Metallica’s next demise: DEATH MAGNETIC
I, like many of you humble metal fans, was a Metallica fan when I was a teenager. In the late 80’s to Early 90’s, Metallica was considered to be on the forefront of American Heavy Metal. The first four studio albums are still considered on my Best Heavy Metal Of All Time collection, even though I don’t really have a collection, but if I did, It would be on there!
Metallica created a metal sound that was thrash and wild and there was no stopping the young Hetfield and Ulrich during the Kill ‘Em All era. They were the powerhouse of metal. However, just as any general metal fan, I lost interest in the band when musically and physically they had begun to sell-out. By the the time black album came along, Metallica was as mainstream as disturbed is now. They cut their hair and they started experimenting and sounding more hard rock then metal, which is the purpose of METALlica. And this has continued up for every album after the Black album, which is the middle of the road career-wise for them. Their sound continued to deteriorate with every forthcoming album: Load, Reload, and St. Anger. Notice I do not include the Garage, Inc. album or the Symphony & Metallica album, because both weren’t new, just covers and added symphony. The new shit on these previous three studio albums was a fucking joke. I’m sorry if I missed the part of anything metal in any of these three albums, especially St. Anger, their worst effort yet. Load and its twin, Reload, brought on a loud drum “Metal” sound but lost its guitar-heaviness and anger. St. Anger followed with a drum sound of a toothpick hitting a Pepsi can. Good Idea, Bob Rock, let’s have Metallica cry to a therapist and release an album based on their crying. And how appreciative were its new fans? Take MTV’s example of their ICON show where Metallica were honored guests. On this show, in 2003, Snoop Dogg covered the track “Sad But True.” I’m not even going to get into Avril Lavigne’s part.
And on went life, and when I heard news of a new Metallica album coming through, I cringed. Death Magnetic was produced by Rick Rubin, a well-respected producer that has a brain. Am I excited? No. Should any metal fan be excited? No. So why am I writing this to bring to your attention? Because I don’t want a single person to believe the “hype” of it. Things are falling into place that I saw with the release of St. Anger. It was hailed by a “limited number of metal enthusiasts” as fast and heavy, going back to the roots of the early thrash metal that Metallica brought to the typical American metal plate. Unfortunately, this was all untrue. All of St. Anger was distraught with a weak drum sound and over-bassed, on-the-floor recorded guitars. The songwriting can’t ever be given much thought, even though hearing them live, without all the dementia of Bob Rock, it sounded pretty good.
A recent post on Blabbermouth.net issued today what James Hetfield feels in general about the new album and Metallica’s fans: “I don’t know — in a way, yes, and in a way, no,” Hetfield told MTV News last week. “The last thing I want is someone to think, ‘Oh, they had to go back to ‘Puppets‘ because that was the best album, and they’re doing it because we want it.’ If we start writing songs for our fans, something’s gone wrong. The fans may think they know best, but hey, I’m the armchair quarterback when I’m watching my team too. At the end of the day, we have to write it because we love it and it’s coming from our heart. That’s why people connect with it. If you start doing it for the fans, you’ve lost the plot.” It seems Metallica still doesn’t consider why they make music: for the fans. And, sadly, it has been this way for a long time.
The bottom line: In a few weeks, metal enthusiasts will be seeing the same formula of reading how someone pre-listened to Death Magnetic and how “old-school” it sounded. Do not buy into this; the new album will not bring any change to the new sound of Hardrock-illa (Metallica). They are too far successful to go back to their roots. I’m just getting sick and tired of being told it will be heavier, faster, and louder and almost replicating Kill ‘Em All. The sad truth is, it will never be what they were-they will never be what they were. What I will leave you with is a clip of what Metallica was:
and what they have become:
Written by ERIC
Album of the year! Runners up are all the pusses in bands from Sweden, one day they too will learn to Rock. Hey Cole if you want to hear old shit from Metallica live you should have seen them in the 80’s. I’m still waiting for your review that thing you posted was not a review, it was hate mail. When you review music you review it with an objective ear not what you personally like or dislike or the bands personality, you are reviewing their music. Anyone who posts such a review has lost any credibility and would not find work reviewing music any where but on an internet blog run out of that persons basement. P.S. Lars is having a party back stage with a bunch of 40 year old Maiden tribute guys. OH ooooooo yeah thats what I want to do. I think not! Ever think Lars never wanted to be a celeb. he cant help it if he rocks on the drums.
This little post ranting about Metallica was interesting to read… but now that Death Magnetic is actually out, it’s nice to see all the nay-sayers eat crow. The masters are back.
1. You don’t like Metallica anymore, ok we get it.
2. Just because you didn’t like they’re last 3 or 4 cds doesn’t mean you HAVE to hate this one.
3. You’re opionions about Metallica and bands that you DO consider “metal” doesn’t make you any more right than anyone that has the opposite view. (just because I don’t like slayer/slipknot/megadeth doesn’t mean I don’t know music, and I actually do like a couple of their songs but that’s about it)
4. It’s hilarious that you even listen and like bands that you all named and say that Metallica is shit, because 90% or more of those bands are at least influenced by Metallica. Think about that for a second.
5. This “review” or preview or w/e you want to call it is nothing more than another long rant about how Metallica sold out, is too old, too sober, or too mainstream. The truth is you are just one of the many fans that threw a tantrum when they didn’t record another “puppets” and now claims Metallica is dead.
6. Leave Cliff out of it, he was good and contributed and his death was tragic. Honor him, don’t send the whole band with him because you don’t like what they are now.
7. I’m obviously a Metallica fan but that doesn’t mean I’m ignorant to you’re interpretation of “metal”. That’s why sub-genres were invented because people interpret things differently.
8. If you want a band to stay the exactly same for every single cd then you may need to “broaden YOUR horizons”. And if you want a band to make a cd just for the fans then that’s just as bad or even worse than going mainstream, it’s practically the same by the way.
9. I bought the cd, I love it. It’s by no means better than MOP/AJFA but it is definitely worth giving it a chance if you thought they were done. And no i’m not their #1 fan that forced himself to love St. Anger. I think it’s awful but does has spots in that mess that are good. Sure I like the Black Album, but I’ll listen to Kill ‘Em All just as much.
10. And last but not least, I’m not trying to make all of these Metillica nay-sayers sound stupid…because honestly they did a good enough job on their own. Both sides need to grow up though. METALLICA HATERS: They’re one of the best Metal bands of all-time whether you agree or not. METALLICA LOVERS: They’re are other bands that in some ways better and no one on the planet can say that a single band is the best or only band ever.
Congratulations to Metallica for Death Magnetic.
“Runners up are all the pusses in bands from Sweden, one day they too will learn to Rock.”
Sigh….
Eric name a swedish band.
God I hate ignorant people so much… Eric, I hate to say it once again, but you should really check with your doctor and make sure you’re only REtarded, not FUCKtarded. FUCKtardedness is somethign that requires constant care and medication, and is a condition – along with “white-trashness” – that comes with being a die-hard Metallica fan (past the year 1988).
YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
Eric, most of the bands I have heard from Sweden are technically much more proficient than Metallica. Metallica spends tons of money on production, advertisement, marketing, (and therapy) to produce an amateur album that no one would pay attention to if it wasn’t by Metallica. Especially not now that there are so many other bands that have to scrape up the money to get someone to produce their album, work their asses off to get a record deal, and they still have time to practice, write, and perform stellar music. Maybe switching producers helped Death Magnetic, but it certainly didn’t help Metallica.
Take Opeth, for instance. Opeth writes complex songs that are sometimes unbelievably long, and the riffs, vocals, and overall sound are never boring. They can switch from heavy distortion to acoustic melody seamlessly, and the vocals are superb (they don’t sound forced, or like they’re making up for lacking in other areas). Meshuggah, or Textures…these bands play music that is original, complex, and they never have to try hard to sell it. Those who like to listen to technically proficient music will find it. It doesn’t mean they make a lot of money though — and the reason they are still not as popular as a band like Metallica is not for lacking musically. They simply choose not to sign a record deal that will limit their creativity and force their direction, because the music they make is something they love to do and will not tolerate it being a media machine.
I don’t get that interest at all from Metallica. The more I listen to their later material, it seems like they lost interest in the music but held on to that interest in celebrity. Their music practically sounds like it was made for the money, no matter how much they (or anyone else) says they’re doing it for themselves.
It’s unfortunate that you can’t hear the music, because Metallica is just suckering you into making them richer by providing music that is just good enough to stay under the radar. All they had to do was make something better that St. Anger, and they did that. It’s unfortunate they’re no longer interested in making good, interesting music that people truly don’t have to defend — music that speaks for itself.
It is kind of funny, to be honest, that you’re calling this “album of the year”. Maybe it’s a joke, and you’re trying to piss off Cole and Carter. But if it isn’t a joke (and if I was a nice guy), I’d feel sorry for you. Eric, people call you retarded because a 2-year-old could use Google for 5 minutes and find 10 bands that are better, more interesting, and more genuine than Metallica has been in 15 years, or ever. So while Death Magnetic may actually get album of the year (I honestly wouldn’t be surprised), all of it — the phony awards shows, the praising reviews, the media reception — is for retards like you that can’t find 5 minutes or the balls to say Metallica isn’t as good as the hype.
They’re washed-up at best. A once-good band that the media saw fit to exploit, despite the fact that no one in Metallica had it left in them. They’re garbage for going along with that, and spoiling the name that was Metallica, and that fans like me used to listen to without shame. Now I get a sour taste in my mouth even when I listen to their older albums. Thank you Lars. Thank you James, And thank you, all of you Metallica fans, for condoning this bullshit.
The review author, while a little over-the-top cynical, is basically right. Honestly, put in anything pre-1990 from this band, pay attention to what you see and hear, then pop in anything after. It’s shocking.
Freud & ilk: I’ve seen your question plenty, and I used to even ask myself the same question for awhile. Why DO we (the elder Met fans) give a shit that they’re horrible now? The answer is simple: it’s BECAUSE we’re fans of the old. We loved the band when they were doing what they do best… when they were a force to be reckoned with… when they made good music. We still do. So when we see the potential pissed away, it can’t help but make us angry, wistful, sad. It’s paradise lost. A once godly thing reduced to a steaming pile. And if that doesn’t piss you off, I question if you have any passion at all in you, my friend.
Btw, I’ve listened to about half of Death Magnetic so far (in the process of it now), and while easily the best thing they’ve done since the Black Album (which I can’t stand), there’s something big that’s just off. It feels forced. It’s still missing the magic. Sure, this comes as no surprise, but I guess as much as we (fans) hate to admit it, there’s always that tiny glimmer of hope in the ass of our brains that thinks… “Maybe?” Nope. Ah, well.
Do you think I cant use google or dont listen to bands like Opeth? Laughing rolling on the floor! You guys are thinking to much. Heavy Metal is HM you take it to serious. It’s for enjoyment! Even in 1986 when MOP came out their were plenty of HM acts who were more technical than Metallca. So to say now they are not good, or use the angle that soo many bands are way more technical is no arument ( the same way in rock, Early U2 or Beatles were never very technical but they had qualities that vastly more technical bands could not emulate). Music is about having fun and there are many ways to do that. Opeth has their way and you may enjoy it, I do. But a fan is along for the ride. If you like what they do than follow it. I dont believe people who enjoy mainstream rock or metal are narrow minded. I listen to music if it is good, not wether you can buy it in Target or it has to be imported from Sweden. Good example st. Anger I gave it a listen, overall its not that good..so I dont listen. Blackwater park great so I listen. DM a quality release their having fun they can have my 9.99. Look forward to seeing both of them having fun jamming their tunes live. Again it’s about having fun..
That’s right. There are bands that use less talent that make great albums. A good example is The Sword. Fairly straight-forward doomy/stoner metal. No crazy double bass patterns or wild solos but it all comes together. Death Magnetic to me DOES NOT. Its forced. You don’t read the articles, you don’t read my points. You just come at me with no debate or argument. You damn Swedish musicians but quite honestly, albums like Slaughter Of The Soul, Clayman, Still Life, The Conductor’s Departure, Nothing, and a myriad of others are better than anything Metallica has ever released. Those albums sport a more cohesive sound that Metallica rarely has ever touched. Listen to the way the guitars harmonize on “Downard Spiral Into Madness” by Anata off of the Conductor’s Departure. The Swedish metal muscians care about the music. Metallica just wants to have some army of fans to help them boost their egos. The sooner you figure that out, the happier you will be. Rid yourself of your training diapers (Metallica) and learn how to wipe your own ass (the rest of the metal world).
I don’t have the energy to deal with Metallica fans anymore. I went from loving Metallica to hating them because of the evolution of their sound. I went from hating them to absolutely loathing them for their diehard, rabid, and naive fan base.
as for this guy with his numbered points: save it. You seem to think you are some kind of neutral party but all you do is defend Metallica. The only people who look stupid on here are those that can’t express a point or just fling shit at me and others because we don’t like Metallica. If someone disagrees with me and damns my opinions for no other reason than that they go against some band, I’m going to fight back. But apparently, that makes me look stupid because its futile to fight back against Metallica fans. They are the be all end all of metal fans. It takes a lot of experience and listening to like the most popular metal band in the history of time.
Just form an argument. Someone. Anyone. Just an argument that is in favor of this travesty of an album. And please be creative. I don’t want too see “Dude, at 2:43 of All Nightmare Long it totally sounds like the second bridge in Leper Messiah” or some foolish crap like that. Be their advocate. Form a response. Don’t come here and talk to me about why I’m an idiot or a hater. Take the high road and engage me in a debate. That’s what we are here for but you guys have just brought this thread down to you level, which is shit-flinging. There’s no way to combat that civilly because it just gets people riled up. Try to change my mind, try to make me see this album in a different light. Please punctuate and make yourself sound somewhat educated. Its a matter of self-respect.
As a long time Metallica fan, I enjoyed Black, Load, Reload but never listen to them much. They were just never engaging enough for me. However, I’m still surprised when I see and hear all of the negativity for St. Anger. I can honestly say it’s my favorite Metallica album for several reasons:
1) its the heaviest album they’ve ever done,
2) the riffs are incredible on every track,
3) songwriting that engaged my mind for the first in a long time – the ongoing theme’s of maturing and being true to yourself were needed,
4) Some Kind of Monster – for my money, THE Metallica theme song… ‘This Monster Lives’
5) ‘Shoot Me Again’, to me, addresses directly all of the so-called ‘fans’ who froth at the chance to trash the band.
6) No solos! What a novel idea, make the jam like never before and eliminate unnecessary noodling and quite ususally the most boring and cliche part of a majority of metal songs. Solo’s are fantastic when done right but when they’re not, it’s a snoozer section for me.
7) The Drums. While I understand that not all will enjoy a different twist on the snare choice, I loved it. Something new and different that made for a rawer, less over-produced sound.
I’ll finish my rant with this thought on the criticism of Metallica’s last 18 years. Black album, Load, Reload and maybe St. Anger all had some issue that fans may not like (I disagree, but I understand). But if you don’t like Death Magnetic, face the facts, you don’t like Metallica. It’s everything that Metallica has always strived to be, done up just right. And if don’t like it, that’s OK too, just don’t call me a fool for enjoying it.
Some people here don’t get that music has no pre-conditions to be good. It can be made by extremely technically proficcient musicians and by people with one finger and one arm. It can be the most difficult thing to play, it can be the easiest. You guys just put up barriers, justifications, explanations that don’t matter one bit at the end of the day. What the hell does it matter if the musicians are rich or poor? There are alot of poor musicians that are crap. There are alot that are good. The same for rich ones. Why are there so many metal fans that are so narrow minded and partitioned? Why this need to be so elitist? At the end of the day, all it matters is if it moves you. Not if the musicians are celebrities, richer than you. And how can you possibly blame someone for liking something you don’t? How is that in any way your business? Why not practice the fine art of indifference? Why engage in useless name calling, and deriding musicians just to say you don’t like an album?
It makes no sense.
I’m a total fan of the first three albums. AJFA was alright, but it could have been better with proper production and mixing.
IMO, everything after AJFA was total crap. There are garage bands out there that sound and play better than what Metallica does. I had high hopes for the new album. It’s definitely better than St. Anger but that’s not saying a whole lot.
Metallica lost their sound in 1986 when Cliff died.
R.I.P. Cliff.
Easy big guy. Their is no debate because there are no facts, most of what you or I have stated is a matter of opinion. I can agree with alot of what you have said and i’m not attacking you or try to convince you otherwise. When I talk about less talented bands making great music it was a general statement and not neccessarily meant for Metallica. If your one who wants to believe it and clearly your not than fine. My main point was HM is about having fun. If a band is having fun doing what they do how can I go against it. Can we get off this topic. Cole have you ever heard the song “The Ladder” by Yes. I’m not really into Yes but this song rocks.
I just listened on Youtube. It’s not my cup ‘o tea. I’ve never really been a fan of this kind of prog rock like Rush and Yes.
Josey – If I am going to lay down money to buy an album, it does and should have a pre-condition to be good. If you are Toxic Holocaust who is basically a one man thrash band who basically only releases material so people can actually get ahold of it while relying on live performances to spread his gospel, then it really doesn’t matter who mixes your album or how many songs are on it. However, if you are a legendary act like Metallica, it is your job to deliver a package of material, both written and produced, that is deserving to be purchased. If you think Death Magnetic is deserving then more power to you, but I wouldn’t pay for an album that is so compressed you actually get feedback regardless if your volume! This has nothing to do with the writing, but EVERYTHING to do with production, and there is no excuse the band can come up with for why the album came out the way it did. Basically, if Metallica didn’t care what fans think of their music, they wouldn’t have hired Rick Rubin, or Bob Rock for that matter. This isn’t even touching on the writing portion either, which you are right, is completely up to the listener to decide. But there are things that fans should be able to expect from their favorite bands…simple as that.
Not a big fan either just that song. I agree with the production talk. These guys are getting paid big bucks to do a quality job. I think it goes beyond the artist though. Yes they shoun be involed in the process and inspecting the work to ensure a quality product. I think the record label that is not looking out for their artist are also at fault. Many new artists dont know the complexities of recording an album so they are at the mercy of the people provided to them. You get feedback? When? I have the CD version and I dont have feedback. I blast the album in my Toyota and have noticed at a certain volume(very loud) or above it clips but this is almost at max volume. So this issue does not effect me. I dont think it’s the stereo because all the other albums go to max with no clipping. I think and can not be sure the band did this on purpose. They wanted an album that sounded loud.
This is so pointless, all of you will believe the exact same thing you believed before coming to this site. Unless you were just on the fence to start with. Coled, you say I’m just defending Metallica and yet all you have done is bash them…how are we different? Then you want someone to enlighten you over a subject you obviously aren’t budging from. All I’m saying is that if you don’t like them anymore then why are you on a Metallica related website wasting you’re time, when you can just not listen to them. I don’t go to websites looking for a so-called debate over something I don’t like. Express your opinion but don’t keep coming back again and again to say basically the same thing. Don’t bother writing a long retaliation, I won’t keep coming back like you.
this is the first time i’ve ever been on this site.
and its good to argue about something…. but why don’t you stay on topic. I won’t say if i agree or disagree… i just want to see more angry metal kids yelling at each other
i dont understand. you say you are metallica fans, but you are just fans of heavy music. i had every metallica album on tape, yes cassett tape (whats that?) as soonas they came out. i grew up on them and understood who they were as a band. AS SUCH, i followed with them through load and reload times and considered them great albums, allbeit no master of puppets, but i respected their sound because i lived through 4 albums of it before hand. bands mature and change, its a fact. i would rather have a band put out new albums along their career than release the same album every time. with this said, i am a big fan of death magnetic and really do think they have gone abck to their old style, maybe not master but deffinetly justice. im my opinion, they can do no wrong so stfu
People…. seriously…. stop. You are wasting minutes of your life you won’t get back. If you have nothing better to do but bitch about how crappy music is, go out and start a band and fix it. Problem solved.
I’ve listened to the bands that the Metallibashers have quoted, as well as listened to ‘Death Magnetic’ and to say your perspective is objective would be extremely naive.
Many bands still play music like Metallica, many bands played music like Metallica even when they were at their peak. You can’t listen to early Testament and say there is no resemblance to Metallica. If you want to bag drumming out and then quote Kreator, again, you are being very naive. The majority of Kreator’s early music is filled with terrible drumming that somehow manages to keep the snare in time.
That’s not to say I don’t like it.
Quoting extreme metal bands like Decapitated and Opeth(even though they aren’t really extreme) and comparing them to Metallica….once again…very naive. It’s like comparing Bjork with Mayhem, they can both do some pretty screwed up stuff and be tits about everything, but they have nothing in common aside from music.
The problem is, deep down, you still love metallica. Their’s a sense of nostalgia there. They’re like the child that betray’s you. You’re not angry, you’re dissapointed, yet somehow they are successful where you are not.
Part of your emotions are jealousy, aswell as a desperation for them to recreate that nostalgia for you, to be your “son” again. But they will never be the same, and until you come to respect them, you will never appreciate a thing they do or accomplish. You’ll keep seeing them as your little boy, even though they have matured into a man. Back when they used to call you “Dad”.
Now, they are off touring the world, earning more money than you could ever see, and they really don’t give a sh*t about you. So all you have is your comparisons, and spiteful jealousy for the way they were and never will be again.
I’ve been playing drums for 15 years, there’s nothing wrong with Lars drumming, it’s not Nile or Cryptopsy, but then again they never wanted to be. Put some triggers on his bass drums and the sound would open up a hell of a lot. Joey Jordison is a hack that needs a double bass pedal to pull off decent fills, yet people praise him like he is the best drummer in history.
I love Slayer, but as for them progressing, the only thing that has changed in their dynamics, is on some albums there’s more clean guitars, or on others the beats aren’t 250bpm. But you could hardly call any of their albums, markedly different from each other. But that’s what people like.
They don’t want to lose the gem they discovered, their youngest child. They want the world to stay the same and never change. But unfortunately, living that way will eventually leave you very disillusioned about more than just Music.
TBAM – You summarized our reasons for being disappointed in Metallica quite well, because the sting is greater when this band releases sub par music because of what they once were. When Dead to Fall broke up, I was disappointed because they released a great final album, but I wasn’t distraught because they never built up a legendary status. Metallica were metal legends, even before the Black album because they built up their underground cred. Suddenly though, all of that didn’t matter, nor has it mattered since. Tradtional Metallica fans who have been fighting their latest material, aren’t jealous of their popularity or money, that’s just ridiculous and you know that. We simply want to hear Metallica release an album that lives up to their name, which despite their lackluster albums over the past 15 years, still hasn’t been completely tarnished, and probably never will be because of their once glorious rendition of thrash that will never be duplicated.
We are like disappointed parents, and like every good parent who loves their children, they can be disappointed, angered, and saddened, but will always maintain vigilance. Unfortunately, because of that loyalty, we always take disappointment harder with Metallica than virtually any other band. Sorry if you think Death magnetic is getting an unfair shake on this and other sites, but that’s just reality. Hardcore metal fans are hardcore for a reason, and when you disappoint us, we will fucking let you know. And Metallica are once again huge fucking disappointments.
Well said, Codeman.
TBAM… I could give a shit about Metallica and their money. I don’t see them as my child either. I see them as a band that I worshiped and depended on for great music. And now they suck. Its frustrating but I’m not on Prozac because of the last 15 years of Metallica. As for comparing them to more technical or heavier acts, you damn well can compare them because Metallica is THE metal band. People go around calling them the best METAL band ever and Opeth, At The Gates, In Flames, Deicide… whoever you want… are all METAL bands. I’m bringing up those names as a means to educate the naive fans out there that think that Metal is only good because of Metallica, as well.
This is all just one big double standard. Say something bad about Metallica, tastefully or not, and you’re going to be attacked by a bunch of mongoloids with nothing better to do.
And for everyone who says I’m wasting time arguing, I wrote an article, when someone challenges me and uses the terms that they do to describe my work, my tastes and me in general, I am going to provide an ample comeback. I’m not gonna bend over and get fucked by a bunch of people who’s opinions carry no more weight than mine do.
Cole.. Language.
I understand, in a way. You don’t want people misunderstanding the genre you are most passionate about because of a band/album that you don’t think is worthy to wear that moniker.
People will always do this however. Just like people will listen to Linkin Park and say they’re into metal.
But metal is many different things to many different people, I love metal in many forms. For example, just last night I threw on Anathema’s Judgement album which is hardly what you would call heavy, but is still moving and captivating. Their progression has been very maturing, and their style has changed. But to me they are still Metal.
Some people will always slate popular metal bands as sellouts, or bands that do not conform to the “underground” ideal of metal. Bands like Emperor got called sellouts when they released their ‘IX Equilibrium’ album because it wasn’t as ambient or distorted as ‘Welkins at Dusk’. Yet their fanbase probably didn’t increase exponentially. You’re still not going to see them on Video Hits. Their album sales still probably won’t push 500,000 the world over. Yet they still get called sellouts.
Metallica are quite mainstream now, however 70% of the worlds population would still say “That’s too heavy for me” in regards to the majority of their releases. Metallica are now successful, and their style has changed from what it originally was. But, even though you may have been dissappointed with their change in direction their mainstream success has changed the metal world, I think, for the better.
I am quite an extensive metal fan nowadays and you will more than likely criticise me for this admission, but Metallica’s Load album is what really got me into Metal. It was from that album that I got intruiged and leant Master of Puppets from a friend, then got into Pantera, then Machine Head, then I found a local extreme metal store and started to get into Opthalamia, And Oceans, Aeternus, Krabathor, Morbid Angel, Emperor, and the rabbit hole just got deeper and deeper.
These days I like everything, but Load was still (even in reflection) a very creative album, with some great songs on it. It wasn’t thrash, but it was good. I prefer Load over Black anyday. Reload wasn’t so good, and Garage Inc / St Anger just plain sucked. But for me, Death Magnetic is a return to form, atleast in a creative way. Death Magnetic is not thrash or back to their roots. It’s an amalgam of everything they’ve ever done. It’s a modern metal album, and that is all.
I understand you’re dissappointed that they are not releasing music that is up to standard with Opeth. But it is all a matter of perspective. I love Opeth, but I think they’ve been sounding like ‘My Arms, Your Hearse’ for years and years now. Despite Blackwater Park being brilliant and Damnation being a refreshing departure. They are now repeating similar things they’ve been doing all along, and that, it seems, is what people like. Familiarity and consistency.
You let something go in your post Coled24. You do still love them, Metallica that is. You just feel dissappointed and angry that they haven’t put out an album you liked or respected since …And Justice for All. Which is fair enough, but is more an example of your tastes than the validity of the album. However, I guess this blog was always an example of your opinion than a static representation of public opinion. However we do have a right to disagree, and these disagreeances are no less valid than your opinion.
Just curious, I know you don’t have to like it, but since listening to the new album, what particularly don’t you like about it? Too contrived? Too generic? Too soft? Too amateurish?
There were parts in that i thought reminded me of crap in St Anger, but then they did something really interesting with it that really captured me. St Anger however, for me, was tripe due to it being so monotonous and long.
Anyways, a good debate is never a bad thing
Comparing Opeth and Metallica is apples and oranges. Two totally different bands, sound, style. They both are good in what they do. Oh except Metallica does not know how to hire a good album mixxer. What are they deaf from years of playing? How could you not hear the distortion and clipping on the disc? I enjoy the songs hate the sound quality.
Thanks TBAM for a mature reply, I do appreciate it. I wouldn’t say that I love Metallica anymore. Even going back and listening to the old stuff is hard. I’ve heard it so many times and I just cannot think of anything but St. Anger when I hear the old stuff because that was the album that poisoned me against Metallica. You can also get the whole rundown of my feelings on Death Magnetic in the review that was posted on the Friday of its release.
I don’t think that Opeth has sounded like My Arms, Your Hearse for a long time at all. While they stick to a formula, they elements in that formula are continually changed. And I think it’s hard to look over Still Life when you talk about their best work.
Still Life was a killer of an album. Being a drummer though, I get all anal retentive about the kick drums being so low in the mix, especially since he does some great foot-work on that album.
Yeah, St Anger was a b*tch. Garage Inc was the one that really ruined them for me, but I just can’t seem to dislike Death Magnetic yet, I even went in with low expectations. Perhaps that’s the reason.
As for Opeth and MAYH, I agree they have changed it up here and there, and obviously come out with better albums, however as for dynamics and riffage, you have to admit that Mikael’s style of riffage has maintained very similar to that album. Just like Slayer, to say Opeth don’t change would be a sweeping generalisation, but for me, their albums since MAYH seem like songs that were written at the same time, but recorded in different bunches with varying productions. Though on the last two albums they put out, they went a bit experimental, but the patterns and tones were still very same-ey to me.
ANYWAYS, I digress.
With the old tallica, you have to get into a Vibe I reckon. Everything is so familiar, and the taint of the albums you didn’t like will just creep in. Maybe mix old tallica in with some old Testament, Exodus or Megadeth in a playlist. I always find myself going back to …and Justice for All, because it’s still as brutal as a lot of stuff that is out there at the moment.
This is getting off topic, but I tend to disagree with you on Opeth – I think their style has changed from album to album. MAYH and Still Life. If you listen to “When” and then “Reverie/Harlequin Forest” from Ghost Reveries.. the differences are fairly apparent.
*Meant to say MAYH and Still Life are a bit similar.
You know read this article and and a month ago I would have aggreed whole heartedly with everything it had to say. Now all the busshit aside that is being said in here, all I have to say was my god we were all wrong. Sorry everyone but grow pair of ears and truly listen to death magnetic. Metallica has made a metal record something they haven’t done in my opinion since justice. Hammit is back in full force, and hetfield sounds better than he has in over 20 years. Lars is still mediocre at best, but lars has always been that way. This album is excellent in every aspect, beyond the half as drums. All you neo-metal head fagot fucks, pull the dicks out of your ears and take this album for what it is trying your best to rid saint anger, black album, load, reload, from you mind. It’s fast, it’s heavy, they solos are phenomenal, and while we will never get back all the lost years metalica had its head up its ass, I’m thankfull for what this is. Now I’m a metal fan for life, and old school metallica holds a dear place in my heart. I think rick rubin has done a fine job slapping this 40+ arrogant rich fuckers right in the face, and saying hey make a metallica record, not a hard rock album. All I am saying is this is thrash metal, and anyone who says it isn’t doesn’t know what the fuck they are talking about.
This isn’t thrash metal at ALL. Thats like calling Reload progressive. In case you forgot what the definition of thrash is, old school or more modern thrash, listen to Enemy Of God by Kreator. Does Death Magnetic sound like that? Not at all. The Day That Never Comes and The Unforgiven III are not thrash tracks. For that matter, neither were the first 2 Unforgiven songs.
I have listened to this album more than a few times and have gone over every song carefully and I can tell you that its NOT a good album or any kind of achievement. And what is a neo-metal fan. Everyone who writes and contributes to AMR listens to a myriad of different styles, so please enlighten me and all of us as to what the hell you are talking about. Wait wait… I can probably guess what you’re going to say. Growls suck, all of us probably have hard-ons for slipknot, etc. So I’ll just go ahead and tell you that you’re wrong because from what you have posted, you have just told me how dim and naive you are. You want a good thrash album that pisses on Death Magnetic from 2008? The Formation Of Damnation by Testament. War Without End by Warbringer. Metallica hasn’t been a thrash band in 20 years. DM will get filed under thrash because that’s how Metallica made their name but that doesn’t mean they can still do it. This album proved they cannot do it at all.
haah this is still going?
Just an open musing, after being involved in this topic.
Fair enough Death Magnetic isn’t a thrash album. Fair enough if some people don’t like it. Fair enough, even, that Metallica used to be a metal band.
However, one thing that sprang to mind recently, is why do they have an expectation to be Metal? Why do they get compared to Testament, and Kreator? Is Metallica claiming to be a thrash band? Is Metallica even claiming to be Metal?
You could say that, in the name alone, therein lies the answer. But are the members of Tool, tools? Do they like to resemble a shifting spanner, or ratchet? Do the Eagles of Death Metal resemble anything close to their title?
In Australia we have a music video program called Rage. It plays from around 11pm at night until 9am the next morning, and usually features “guests” or bands who program that night’s playlist.
One thing I remembered from long ago when Metallica programmed Rage, was that I didn’t really like much of the music they programmed. Their tastes appeared to be nothing like the music they were producing. This also reminded me of a quote by Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns, who said something along the lines of “I don’t want to write and play the music I listen to, or make music that I want to listen to, I want to make music that is an expression of myself. That I am expressing myself through the music I create”.
This struck me as quite poignant when you compare this to the majority of bands and musicians that are around these days. I guess it is a natural thing for people to do, but the musicians I have met and bands I have seen these days all seem to write music that is like the music they listen to. It is granted that we take influence from what we ingest through our senses, however upon further review, it could be considered quite contrived.
All the metal bands these days listen to metal. Kreator and Testament probably got a large part of their influence from Metallica (amongst others). However It has always seemed that Metallica’s music has been almost a coincidence of sorts. Their influences tend to involve mostly old-school rock’n'roll, as well as blues and jazz. I don’t get the impression that they would listen to thrash metal regularly as a point of pleasure and draw influence from it. Wheras I get the impression that Kreator and Testament would.
Perhaps this is the biggest gap in perception between the people who are fans of Metallica and Metallica themselves. Metallica’s album’s changed significantly after …And Justice For All. Do we have to like it? No. Is it surprising? Not really.
As a musician, my tastes change, and invariably these changes in Taste find their way into my musical expression, and in many cases for musicians – creating a side project to manifest those different tastes, is not an option.
Perhaps the problem is two-fold. Metallica changed because the musicians behind the music changed. They kept doing what they do, making music that they wanted to make. However the audience who is now part of the genre that Metallica helped substantiate – being metal, now wants to listen to Metal. They make metal and want Metallica to be Metal.
Then along comes Rick Rubin who says, hey fellas, the last more-than-a-few albums weren’t really metal. Everyone wants you to be metal. You even have Metal in your name. C’mon…I mean c’mon.
Then Metallica have written a Metal record, when evidently their tastes and influences aren’t a part of that genre.
I’ll admit, that Death Magnetic is quite contrived. I don’t think it’s bad, but for me, I actually prefer the majority of Load. It was more creative, had more fervor and passion behind it. They weren’t “trying” to be or do anything. They were just letting their influences at the time come through their instruments.
Metallica is always going to be a heavy(or harder) band, because that’s what they like to play, however their influences have passed on from heavy music, creating quite an intresting juxtaposition.
Perhaps it’s time that the listeners move on and stop expecting Metallica to be a reflection of their own(the listener’s) tastes, and just like any other CD you find in a store. Try it out, if you like it, buy it. Id you don’t, don’t.
I guess i’m pondering over why people are expecting Metallica to compete with Testament and Kreator when it is quite obvious to me now, that Metallica don’t really like Metal, or thrash metal at-least, whereas, Testament and Kreator are still as much a part of the thrash scene as they ever were.
However, perhaps the better option after …And Justice for All or the self-titled album would have been to take a hiatus and release albums under a different name, to remove that expectation that seems to be their biggest selling point, as well as their biggest achilles heel.
coled you wrote that opinions bare no weight whatsoever, and my opinion my vary from yours greatly. Metallica fell off the map for me entirly a long time ago. Now what I have to say is that this is metal, and it has many elements of thrash metal. You might not enjoy what you hear, but I find it to be pleasing to my ears. My point in writing what I did was that this album was written off before it even hit the shelves based upon the article written here. What I’m talking about is the one dimensional, closed minded views that are quite normal when it comes to metal or anything for that matter. Comparing metallica to testament, or warbringer proves exactly my point. So on topic of being dim, I say to hell with genre’s and praise to the artistic expresssion from the musicians themselves. The term neo-metal head was a quick term I came up with for describing such analytical pre and post judgment of what is or isn’t. For the record I like all the bands you have mentioned here. I said in the beginning that I am an avid fan of metal, I love ear piercing screams and growls (once again for the record). Which further proves my point of how quick you are specifically to pre-judge something before YOU know what your talking about. I’m saying dm has elements of the early days, and is the best thing I personally feel they have produced in over 20 years. A month ago I didn’t like anything but pre black album metallica. It just so happens that when I listened to dm I wanted to break something and bang my head, which is the general asthetically pleasing aspect of metal for me. Now on the subject of being naive, naive would be liking something because I’m told it’s this or that. Because the majority of the media or overall mass’s classify something into what I’m supposed to like, based upon the fact that I like metal and this is labled metal. Now I like dm because that is my opinion and I was expressing that. The only thing I did was express how I feel, which music is something that is felt. Now comparing apples to oranges “In case you forgot what the definition of thrash is, old school or more modern thrash, listen to Enemy Of God by Kreator. Does Death Magnetic sound like that? Not at all.” Shows me how clearly dim and truely ignorant you are. I only compared metallica to itself, and made a mistake of using a term such as “thrash metal” and putting something into a box. But by doing that you proved my point.
“All I am saying is this is thrash metal, and anyone who says it isn’t doesn’t know what the fuck they are talking about.”
“…I say to hell with genre’s…”
Pick one and go with it, dude.
Cut the crap about music being something that is felt. Give me a break. This whole tirade you just wrote is about how much you like it and how much you disagree with me and how stupid I am but nothing about WHY its good. I explained in my article WHY I didn’t like it and why I think its crap. No one has said anything to me about why its GOOD. Everyone just talks about how I’m biased and an asshole. Tell me, why is this album good? “Its their best album in 20 years.” Why?
And how does my comment about Enemy Of God make me dim? That is a thrash album, Death Magnetic isn’t. Its just a harder version of Reload. They haven’t recreated a thing at all. The solos are fairly typical, they cool riffs get played for so long that it gives a feel that they had NO clue where they were going during the writing process, the lyrics are abysmal and all about James (surprise, surprise!) and Lars’ drumming is just inexcusable. Metallica was a great thrash band and now they aren’t.
Whats sad about all of this is that you’re going to comeback call me an idiot, naive and dim. You’re not gonna address any of my points for more than maybe 6 words and walk away feeling like you’ve beaten me in a debate without even putting up an argument. Just like EVERYONE else that does not like my views. Which further proves my point that this band could release an album called “Our Fans Are Retarded” and it could be an album completely full of hip-hop mashups and every Metallica fan would be salivating over it.
Cole, Just quickly (and bear with me if i’m off the mark here)
Perhaps noone is describing why the album is good, because this particular page is more about a pre-view of your opinions of the album, as opposed to a review of the actual album (which you have under another topic). So naturally, the responses are going to be in reply to you judging the album prior to it’s release, the most common being others’ opinion that you are biased to the release (as this article is a negative review prior to reviewing it).
So perhaps those that wish to argue that the album is good, should post on the topic where Cole has reviewed the album and not this one.
Alternatively, perhaps replies to this pre-view should be reserved to people debating Cole’s article and not the album itself.
Cole didn’t write this.
coled you love to debate, this is clear. But when it comes to music dude you will go on forever. You prove many points about how metallica is not as good as this or that, and you know what your right. Now when it comes to music being felt, thats what it is man. If you lose that you lose any sort of element about music is supposed to do when you listen to it. Now you may pick things apart and analyze them to death, and argue everyday with metallica fans about how stupid they are for liking something, who is the idiot here? I never claimed to be a huge metallica fan, I just said I liked dm uposed to anything they have done for over 20 years. Now you being the argumentative, analytical, dick head that you are will come back and say give me the evidense as to why this is better! Now I say because I fuckin think it is, and now I become the ass here because you will come back and say well this sucks about it, and this band is better, and blah, blah, fuckin blah. As far as being a retarded metallica fan, fuck off pal. Load sucked ass, reload was it’s horrid cloan, and I believe you said it yourself, st. anger was possibly the worst peice of shit album I have ever heard. What I am saying is this is better than those albums, nothing more. I’m not getting a fuckin metallica tattoo, or digging out old t-shirts here. I’m simiply stating this album is better, and that it was written off by assholes like yourself before it was released. So if you hate metallica so much, why, oh why are you wasting your time arguing with metallica fans pretty much everyday from what I can tell? You have hit the nail on the head many times over man, all metallica has to do is put their name on an album cover and bam, MONEY. All I am saying is that to me this may be more worth the money spent than any of their releases in 20 years. Believe me metallica isn’t at the front of the list of my favorite bands. So arguing with me is pretty futile, and an utter waste of your time. But you seem to like wasting your time given your history on this blog alone, so have it fucker. Because now I am wasting mine….