METALLICA’S DEATH MAGNETIC (VINCE NEILSTEIN’S TAKE)
Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 5:00pm by Vince Neilstein
Metallica will never write Master of Puppets or anything like pre-Black Album material ever again. Get over it. To expect them to do so is not only unrealistic given that the members have, you know, changed in the last 20 years; it would also be the worst thing artistically they could possibly do. No one wants a re-hash, lest they suffer the “just another ___ album” fate (see: Slayer). Instead, Metallica have chosen to evolve over the past 15 years. While Load, Reload and especially St. Anger may be considered big misses in the opinions of most die-hards everyone, no one can accuse this band of artistic stagnation. Given the overwhelming hatred towards the latter, with Death Magnetic Metallica needed to write an album that harnessed the sound of their vintage material without simply treating it as a throwback, incorporating some new into the old. And with Death Magnetic, they’ve been remarkably successful at doing just that. Death Magnetic isn’t ground breaking and it’s not the best work of their lives, but it is most certainly their best since The Black Album and the best they could have written at this stage in their career. Death Magnetic is at times fresh and invigorating — and at times underwhelming — but for the most part it’s a surprisingly solid record that captures who the band is now. And for anyone other than the so-called die-hards who hated this album before a note was even put to tape, Death Magnetic ends up mostly a return to some semblance of dignity for a band who badly needed it.
Death Magnetic is in its best moments a striking return to form with a modern, refined but still distinctly Metallica edge, and in its worst moments a lame attempt to try to recapture past glory. “All Nightmare Long” is the album’s crowning accomplishment, a steamroller of a song with high-energy guitar riff after high energy guitar riff, and a flat out FIRE not heard in a Metallica song in years. To top it off, James Hetfield came up with a monster of a vocal hook to go along with the pummeling guitars and driving drum beat. Thrash riffs, dissonance, a Kirk Hammett scorcher, double-bass blasts courtesy of Lars “Yes, he isn’t that great, get over it already” Ulrich and James’ scowl make this the standout track on the record. “That Was Just Your Life” and “The End of the Line,” both at 7+ minutes, open the record on the right note, two blistering tracks that combine metallic riffs worthy of early Metallica with the groove and melodic sensibility that made Load such a hit (love it or hate it). “Broken, Beat & Scarred” follows in this vein. “Suicide & Redemption” is another highlight, a sprawling 10-minute, epic, instrumental jam complete with tons of changes (musical and rhythmic), layers of guitar tracking, lots of solos and a general feeling of bad-assery throughout.
And now for the bad: first single “The Day That Never Comes” ends up a less-than-worthy remake of “One.” It isn’t all bad, but it’s ultimately “meh” — if nothing here is better than the original, why bother? It just feels forced. “Unforgiven III” is a complete snoozer, lacking anything interesting at all; it just… Goes… Nowhere… Slowly. Most of the middle and end of the album (“Cyanide,” “The Judas Kiss,” “My Apocalypse”) is more “meh” material — it ain’t bad by any news, but it kind of just sounds like generic Metallica (“stock,” as Lars would say) rather than something special… And it’s these songs that ultimately end up really dragging down the album. Nevertheless, creative guitar playing from James and Kirk keep even these songs somewhat interesting, if not great.
Onto the production: I have a love/hate relationship with the production on Death Magnetic. On one hand, I appreciate the raw but not-TOO-raw (see: St. Anger) production. The gloss of The Black Album through Reload had to go, and I like the gritty route taken here. The guitars are raw and crunchy as a motherfucker — they sound fucking awesome. But the drum sounds, particularly the snare, miss the mark again. After the shit Lars took on St. Anger for his snare, how could he still not get it right?? Baffling. Overall the drums wouldn’t sound that terrible if it weren’t for the fact that the bass drum and snare are pushed obnoxiously loud in the mix and compressed to shit; so much so that they border on clipping for most of the album. And don’t place the blame on Rick Rubin — it should be laid squarely on the shoulders of mixer Greg Fidelman. The mix is clear, but the tones suck. The blatant use of auto-tune on James’ vocals is downright embarrassing and cringe-worthy in some places; surely he’s capable of better, and a rawer, grittier sounding Jaymz is better than the tone-perfect, robotic version we get here. I’m a bit disappointed by Hetfield’s vocals on the whole; there’s little variation from song to song or even from part to part, and I wish he’d gone for a slightly more aggressive approach. When he does vary it up the results are phenomenal, as in the aforementioned “All Nightmare Long.”
But in the end, Death Magnetic’s downfalls don’t tarnish the fact that this is still a pretty good album. The good songs are damn good, and those alone make it worth the price of admission. This is exactly the album Metallica needed to write. It likely won’t go down in the pantheon of great albums, and it won’t save them from becoming a legacy act in the near future. But at least for now, Metallica should be able to stave off the haters. And even if you don’t like Death Magnetic at all, you’ll always have the first five records to enjoy from here to eternity, and for those five reasons you should leave the band alone. Me, I choose to look forward and acknowledge the band still has some steam left; kudos to them for continuing to keep the dream alive.
-VN
(three and a half out of five horns)
Dunno what the fuss is all about, i think ‘Death Magnetic’ is great metal record, no doubt. Better than anything they’ve done since ‘AJFA’ and i’ll probably be purchasing this record today.
i could care less at all about metallica becasue i knew what was going to happen…
1:put out the record…some like it some hate it
2:EVERYBODY buys it cause it is metallica
3:lars makes more money and becomes more happy
Best review bar none. This review neither puts metallica’s balls on a golden pedestal, nor does it fry them in a skillet. This album was pretty good, and this review is fair. Kudos, Vince.
So, either the album is the worst piece of shit this side of well, the last Metallica album. Or it’s awesome because it’s Metallica. Or it’s not that great. Or it’s decent. Or it’s meh. I think you guys covered about every base possible, eh?
i like the range of reviews and vince wraps it up nicely. if you haven’t heard it yet, you can’t base whether or not you buy it off of this site. good job too all
Proof that this site has jumped the shark.
I completely agree with what was said here. It is the epitome of a good album…3 to 3/5 horns seems very justified. Enjoyable, but certainly not great. And i think that has a lot to do with them going into this album thinking they had to do just that. However if there is anything great about this album it is Kirk Hammett’s solos, who seems most responsible for the jammy anything goes kind of vibe.
But then again, jamming isn’t what metal bands do. They punish, they use labyrinthine song structures that are hammered endlessly at practice until they become second nature. If Metallica can take their chops and enthusiasm while scaling back some of their ambitions, maybe they will deliver on the promise of returned metallic glory.
But that is what Death Magnetic was supposed to be, so at least in some ways it can be seen as a disappointment.
Outside of ‘Nightmare’, it’s kinda blah…but that one song is worth $15 in this day and age of SHIT that is crammed down the consumers throat…
Jesus, there are a bunch of crybabies here. Listen, I appreciate the fact that you’ve given every view a say. So to the John’s and CrapMcPoopin’s of the world, go collectively fuck yourselves. If people care so much about what you think, then start your own blog and trolling every post of a blog you hate.
Starting my own blog would just be too much energy, when i can just come here and press submit.
Kudos Vince.I have hated the mix of this album from the second I heard a single note of it.That said, as a skeptic, and the dude who waves the flag for Mustaine, I enjoy the shit out of this album.All Nightmare Long almost gives me goosebumps it’s so good.I’m also feeling That Was Just Your Life and hell even The Day That Never Comes has grown on me.Although my brother-in-law has convinced me there is something missing on Cyanide, all in all, this is the record the boys needed to make to have me not tackle someone Kimbo Slice style at the mention of the name Metallica.Well done.
isn’t it weird when you go back as to why metallica stopped doing AJFA style songs, was they said that playing their music lost all the fun live for them, and was more about not fucking up..and here we are running back to that style?
best review I’ve read on this site yet.
i’m impressed…vince and axl have both given the kind of reviews i come to this site to see…not too biased and very honest..
good job guys…fuck the rest of your cronies’ opinions (except dallas) though.
Nice review, fine piece of wriring VN. I have to disagree with one point though. You make the point that maybe Death Magnetic is the best we can expect from Metallica at this stage of their career. I have to say that sounds good but is complete BULLSHIT!
I know some out there will disagree with me of course but a lot of bands that have been around nearly as long and longer have put out some of the best albums they ever have. “Christ Illusion” and “God Hates Us All” are fucking great Slayer albums. “The Blackening” is the best album Machine Head has ever done. “Killing Season” from Death Angel is their best. Megadeth’s “The System Has Failed” and “United Abominations” are great metal albums. Motorhead’s new release “Motorizer” is one of their best. Ministry’s “final Bush trilogy” was the best work of Al Jourgensen’s career. Hell Ozzy’s last album “Black Rain”, at least I thought it was the best anyone had heard from Metal’s Godfather since “Diary Of A Madman” but definitely since “No More Tears”. Cavalera Conspiracy is the best, most brutal music Max & Igor have put out in over 15 years maybe ever! I could go on and on. Metallica could have kept playing metal for the last 15 years. They chose not to and metal will be forever worse off for it. Metallica could have made the choice to support metal. They could have brought fresh new acts on the road with them giving them a chance at a slice of stardom like Ozzy did for them. They chose not to. Metallica turned it’s back on metal and the metal community that gave them the chance to be the mega-stars they have become. They could have used their popularity to bring metal up from the underground. Instead they turned their back and let metal almost get stomped out. Take a look at the Bay Area that gave them birth. The silence of metal is deafening there. Metallica turned their back on metal and now have remorse for their decision and want back in the good graces. I say no. They will never have my support again. The front page of MetalSucks was appropiately re-titled today -METALLICA SUCKS. Only I would add “DONKEY DICK”.
That’s all I have to say about that.(Forest Gump)
Honest review, i completely agree.
nicely put, vince.
probably the most accurate & honest review, thus far.
I agree 100%.
All nightmare long is definitely the highlight.
can we please stop now?
agree to disagree
@enemyofgod72
Wait a second…You actually think “United Abominations” was a good album?
WOW. After all the ‘tallica bashing I was shocked to see such an in-depth and honestly unbiased review. This is really nice to see that the ‘tallica hating internet meme hasn’t plagued this site. 1 MS!
Am I the only person who really could care less if I hear this album or not? Ive heard 2 songs and do not have any interest in downloading/buying this album. There are so many better albums to look forward to than buying Metallica’s. Instead of buying it I will watch the 24/7 feed of Lamb of God’s studio time. Chris Adler dominating his kit is far more interesting than anything Metallica has done the past 15 years.
@36THOUGHTLESS
I thought United Abominations was good maybe a little to the “meh” side but not terrible other than putting Christina Scabbia on “A Tout Le Monde” which made me a bit ill. The riffs are 100% Mustaine. UA is now SFSGSW but compared to what Metallica has released since the Black Album, UA is fucking masterpiece. Compared to just other Megadeth it’s “meh”. Mustaine is in the studio now so I’m sure in a few months he’ll redeem himself.
Sorry for the type-o — UA is no So Far,So Good … So What
Well said Enemy. I agree about the Slayer, maybe not so much about Megadeth, but about Metallica I do. They could have chosen the path less traveled and helped out new acts, and stayed true to their metal roots as they said in Cliff Em All, but alast. They gave into the money machine and sacrificed true life long fans for here today, gone tomorrow fans. I have to say this album does have some good aspects that Vince pointed out, but just seems like they could have done tons better in all aspects. Slayer is the same age as Metallica and put out one of the most punishing albums of their career in Christ Illusion. Makes one wonder just how much influence does money have over musicians. It sure seemed to make them change their tune quite a bit.
Good Point, Steve Las Vegas. Christ Illusion blew me away! Metallica gave up on their audience when they started making money and became self-loathing misanthropists. I’ve listened to death metallic in its entirety once, and while mildly surprising, still very “meh.” I was so disappointed by load/reload I gave up on Metallica entirely. When the whole Napster thing came about, I had a hard time listening to their older classic albums. Suffice to say, opted out of St. Anger completely. Metallica is responsible for my obsession for metal and starting to play the guitar, but now I could really care less as I’ve moved on just as they did, and this vapid attempt at winning me back at a fan just pisses me off all the more
i still dont understand why any band would put out an album so loud it distorts and sounds like shit…and its not just metallica, alot of bands have done it in the last 5 or more years. its this whole digital age, i dont think anyone knows how to properly mix a fucking record anymore. i bought this album for $5 at hot topic so i guess i cant complain much, and the songs are good, but at the same time, a band as big as metallica should have a professional sounding record, and to me it just isnt.
[...] audio quality / loudness issue IS mostly better in the GHIII mixes. Which confirms what I said in my album review: Greg Fidelman royally fucked up on these mixes. Ted Jensen had the balls to respond… So, [...]
Just bought the album. BRILLIANT !!!! LOVE IT !!!! WELCOME BACK METAL GODZ !!!!!
i agree with vince that the vocals sound weak and the drums like shit, but i hated kirks solos. they sounded like the aural equivalent of liquid shit. he loves his wah pedal WAAAY to much. it makes his brisk arpeggiated runs and bursts of fury that is typical kirk sound sloppy. when you compare the first three albums to anything else, especially “justice” and “death magnetic,” it seems that metallica either hate bass guitar or their mixers have no idea how important it is. it gives the riffs and hooks BALLS. every time i hear cliff burton’s lines on the first three albums i get chills. that brings another point to mind–considering that cliff was the single most musically talented member they ever had, they have outlasted expectations. “justice” was good because it was misanthropic and mildly depressing, more so than any other album they ever did. it was just scary (i first heard it when i was 10 and it was my first experience with metal). metallica will never be the band they were, and to all the idealistic fans (including me) get over it (i did) and try to look at “death magnetic” as what it is–the best thing they did in 15 years, and much more than most people could have hoped for. and for all the slayer fans, go soak your testicles in a deep fryer. slayer is a one trick pony that only knows how to please their fans instead of trying to break the fourth wall, or do anything that doesn’t sound like an amplified dental drill.
[...] !! – babuzz.com “but NO ONE leashes Kirk Hammett on “Death Magnetic” – MetallicaSucks.ne 3,5/5 ” obnoxiously loud in the mix and compressed to shit” – Metacritic Criticos: [...]
Don’t care bout these sell-outs anymore. Once a sell-out, always a sell-out. Black album made me lose all respect for them so it’s impossible to respect and support them after such a big sell-out move.
Despite my abhorrence with Metallica’s recent albums. I listened to this album with a complete fuckin open mind and came away disappointed. But it proves to me that it is impossible for them or any other metal band to rekindle the fire that built masterpieces such as Master of Puppets, Rust in Peace, Reign in Blood, etc.. These guys are just different people – different minds than the guys we knew 15-20 years ago. Its not that they’re not talented – its just that the innovation is gone. It’s kind of like in the field of mathematics – the period of innovation is constricted to a certain age and once you’re beyond that age, all that you will ever be able to reinterpret old theories, algorithms or whatever the fuck it is that mathematicians do.
I agree with this review, this album is what a business minded metal band would make to hang on to its fans. It lacks soul, fire and the other elements that make metal listeners tick. Also, where are attention grabbing intros? They should have done what Mustaine did when he made United Abominations which is actually a pretty decent album. He went back to his old notes when wrote Rust in Peace and kinda made that a natural progression from Rust in Peace. That’s what a smart business man does when he want to go back to the glory days. But that leads us back to the question, do metal fans even like music from wealthy businessmen that are unable to relate to their emotions?
Who is vince neil to judge metallica? wasn’t he on the surreal life?