign of whats to come… shit.

Chyld:

I think everyone misses Cliff, but the truth is, all he really did was double James with the exception of a few songs. He helped with the arrangements, but the band really did limit his potential by their being a thrash band. Rob Trujillo is in the same boat. Making the Infectious Grooves monster play such simple stuff is a waste (in fact, Pepper Keenan plays guitar a lot more like James and has a similar voice…he would have been a natural to replace Jason in my opinion). It doesn’t mean a Korn/Fieldy kind of bass solo in every song, but it means just creating interesting parts for the bass and drums to come to the forefront, like the excellent 3 part intro to “Devil’s Dance”…James, Jason and Kirk are all doing different things there, and I think in general Metallica underutilized multiple guitar parts (at least in fast heavy songs) until Load. Sure they had plenty of harmonies and things were doubled, but the guitars rarely did totally and completely independent things. The result was a 2 piece band essentially, James and Lars. Kirk only tracked solos back in the day and Cliff and Jason were largely inaudible.

Actually, TWNAH was the first post-Friedman effort (I saw them on the next to last show with him on the Risk tour in L.A. in 2000). He looked very unhappy, and apparently Dave is still a pain to work with, as shown by Glen Drover leaving so soon.

I think it’s generally a superior album to TSHF, mostly because “Disconnect”, like “Angry Again” and “Trust”, is the quintessential Megadeth riff. That is, a melody line with a prominent flat 6th to 5th movement involved, which Dave seems to do a lot.

As for Megadeth, maybe I’m just listening to heavier stuff now, but they just seem to be getting kind of wimpier with every album. It’s almost like pop music. When I listen to “Sleepwalker”, I’m in a light mood. It’s fast, sort of, but it’s also bright. I don’t really hear any darkness like…say, “My Last Words” or “Take No Prisoners” still in the music. “Kick the Chair” and “Blackmail the Universe” really didn’t prove anything to me except Dave could still play what he used to…they sounded too much like “Skin o My Teeth” or “Motopsycho” or any number of quicker Deth numbers for me to be excited. To this day I don’t listen to that album much, mostly because of the shitty guitar production, and Chris Poland’s saxophone-ish guitar. I was really disappointed with his work on that CD, but “Scorpion” is a nice tune.

I want Metallica and Megadeth to sound as intense as they did in their day, as intense as Meshuggah or Arch Enemy or Strapping Young Lad sound now. But, again, see my 88 Ferrari analogy. Even with flat out death metal and mathcore…I just need something heavier. The problem is, I don’t think it’s possible to play any faster, or tune any lower, or scream any louder. I think maybe I’m just getting bored with metal.

Megadeth is making more consistent material that is truer to their roots than Metallica, but, all the same, I’m a bit bored with it. Also, Megadeth doesn’t sound like Megadeth without Friedman’s trademark vibrato. Al Pitrelli got close, but not quite. Glen Drover is a good guitarist, but he kind of reminded me of an 86 era Chris Poland style shredder…a lot of technique, but no real unique voice.

It will be interesting to see where Broderick takes the band.

In any event, Metallica has been kinder to their fans than Axl Rose has been since 96 and Chinese Democracy started. And, to Metallica’s credit, they rarely canceled shows and always put on good ones no matter how fucked up they were or how bad they felt. When Axl canceled St. Louis in 91, people rioted. Metallica have never been so dick-ish. And they just wanted the fans who “loved” them so much to respect their intellectual property.

Generally though, I think you can see the passion in Metallica’s shows begin to die when watching live stuff. The amount of headbanging and moving around begins declining around 88-91. It’s kind of weird when you look at MOP era footage and you realize how similar James acted and sang on stage to Mustaine.

Seems like the new single sounded more towards ‘Fade To Black’ than ‘One’ btw.

THIS I SWEARRRRRRRR!!!

Also, as bad as Metallica may be getting, I think they’re in a lot better shape than Anthrax. Volume 8 had some good songs, but I haven’t listened to anything since. Also, re-recording your old material with your new band kind of screams of desperation.

TWNAH is pretty good. I’d check it out.

Just heard “My Apocalypse” and it isn’t bad. Lars’s drumming is loose and all over the place though. His most difficult pieces, IMO, were on Kill ‘Em All…it seems like he patterned his beats off of Clive Burr of Iron Maiden back then. Hard to believe he played better tighter 25 years ago, and plays this loosely WITH a click track.