METALLICA - review added 21st November 2008
Album Review: Death Magnetic (2008)
For fans of: heavy metal... and a slight return to form
'Metallica's latest clutch at straws' may be a harsh way of referring to this release, but with each new album things seem to get more creatively desperate for the American foursome. Load was pretty bad, Reload was a little better, then St. Anger was like listing to workmen demolishing a bridge.
Firstly, the good news. Death Magnetic is better than St. Anger and Load. A lot of critics have jumped on this album and proclaimed it the best Metallica album in years. Well, yes it is, but one of the reasons for that is they only release one new album per millennia. Is it better than the distinctly average Reload? I'm not so sure.
There are plenty of moments of magic in Death Magnetic. Amongst the occasional double kick drums and balls-out shredding are some truly memorable licks. Thing is the album is so busy you never get to enjoy any one sound. Before you know it the band has changed style and gone screaming off in an entirely different direction.
If Metallica had attempted to write 10 cohesive songs that followed a theme and stuck to it, Death Magnetic could have been great. Instead they crammed as many riffs and rhythms in as they could. One moment they sound like Slayer, the next they sound like Maiden. In between they occasionally hint at old Metallica, but apart from James' voice (which is in sparkling form) there is little to tell you which band you are listening to.
Death Magnetic is a fun listen, it's loud (if not always that heavy) and explores some adrenaline pumping avenues of rock and metal. Ultimately though this is a scruffy dog of an album - you don't mind having a quick play but you wouldn't want to claim responsibility.
Check out... How busy it all is. What was Rick Rubin thinking?!
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