Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 200
 Ace November 29, 2008
Mr. N. E. Sheppard (Leeds, UK)
I'm not much given to hyperbole and "ace" is not a word I've used much since I was 14, twenty years ago, but then I haven't enjoyed an album this much since 1988 either. Certainly not one by Metallica. Death Magnetic, however, is just...ace.
 Metallica play it safe November 27, 2008
D. Seaman (Suffolk UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
On first hearing this album I was happy to hear Metallica having a good proper strong thrash sound again after the sludge that was St Anger.
I don't think the mastering is an issue, plenty of great albums are badly produced(Iggy & the Stooges-Raw Power, The Smiths-The Queen is dead) a good album will shine through.
Its dissapointing that they havent continued evolving. Metallica had re-invented themselves in sound and in image with Load, as much as Ride the Lightning is one of my favourite albums of all time I still really love the Load albums.
Metallica seemed to enjoy teasing there fans and they always speak of doing what they want, regardless of whats expected of them, but now they have given in to the fans who want 1980s Metallica back.
Axl Rose has just released an album which is both modern and classic sounding, maybe Metallica should've thought of a new direction after Re-load, there were elements of St Anger I thought couldve been focused on, like the melodic ideas in sweet amber, Unnamed Feeling, Purify and All within my hands. Instead of focusing on these ideas St Anger was a total mess and the 'metal' side of it consisted of really naff nu-metal nothing riffs, they comprimised the pottential experimentation of St Anger whilst missing the nu-metal bandwagon by a mile, but I still have more respect for St Anger Metallica than I do for Death Magnetic Metallica.
Anyway back to Death Magnetic -
The progressive elements on this album (that hark back to Justice) sound forced, the lyrics are clear, which is a shame because they make you cringe throughout the whole album. The start of the Unforgiven III is very promising then ends up sounding like 'I dissapear'(Metallicas Mission Impossible tune), makes you realise how good the unforgiven too was and how incredibly strong The Black albums original Unforgiven was. Kirk Hammet may be back on solo duties but he doesnt do anything memorable, on hearing his guitar work on this album alone he would gain no acclaim as a lead guitarist, its very predictable, sounds like someone doing a Kirk Hammet impression.
People always slag off Lars but I think he is a very distinctive drummer, hes interesting to listen to, not many drummers get away with being slightly technically imperfect, especially in metal, I think colaborating with more adventurous musicians would bring out the best in lars, these days he certainly outclasses the other members of the band in terms of passion and individuality.
I remember how outraged all the narrow-minded metalheads were when Load came out(I remember one meathead telling me how he smashed his cd with a hammer after hearing a few songs), yet this album will unfortunately please them because Metallica have at last, probably for the first time really in there career, played it safe.
 preparing for the backlash November 26, 2008
Richard Cramer (BIRMINGHAM)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
im gonna get some fury for this one..................but chinese democracy is a million times better buy that..ha ha ha ha ha :)
The Kings Of Metal Are Back November 25, 2008
Turk Thrust (London, England)
This was probably Metallica's last chance to make a record that would hang to the fanatical loyalty of their dwindling fanbase. Their 1990s output, while for the most part pretty good, took them in a direction that your average headbanger didn't want to go in, and 2003's disastrous St Anger and the accompanying documentary Some Kind of Monster should by rights have been the end.
This is Metallica though and they're not going down without a fight. Death Magnetic has got the thrash riffs and long complex song structures of their beloved first four albums, the melodic sensibility and songwriting nous of the Load era, and with the exception of the mastering being a little loud it's been properly produced.
Job done - the kings of metal have resumed their throne.
 The masters return... November 25, 2008
M. Phillips
The best album since the black album, Metallica truly become the masters of metal once again!
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