Metallica has been around for about 25 years, and their newest release, titled Death Magnetic, gives the same feeling as Metallica between the years 1983-1991.
Honestly, their previous CD, St. Anger, was an interesting gambit for the group. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out quite the way they were expecting it to. The fans, and critics, almost universally shot it down. Yes, it’s true that it wasn’t a good Metallica CD; however, if you looked at the music, and what went into the CD, it had the potential to get big. Still, it just wasn’t Metallica.
Death Magnetic fixes all of the issues that popped up with St. Anger. The Metallica rhythms and melodies that you might expect are there. There is more in the way of variation. It doesn’t sound like seven to 10 minute tracks of the same thing. The topics are the status quo, but for music, the tiresome repetition of topics works. The lyrics are intensely relatable the way they are written. The solos that everyone loves from Kirk Hammett have returned. The drum sound is back as well, whereas St. Anger sounded like Lars was beating a group of trashcans. This sounds like Metallica.
The best thing about it is that it has a very nostalgic sound, reminiscent of Metallica circa Master of Puppets. It takes you back. Since Rick Rubin has returned as their producer as well, it is a near complete return to the basics for the group.
One of the most interesting things though is the case. The CD case art, and layout of the standard sleeve of liner notes, ends up looking like a grave. There are holes in the cover, and each page cut to look like an empty grave. It’s simple, and although it seems like it’s been tried, it is also incredible and new.
The general feel of the CD, from the art to the music, is nostalgic but fresh. Its uncompromising musical look and feel is brutal, but with hints of underlying sensitivity, much like their 1991 release Metallica, better known as “The Black Album.” It also has the same level of honesty as the black album had. That honesty, brutality and sensitivity needed to be taken off the shelf and dusted off.
So the bottom line is whether or not to buy this CD. The answer is a boisterous “HELL YES!” It is the best thing Metallica has put out with new material since the black album and is well worth the cost to buy it.