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Metallica - Death Magnetic review



Reviewer:
8.0

2417 users:
7.31
Band: Metallica
Album: Death Magnetic
Style: Thrash metal
Release date: September 2008


Disc I [CD]
01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. Broken, Beat & Scarred
04. The Day That Never Comes
05. All Nightmare Long
06. Cyanide
07. The Unforgiven III
08. The Judas Kiss
09. Suicide & Redemption
10. My Apocalypse

Disc II [CD] [Demo Magnetic]
01. Hi Guy
02. Neinteen
03. Black Squirrel
04. Casper
05. Flamingo
06. German Soup
07. UN3
08. Gymbag
09. K2LU
10. Ten

Disc III [DVD] [Making Magnetic]
+ That Was Just Your Life
+ The End Of The Line
+ Broken, Beat & Scarred
+ The Day That Never Comes
+ All Nightmare Long
+ Cyanide
+ The Unforgiven III
+ The Judas Kiss
+ Suicide & Redemption
+ My Apocalypse

It's always very difficult to analyze what Metallica has created, seems as normal criteria doesn't apply to them, so I might as well just get this off my chest - if ?Death Magnetic" wasn't a Metallica album, I would probably rate it pretty darn close to ten stars. However, since I too have the impressive legacy of their previous works to consider, I will not. This of course technically makes me a whore - that's fair, I digest. But numbers and stars aside, do I think this is a good album?

The answer is yes. Yes I do. ?Death Magnetic" effectively gaps the bridge between the old and the new. The cynic in me wants to add that the album has the tempo of the old days and the lyrical lunacy of the modern era - and he's right. Unlike with Metallica's earlier works, ?Death Magnetic" isn't too generous with providing addictive vocal hooks. That is not to say that there are none, but they are not always immediately obvious. What is obvious, however, is the fact that ?Death Magnetic" is an ??And Justice for All" inspired riff-fest (except with bass). It rolls on with a steady thrashing pace and an ominous sound of thunder - a blackness which I didn't believe Metallica possessed anymore. As if the mad riffing wasn't enough, Kirk lets his shredding-self run free, to a point of sheer insanity. Even James puts on a helluva show and keeps his vocal fluxions at bay, sounding rather gritty indeed. Occasionally he does drift to the mellow side (?The Unforgiven III"), although frankly these occasions are surprisingly intriguing. As downers one might point out the relatively jumpy and diverse musical side, which in combination with the somewhat limited lyrical themes make ?Death Magnetic" not exactly the easiest to listen record around. It does, however, utterly kick ass.

Despite the tempo-frenzy one has to bare in mind the fact that we are dealing with the new Metallica. ?Death Magnetic" is not the new ?Master of Puppets". Personally I'm actually relieved about that - instead of copying their older lore, the band has thrown in some recognizable blasts from the past and melded them into their "new old sound", thus making ?Death Magnetic" a rock-solid comeback statement, a truly crushing mosher and above all, a true contemporary Metallica classic.

Written by destroyah | 12.09.2008



Guest review by
BobNickMad
Rating:
9.0
Metallica made fans to wait 5 years for a new album,again.The first Wait was between ''Metallica'' and ''Load'',the second was between ''Garage inc.'' and ''St.Anger''. And the last one between ''St.Anger'' and this album:''Death Magnetic''. ''Load'' and ''St.Anger'' were disappointments, is ''Death Magnetic'' another disappointment? Hell no.

Read more ››
published 04.05.2009 | Comments (31)

Guest review by
Lupas
Rating:
8.0
After St. Anger's dismal fallout, Metallica definitely needed to shake their foundations if they were going to retain their fame, fortune and most of all, their following. Luckily, they did, and quite efficiently too, as new album Death Magnetic distinctly restores their credibility.

To help themselves out, they brought in major league producer Rick Rubin (of Slayer, System Of A Down and Johnny Cash fame), who seems to have gauged the perfect balance between the grittier edge of Metallica's classic sound circa And Justice For All and the music they tried (not so successfully) to inject into St Anger.

Read more ››
published 03.01.2010 | Comments (18)


Comments page 2 / 5

Comments: 146   Visited by: 1251 users
12.09.2008 - 22:58
Rating: 8
BlankFile

Metallica´s Back! Metallica´s Back! Metallica´s Back!
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12.09.2008 - 22:59
Rating: 8
BlankFile

9,5 stars for me definitely! Its fast, its heavy, its Metallica! |m|
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12.09.2008 - 23:07
Rating: 3
iMorphball

I didn't like it as much as all of you did... I really didn't enjoy the length of the album because personally I found that it got really boring really fast. The fast parts in songs are good but not that good. My Apocalypse is a really good way to end the album, that song is fantastic, Im just not entirely sucked in by the rest of the album. James' singing is not that great and is not intense, Lars just sucks ass at drumming, the Guitar parts are good and thus leaving it a mixed conclusion.
Not bad, not great, but decent in everyway. 6.5/10
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13.09.2008 - 00:25
Rating: 8
Nicko's Nose

I'm loving it, it really has a lot of great riffs! It deserves atleast 8/10.

Some of you should listen to it more before judging it, it grows better and better with each listen!

I really don't understand why some people gave it 1/10.
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13.09.2008 - 00:30
Rating: 10
+{Jonas}+
I R Serious Cat
Yes, yes yes! Great review destroyah
*totally agreeswith this review*
That's exactl what I've been debating for months. It's taking teh old stuff as inspiration, without returning literally to it. Metallica once again is unafraid to experiment and come out with a fresh, agressive sound. The boys are back And liek always, they didin't let me down
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"Nobody wants to be the weird kid, you just end up being the weird kid. You don't know how you ended up getting there" - Rob Zombie

http://jonas-bs.deviantart.com My dA, mainly photography, go check it out!
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13.09.2008 - 03:22
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Can't say I agree, after listening to the songs streaming on the internet, it sounds really contrived, and consistently boring the entire way through. Sure it is the best they've put out in about 2 decades, thats not saying a lot though.
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"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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13.09.2008 - 04:56
Rating: 9
*!*

best 1 since 1991 nd they're fuckin baaack...........end of story
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13.09.2008 - 05:04
Rating: 7
Emperor IX

I predicted in March of 2007 and you all can see my previous posts for this...that metallica would do an instrumental for this album.....and the fact that this album should be a balls out, attitude, in your face piece of work. WOW i mean what the fuck...they have somehow managed to fuse the old thrash style with there modern hard rock style. I must say I find the last half of the album far more interesting than the first. But lars' drums are too loud in the mix...and perhaps they could have skipped one or two songs...just because a cd can fit 78 minutes doesnt mean they have to fill up all the space on it.

Anyways I must say I am pleasantly surprised....who would have thought they still had it in them.
I am gonna give this album a 7 out of 10.

Can't wait for the next release.

Well done guys.
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13.09.2008 - 05:40
4look4rd
The Sasquatch
album is not bad by anymeans, but this is nothing but a generic thrash album.... Nothing really special about it, still its nice to see that metallica can release something that isnt that crappy
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13.09.2008 - 07:28
Rating: 7
Rupert

I was actually pretty disappointed that they went back to their more "original" sound, but I admit it's the best move they've made in a while. Doesn't make Lars' drumming any better though, as soon as the drums came in it was painfully obvious that this was a Metallica album. The riffs are good, lyrics from what I could tell were pretty cheesy, and more so if the band wasn't aware of the cheesiness. And the solos, nothing new there.

NICE TRY GUYS
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13.09.2008 - 09:39
HeathenBlood
Account deleted
The album is worth the wait.. this disc kicks ass!!! "All Nightmare Long" is the KILLER song!
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13.09.2008 - 13:28
Rating: 9
Passenger
Lost To Apathy
This may well be the most repetitive album I've heard all year. At least they got the solos back up and Ulrich bothered to tune the drums. Only good moment: final breakdown in The Day That Never Comes.
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You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets. You do it at home. The rest is bullshit and you know it ~ Mean Streets
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13.09.2008 - 16:47
Rui F.
Account deleted
I've the same opinion as Passenger. The Day That Never Comes's Outro is the best part of a annoying album...with any imagination. I was expecting more...:maniac:
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13.09.2008 - 17:37
AiwiAstwihad
AiryanaKhvarenah
havent had time to listen to it yet, but am so hopeful for what i've read here.
gonna try it a.s.a.p.
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You who will come to the surface
From the flood that's overwhelmed us and drowned us all
Must think, when you speak of our weakness in times of darkness
That you've not had to face
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13.09.2008 - 17:45
zeusys

Metallica Sucks
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13.09.2008 - 18:43
Mordack
Account deleted
Best album I've heard all year. A great outing by Metallica, it fucking rules.
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13.09.2008 - 20:52
Yazdan
Account deleted
metallica was dead when CLIFF Died
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13.09.2008 - 21:17
Rating: 8
K✞ulu
Seeker of Truth
Written by Guest on 13.09.2008 at 20:52

metallica was dead when CLIFF Died

well, we can go without this kind of comments in the DM review thread...
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Savor what you feel and what you see
Things that may not seem important now
But may be tomorrow

R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner

Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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13.09.2008 - 21:21
dangermx

They must change their name to "POPallica"....
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Beyond the realms of death
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13.09.2008 - 21:21
Rating: 10
IronBlackZepp

I have to say, I never thought that this album would be this good. It kind of reminds me of ...And Justice For All Its deffinently the best Metallica album since 1988, and that is saying alot. Better then the Black album, and anything since. I can also say that this is one of my favorite albums released this year.
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13.09.2008 - 21:59
death mechanism

lars was good just in 2 out of 10 songs.james voice became old but still warm.
kirks solo was cool but not as good as i expect.bass was great.lyrics are fantastic.
a good movement for them in coming back.
GOOD LUCK 'tallica boys.
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14.09.2008 - 07:09
Black Mass

This is the greatest Metallica album since ...And Justice for All. And I think they have Rick Rubin to thank for that. Its almost as if they spent a bit of time listening to their first 4 albums and then decided to write a 5th - and it didn't turn out like the black album.
The boys are spot on with everything they have done for Death Magnetic. Initially I thought James' lyrics were a bit lacking but then I thought to myself that this is the 'new' Metallica and of course over 27-odd years of recording a dudes voice is gonna change. While he struggles a tiny bit with the long notes, he certainly has not lost that gritty sound to his voice. Kirk cuts loose on the shredding and everything just falls into place. I am totally fucken chuffed with this album. Metallica are my all time numero uno band and I am seriously stoked this album has come out and kicks serious arse. Number 1 release for me for 2008 without a doubt. This album will renew faith in long term Metallica fans. The only song that hasn't hit the spot with me is Judas Kiss but I just noticed it has come on and I'm toe-tapping away while I type. Its now official, I love the entire album.
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14.09.2008 - 07:56
Rating: 10
megabazabazak

the more i hear the less weakness i find.
a cool stuff AGAIN in 20 years.
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14.09.2008 - 13:34
Rating: 5
eximius

way too much media for just an album
the more I hear the more weaknesses i find
too many boring tracks, a lot of riffs almost copy pasted from the past

better than previous albums but just an album, it's just the euphoria of a new album you all feel...
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14.09.2008 - 14:00
Sunioj

I heard this album at my friends house, I have to say that this is IMO the most overrated 'metal' band on the face of this earth. Nothing special.
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14.09.2008 - 18:40
konstans
Account deleted
Excellent release they came back stronger than ever bravo metallica:wall:
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14.09.2008 - 18:58
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by Sunioj on 14.09.2008 at 14:00

I heard this album at my friends house, I have to say that this is IMO the most overrated 'metal' band on the face of this earth. Nothing special.


Couldn't agree more. I tried many times. But I don't really like Metallica and found them something so normal. The only song that I really enjoy is "One" But nothing more... The rest is just elevator music for me.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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14.09.2008 - 22:20
marillionfan
Account deleted
I bought the album yesterday. Well, it's not bad, not bad at all but it's not amazing either. It's just a good metal album. So no superlatives from me. Some of the songs are too long and sometimes things are forced. The drumming ain't so great. Kirk is back - no amazing stuff from him yet, but at least, finally, there are solos. The new album is better than St Anger and Reload at least.

Maybe the album will grow on me, I've only heard it twice. We'll see.
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15.09.2008 - 00:34
iaberis
Advice Troll
"if ?Death Magnetic" wasn't a Metallica album, I would probably rate it pretty darn close to ten stars"
are you sure you're talking about the same album?
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Bitch! Please
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15.09.2008 - 05:28
Rating: 10
napalm angel

i like it .i think the riffs are new and not repeated.
solos r not so great but at least exist.
it was a good try.now again im proud to be a tallicas fan.
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