James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Lars Ulrich – drums

Kirk Hammett – lead guitar

Robert Trujillo – bass

            What do people think when they hear the band named Metallica? I asked a few people that question right before I sat down to start to write this review. Out of the 5 people that I asked 3 said that they are a kick ass band that’s been around for years (one of which said they needed to get back to old times), another said that its not their “cup of tea” and didn’t listen to them, the fifth said that we over the hill dickheads that needed to just quit, because they lost their touch. All of the 5 were fair and honest judgments towards the band and each person has their right to say what they want about them. There probably isn’t one Metallica fan that can say they love every song or every album for that matter. In any case Metallica released their newest album, number 9, September of ’08. After a long 5 year wait Death Magnetic debuted for all to hear. The 10 song, 74 minute affair begins with the track “That Was Just Your Life.” It begins nice and simple moving right along adding this and that until it explodes into a back in the day sound. With raging guitars, the famous double bass and a hell of a lot better vocals than you heard on the last album. The album moves right into the next track “The End of the Line” which keeps on the same path as track number 1. The trashing doesn’t stop with just one dose; they keep it going with a nearly 8 minute song. The classic intro to begin and the nothing but thrashing around with perfectly played drums and guitar variations with an added insane modern solo that will make your jaw drop. They also slow the track down during the progression and place James vocals on display with just make the song that much better, but the repeating at the very end needed to be reduced. “Broken, Beat & Scarred” which happens to be the 2^nd shortest clocking in at almost 6½ minutes, is another stellar musical performance, but I’m not sold on the vocals and the lyrics. Then are some places during the track that the vocals are just plan odd “make you more strong” is just weird throughout the track. “The Day That Never Comes” the first single spins off forth on the album. A great musical intro begins the near 8 minute track from start to finish. A slower track from the stand point of the entire album, it offers a great cooling down period from the first three thrashing songs. It has a great base of drums and guitars that will surely translate into a great live experience for concert goers. “All Nightmare Long” ends the first half of the album with a great track that must be played over and over. It begins with an odd intro that quick grabs your attention, pulls you in close for the explosion of sound that comes about a minute later. Piled full of raging guitars and drums the track has very weird vocals that you can’t help be attract to. Its really hard to describe this track, you just have to listen to it for yourself. “Cyanide” begins the second half of the album of what I consider one of the best on the album. It has a great sound to it as it seems to be melody driven with the additions of nice guitar solos and catchy as hell lyrics. The track that scarred more than any just by reading it “The Unforgiven III” comes of the album next. After hearing the first 2 “Ungorgiven's” I was afraid that the track would follow down the same path and be just a filler. Well, I WAS WRONG!!! The track doesn’t follow down the path. It begins with a nice intro of a piano for a minute or so then adds in guitars and shortly after drums. They did an amazing job with the vocals on the track and it may be the best “Unforgiven” yet. Its hard to beat the first one, but this one has the strength to. “The Judas Kiss” is my least favorite song on the record. It does have some pretty sweet sounding guitars and drums but as a whole song it doesn’t do it for me. Its kind of like “Holier Than Thou” off the self-titled Black Album, no matter how many times I listened to it I just can’t bring myself to like it very much. “Suicide & Redemption” begins with heavy drums that are swept up in a storm of high flying guitars with a nice added touch of a bass line drop from Rob.  The track streams along for nearly 10 minutes with as it’s a huge instrumental jam session. Its great if you want to just flat out rock out. I don’t think it’s a track you can play over and over again, but it shows that they can defiantly still write the music and play the shit as well. The album closes with the track “My Apocalypse” which I’m not too crazy about. It defiantly does take you way way back when they first started, but the vocals are weird in parts and I’m not crazy about the lryics. On the other hand….they music is nuts!!!! Oh My God!!! They pull out all the stops on the song that makes it a grade “B” track. Overall this is sooooo much better than St. Anger and do I dare say Reload as well as Load. They bring back the long intros, raging guitars and the heart-stopping drums of Lars. To me it showed that they still have the tools and the knowledge to put out a great album. it has hints of the old 80’s stuff as well as some melody style of the 90’s. It’s a nice mix of to me the best 2 complete album …And Justice For All and The Black Album. This installment is somewhere in the middle of the two.  

Rating: 9 out of 10

My favorite tracks:

That Was Just Your Life, The End of the Line, Cyanide

Track List:

1.      That Was Just Your Life

2.      The End of the Line

3.      Broken, Beat & Scarred

4.      The Day That Never Comes

5.      All Nightmare Long

6.      Cyanide

7.      The Unforgiven III

8.      The Judas Kiss

9.      Suicide & Redemption

10.  My Apocalypse