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Reviews, The Hard R

METALLICA’S DEATH MAGNETIC (DALLAS COYLE’S TAKE)

Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 2:00pm by

metallica - death magnetic

I don’t know about all of you, but Metallica has been and will always be my favorite band in the whole world. I put down the trumpet and picked up the guitar for one reason: Metallica. When I used to draw comic books for 8 hours a day I never did it better while I was listening to …And Justice for All. The first two rock bands I discovered were Guns N’ Roses and Metallica. Why do I say rock? I got into Metallica on The Black Album. Before The Black Album I used to listen to R&B and Hip Hop. It was so bad, I would never say the word “awesome.” I thought it was too white. I called Metallica rock because for a kid like me, metal was too heavy. For a kid like me ,Metallica was the only band to get me in touch with my angry side without being too angry.

Metallica opened the door to metal. Pantera and Machine Head opened the door to death metal. Without Metallica there is no metal for me. Without Metallica there is no God Forbid, so for me, writing a review of a Metallica album won’t be fair to some people because I have ultimate adoration for them.

For the record, I am a shitty album reviewer and I hate doing it, but Vince asked me to do it so here it goes.

When I first listened to Death Magnetic I felt like a kid again. I don’t know what it was but It got me amped as hell. I was smiling from ear to fucking ear. Death Magnetic is a fucking awesome album. If you don’t like it, stop drinking Haterade, get the shit out of your fucking ears and listen to it with an open mind.

Why do I like it so much? I’ve been wondering that myself. I’ve been wondering why certain parts are stuck in my head. Was it them being tuned to E? Was it them actually writing very interesting song structures? Or was it because it sounds like Metallica?

This sounds like Metallica. The production is great and so is the spirit. I wouldn’t say the album is going back to the old school but I think it’s a great marriage between what Metallica was and what Metallica is. I truly believe when they play shows this summer there will be some great reaction to a bunch of songs off of Death Magnetic.

The two songs that really get me going are the two opening tracks “That Was Just Your Life” and “The End Of The Line.” Both of these songs are brilliant ways to open a new Metallica album. One thing I noticed about the album in general is the amount of groove and the attention to detail they put into it. These two songs really show that Metallica wanted to kick ass with this album. They really cared that we, the fans, got what we wanted out of Metallica.

I’ve been listening to this album a lot lately and things have been really sticking with me. I think that’s a testament to a good album. “Broken, Beat & Scarred” has some really great riffs that remind me of new Metallica and old Metallica. As I listen to the record, I get the vibe that that’s what they were going for. They wanted to give both old and new fans something with this new record. I for one respect that because I’m somewhere in between the old and the new. I hope the old Metallica fans can respect that. I hope the new fans can respect it because Metallica can open up so many people to really great bands.

My main issue with the album is the first two songs they released. Why does it seem any band that is huge always releases the worst songs on an album first? I like “The Day That Never Comes” and I don’t like “Cyanide.” Saying this I think these two songs are the songs on the album that I would rank last. Every other song on the album is worth the price.

Overall I really like Death Magnetic. I want to tour with Metallica and I doubt this will happen because I’ve said a lot of stupid shit regarding Metallica the last couple of years. I wouldn’t say I’ve dissed them but I said shit without knowing the facts. I hope people give the album a fair shake because I think this album definitely warrants a good listen. I will be buying Death Magnetic when it comes out and I hope you do too!

(4 out of 5 horns)

-Dallas Coyle

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  • Eric

    It’s nice to see that someone out there feels the same way as I do. I suck at reviewing an album, but I was just happy when I listened to this album. It was fun to listen to, and really that’s all I wanted it to be. Maybe bad words to apply to a metal album, but I can’t think of any others.

  • http://www.myspace.com/grownfromthecold Luke

    I agree, almost one hundred percent, word for word. Loved the album, didn’t care for “Day” or “Apocalypse”, but when I listen to this, it brings back childhood memories. Nice job Dallas, thanks for being honest.

  • Cisco

    God Forbid > Post ‘Black’ Metallica

  • ERiK

    James Hetfield can’t write good riffs anymore therefore Metallica sucks. This shit is just awful, you all are insane.

  • dthrasher

    I have a feeling that the best metallica album since rtl is going to be the new trivium lp

  • Blackthorned

    At last! Someone else who is excited to listen to this album.

    Thank God (Forbid).

  • John

    Finally,

    A credible representative of the industry sees behind the cloak that is the scumbaggery of Metalsucks.net and offers a legit review.

    PS Axl go fuck urself…

  • Duke

    Yes, a good review on this site for once. Glad to hear someone else (with some actual metal cred, nonetheless) feels the same way I do about this album. Keep kickin ass, Dallas, can’t wait to hear the new shit!

  • Risky Vaurnet

    I’m pretty sure this is the website that did an article about a new Metallica song called “Disposable Heros” a few months back. Talk about losing cred fast. But hey.. the new Shinedown, and Avenged Sevenfold totally kick ass and woohoo Saigon Kick is back together! Taste and knowledge to spare. And you say Metallica Sucks?!?!

  • Johnny Ringo

    finally a metalsucks review of this album worth actually reading

    i fully agree with doc on this one…it’s about time somebody other than rolling stone gave this album a good review

    i worship the ground this band walks on and they can do NO wrong in my eyes

  • miguel_g(Peru)

    haha, this is the review that congregate all of those who actually like the album like me.And I had a similar reaction to Dallas, Eric, Luke and I’m sure a lot of people out there: I smiled, I was happy. It’s great listening to Metallica ACTUALLY sounding like Metallica, again. It kinda warps your mind back in time when you were younger, and actually listenig to this band was just damn fun, banding your head, and your parents telling you that they think that your hair is too long, and all that kind of shit :)

    I only suggest to listen to the album without any preconcieved notions, and appreciate it for what it is, and for what is the state of popular music today. Death Magnetic is for me without a doubt one of the best releases of 2008.

  • Cisco

    ‘i worship the ground this band walks on and they can do NO wrong in my eyes’ – Case in point. All you douchbag fanboys are just mindless sheep throwing your money away on trash.

  • http://lordsofmetal.nl/index.php?lang=en FleischBerg

    I like your review very honest and positive, i bought this album today and I like it very much, the only songs I don’t care for are Cyanide, Unforgiven 3 and some parts in The Day.

  • lung

    honest opinion?
    not just bashing to bash?
    wait, what?
    this is metalsucks, right?
    where the haters flock?
    hmm, interesting.

    great insight, dallas.

  • http://hookssobig.blogspot.com Wayne

    I’m with you, Dallas (and many commenters)—

    I really like this album ALOT. It’s not perfect. It’s too long in spots. Unforgiven II I is kinda ridiculous. But the stuff they do right on this record is plenty for me.

  • jesse

    Nice review. A little too optimistic for me though. I’m hoping it’ll be as good as you say it is. Hell I’m even hoping for it to even be as mediocre as everyone else says it is.

  • KyleXY

    Well put, Dallas. With the exception of Unfogiven III (which sounds like it is straight from Load), the album is pretty sick. If you genuinely don’t like it then fair enough, but I feel bad for those of you who have your heads lodged so far up your own asses to even give it a fair chance.

    But, hey, maybe I’ll just go listen to ‘Made out of Babies’ or ‘I Wrestled a Bear Once’

  • Chuck

    Love it or hate it this album has got people talking. Like they say bad publicity is better than no publicity. Obviously people are listening to this album through a pretty thick personal filter. If some other “new” band had come out with this record we’d likely be lining up in droves to cling to their nutsacks. It’s a really good fucking record. Most of the songs are great and the rest aren’t too bad either. That’s quite an accomplishment- to write a listenable, enjoyable, and interesting record from start to finish is pretty impressive. There aren’t too many other records out there that you can say that about. How many other bands’ records do people lose their minds over when there’s really only three or four good songs out of ten? But if it’s Metallica- it can’t be anything but perfect. 10 perfect songs out of ten. How the fuck do you live up to that?!

  • blah

    man things are really fucked up when a professional musician like dallas cant even recognize the horrible mastering job on this album. everyone is fucking crazy.

  • Jim Gilletowicz

    I respect Dallas’ opinion (though I disagree), and I think Johnny Ringo is a douche.

  • The Mighty Fucking Quinn

    dthrasher is my hero.I laughed until a tear came to my eye.

    Dallas….haterade?Really?hahaha

    Death Magnetic…..\m/

  • groverXIII

    Wow… I’d say of all the reviews I read, this is the one that sums up my feelings the best. Metallica were the first non-Jesus band I listened to, and one of the first metal bands I listened to (Mortification notwithstanding). As such, they had a profound influence on my musical tastes. Lousy mastering aside, this album is the closest that we’ll ever get to vintage Metallica. I really like it.

  • iwrestledaferretonce

    I have to go with Risky Vaurnet here.

    I have listened to Death Magnetic, all the way through, and it just can’t restore my faith in these guys again. The guys are “tired”, they play like shit, and they don’t compare (not to their former selves) to the other great stuff out there.

    I respect the MetalSucks guys’ opinions, but Nitro? Saigon Kick? Those bands sucked back in their time (i was there, i remember.) As far as today, Shinedown? Avenged Sevenfold? This website and blog come off as being harder than thou, and they praise this kind of trash?
    It’s always good to be well versed in many types of music, not to just lock yourself into one genre and “hate” everything else. I enjoy, jazz, blues, classic rock, and metal among others, but garbage is still garbage in any genre.

  • Factor

    Dallas, love the review. Sums up what this fanboy was thinking.

  • Nate

    I like the album. Can I use Napster now (for free!)?

  • The Greys

    It seems almost impossible to have an objective opinion about Metallica. I like much of the new album, but it’s not the landmark that “Master of Puppets” or “Ride The Lightning” was … but it would have been foolish to expect such a feat. It can’t be 1986 again, after all.

    But there is lots to like about Death Magnetic . There are several songs that really slay, and the rest is interesting enough to keep me from skipping over them or turning off the disc. The bass does seem a little buried, however. Echoes of Jason’s bass on “… And Justice for All.” Someone needs to put Rob’s bass on the back of a milk carton, cuz it’s lost much of the time here.

    Anyway, I like it more than anything they’ve done since “… And Justice,” so I’m happy enough. It’s not the album of the year, though. So far, I haven’t heard anything better than Opeth’s “Watershed.”

    But that’s just my opinion, and what do I know? Not. A Damn. Thing. Merci. C’est rien. Bon nuit.

  • Metallicahater

    I will never respect or support Metallica again. In 1991 with the Black album it felt like they stole my money and raped my mother.

  • IHATESTUPIDPEOPLE

    Blah is a fucking retard its dissappointing when people who tink they know shit about music talk out of their ass…the mastering job on this album is great and people spend way too much fucking time finding things to hate about great bands. Do people fucking forget that Metallica practically fucking made metal get a fuckin brain

    METALLICA KICKS ASS

  • Andy

    This is the only real review of this album on here. Thanks for that.

    METALLICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Ben

    well, i guess im a little late for this one but i have to say i am new metallica fan and i honestly think this is theyre best album, by far. yall can call me crazy but i think …and justice for all and black had a few awesome songs but Death Magnetic is one great song after another, not one bad song, not one song that doesnt rock!