Death Magnetic

...but Load is a fantastic album, so I don't get the problem. They wanted to try something different after 15 years, and it worked. I am big into thrash as well, but I respect then more than say a band like Slayer, who stay safe by releasing the same type of stuff again and again.

Each to their own. :kickass:
 
I can understand both sides of the argument. Load isn't half as bad as it's painted and while it might not be "metal" it's so different from any other major release from the period it's a surprise. They did a hard rock album at a time when hard rock had been made redundant by grunge and it was a massive success. People forget that. I can see Jak's POV too, because the thrash scene is a lot like the punk scene. Once you do something even remotely mainstream, you can hand back your membership card.

That said, I haven't really given a shit about anything Metallica's done since I heard Marianne Faithfull groaning away on "The Memory Remains".
 
I've listened to it another couple of times (Death Magnetic, that is, not Load) and I've decided that it's great up until Cyanide. After that it drops away a bit. Best track: All Nightmare Long.
 
Heh, I just realised that The Judas Kiss wasn't showing up on my playlist, so I haven't heard it. I've relabeled it now so it'll come around this time. Will it change my opinion? Who knows!
 
I just listened to Broken, Beat and Scarred again, and fuck me, the riffing in that is amongst the best things the band has ever done. Listening to Judas Kiss now, I think it might change your mind a little.

""Sanctify your demons, into abyss
You don't exist
Cannot resist
The Judas Kiss!""

Fucking brutal.
 
One day I will no doubt give it as fair a go as I can. In a way I could say Metallica really broke my thrashing heart back when they released their black album and then went on further disrespect their fans and go back on their original youthful promises. I'm sure there are many other fans in other genres who have similar experiences and reasons, most of us wise up as we got older and stop being so one-eyed.

No band could (or would) ever disappoint me like that again if they changed - some bands evolve slowly and some involve drastic songwriting changes, some I find enjoyable some I don't.

Money is a necessary evil in life and its a big part of music and while artists might say they just make music just for them, its the money that really keeps it going and like all business models you need to be covering your expenses and hopefully making some kind of profit. So its inevitable that at some stage many will gun for some kind of commercial success.

Well thats my perspective on the matter - it may or may not be of some help/insight to younger Metallica fans who don't understand what all the fuss is about.
 
I am back to being a massive fanboy me thinks...Just got the Coffin Box set in the mail, yet to go past anything other than opening it and loving it. The band have always been good at hype boxsets.

I can't wait to see the making of DVD it is really all I want to see in the set, but am so glad the family all chipped in and bought it for me
 
just listened to the full album for the first time (as opposed to just a couple of songs) and think that my mate Seb summed it up best: "Moments of greatness drowning in a Seas of Shit".

In parts, it shows true brilliance that made Metallica so popular and powerful, with good riffs, great hooks (as heard in The Day That Never Comes and All Nightmare Long) but is ultimately held back by production issues (some tone down Lars' kit and push Rob's bass up more!) and lyrics aren't as strong or memorable as they should be -especially for an album that is meant to be a tribute to "all those who have died along the way". It need more of an emotional punch and crystal sound quality -it's just too muddy for my liking.

But, all that being said, this album is definitely a step in the right direction for the band.
If they can just progress in this direction and push forward, they can easily put or two or three more albums of worth.

But then it comes to the point of when does such a band lose relevance in the ever changing music scene and how long can Metallica continue to operate as a band?
They could easily put one more album out and then step aside to pursue other passions & projects and live off royalties and such very comfortably but also think that would rob the world of an excellent live band.

Well, either way, it shall be interesting to see them step back up and stride on.
 
At first listen, I had similar thoughts, but since then I have realised it takes more than one listen to judge Death Magnetic (and most albums for that matter). After I scratched the surface of the lyrics, I found myself finding meaning in many of them and enjoying them a lot more than I first thought that I could. The sound doesn't bother me too much, I have heard a "mastered" version from the GH3 tracks, and the clarity from them didn't offer anything extra in terms of impact from the music, so I will stick with my CD copy. As for the band remaining relevant, a lot of what they are playing is just as technical as both the band has ever been, and as other bands of the genre are today, so I think they are doing fine. I can't wait to see them play some of this material live, especially James playing and singing much of it. Brilliant.
 
I think the relevance thing is a stupid argument, what about bands like The Rolling Stones? They have been around for 40something fucking years, when do they become irrelevant?
 
I think the relevance thing is a stupid argument, what about bands like The Rolling Stones? They have been around for 40something fucking years, when do they become irrelevant?

a long time back.

can you name any of their songs since the 70's?

relevance means more that they can't sell an album or draw a crowd or is simply forced out.
so, more relevance to the business and not the fans.