Åkerfeldt's Opinion on Death Magnetic

[burntoast]

I couldn't find a thread anywhere for this anywhere. Thoughts?

MetalSucks: Speaking of that, do you guys agree or disagree as it applies to METALLICA? Have you guys heard the new album?

Mikael Åkerfeldt: I heard one song.

MetalSucks: One song? What did you think?

Mikael Åkerfeldt: It started like "Load" or something, but then it picked up and became really fast. I thought it was cool and definitely a step in the right direction. I think it's a bit like a desperate move in a way for them. People want the old stuff, so it didn't sound like a step forward more like a step backward. I still think, from what I heard, people are saying that it's the best one since the Black Album which I don't think is far from the truth. I didn't like the "Load" or "Reload" albums. I didn't like "St. Anger" either.

MetalSucks: I don't think anybody did.

Mikael Åkerfeldt: This one, I could definitely see myself buying the album. I haven't yet, but I could. I am a big fan of METALLICA, but I haven't heard a good album from them since 1991.

Fredrik Åkesson: Have you heard the entire thing?

MetalSucks: Yeah.

Mikael Åkerfeldt: What do you think?

MetalSucks: My kind of view is basically like his. It's definitely a step forward rather than trying to recreate something. At the same time, some of it does seem a little desperate, but it's definitely the best since the Black Album.

Fredrik Åkesson: More thrash metal now?

MetalSucks: There are some thrash elements on there. There is some "Load" kind of stuff on there.

Mikael Åkerfeldt: The stuff I like most with METALLICA is the progressive stuff. Like "…And Justice for All", I love that album and more of their orchestrated stuff like "To Live Is To Die" and stuff like "Orion". I love that stuff, and I think in a way they haven't done anything like that since the Black Album. Like the first time I heard "The Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters", I thought it was beautiful. That is something I think they missed, I guess.

MetalSucks: So to bring this back to you guys, how do you try to stay relevant without trying to recreate the past or seem desperate? How do you balance that?

Mikael Åkerfeldt: I don't know. I think a lot of people think we're desperate and that we're clutching at straws or something like that. There are more people who think we have developed and are turning into a better band with each release. It's all different from person to person. So far, I never felt while writing music for an album that I was struggling. The songwriting for this last album was all there. A lot of people probably hate it, but a lot of people love it. You can't please anyone but yourself, and that's what we try to do. I think you can tell with our music that we're not trying to kiss up to fans of a certain record or era. We're just trying to please ourselves. I hope it shows.

Source: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=107333

 

[Caesar Metallius]

Personally, I think this record is what the Black Album should have been. It sounds like what would have come after Justice, but without some really shitty tracks like Enter Sandman and Don't Tread on Me. Puppets and Justice are their best. I thought Load had some good songs on it.

 

[Donnie Darko]

I think his opinion would change if he listened to the whole record rather than a single song (which from the description seems like the Day that Never Comes which doesnt represent the record as a whole)

 

[Alteredmindeath]

he heard one song, and probably the worst one on the album...the day that never comes.

 

[whenharlequinsfall]

At the Melbourne show he said "So who has heard the new Metallica record?......I dont mind it!"

 

[in_my_time_of_disease]

^Yeah I remember that, and that was just after it leaked too, naughty mike .

 

[Wander]

^Maybe he got a preview copy!

 

[in_my_time_of_disease]

Yeah from that shop in France, den h8 leAkd iT loL1.

 

[anarchy420]

wow, i think it's neat to hear mike's opinion of metallica, as they and opeth are two of my fave bands. i personally love death magnetic and i think it's one of metallica's best albums.

 

[Alteredmindeath]

mike will enjoy death magnetic.

 

[Twelveby5]

I think the album is pretty....momentary. Definitely not a record that I'd proudly own. I've heard it enough over the last month. It's going under the potted plants. 'nuff said.

 

[Godhead59]

wow, i think it's neat to hear mike's opinion of metallica, as they and opeth are two of my fave bands. i personally love death magnetic and i think it's one of metallica's best albums.

Agreed. And he should hear DECEiPHER's remix.

 

[ThePoisoning]

If Mike likes it, maybe I'll decide to like it too.

 

[antipunx13]

^lol, i need something to accompany my Nick Drake and Camel albums.

 

[Lightbulb Sun]

Ah, I don't think just because Mike likes it I'll instantly like it...... It's not growing on me. At all.

 

[beast from the east]

I think the album is pretty....momentary. Definitely not a record that I'd proudly own. I've heard it enough over the last month. It's going under the potted plants. 'nuff said.

I gotta agree with you. It's "OK", but Metallica has become rather irrelevant to me these days. 20 years ago, they were the shit. Now.....not so much.

 

[beast from the east]

If Mike likes it, maybe I'll decide to like it too.

Are you serious? Come on dude, think for yourself.

 

[antipunx13]

come on dude, think...

 

[in_my_time_of_disease]

If Mike likes it, maybe I'll decide to like it too.

This should actually be quoted in the dictionary under "fanboy".

 

[Lateralus14]

I like the guitars in this one a lot better than in other albums between 91 and now, but Hetfield will always ruin it for me as long as he keeps trying to make that super-mainstream epic-ballad-singing voice work. (I guess people liked The Unforgiven and he just thought he'd recycle that technique over and over and over and over...) Due to liking the guitars, however, I do enjoy Suicide and Redemption.