Before I begin with my review of Metallica's newest album, "Death Magnetic", let just get all the nasty, ill-willed statements out of the way so you can continue to read my review with a clear mind. So first off we know the following about the album:
1) The cover is really a cover up for one huge gaping vagina.
2) This could be St(.)Anger part duex.
3) James is now a pussy and doesn't believe in drinking, drugs, or multiple amounts of hot pussy (this according to the last video I saw where they depicted a man in his prime drinking and ending up with nameless women and feeling bad for that).
4) Lars can not drum worth a shit and is still a cocksucker.
... and lastly
5) Why the monkey crawling bassist?
O.k. now that you had a few chuckles, hehehe monkey bassist, I'll start set up for this review of what has been a highly awaited release; not because its another release by Metallica but because of the morbid curiosity to see if they could sink any lower than "St. Anger." I remembered reviewing "St. Anger" for the Ultimate Metal forums and I pretty much bashed it, not because I hated the drum sound or because the lyrics where about the most kindergarden-esc thing I've ever heard but because the album was... well... horrible on all accounts and more so. So when word came down that Metallica was recording a new album with Rick Ruben, not many people found hope in that combo, in fact the bashing began as the word "Metallica" was printed.
But, "Death Magnetic" is a different story... it is actually the complete opposite of what "St. Anger" was from a production stand point, lyrically, and from a musicianship's stand point as well. What we hear on this album is actually a "REAL" band playing, unlike in "St. Anger" where it was really just a singer/guitarist and drummer trying to find a place in the wave of current metal trends. The album actually has a VERY, and I'm not using the word lightly, power beginning with the song "That Was Your Life." The opening track is actually the "grooviest" thing I have heard from Metallica in years, maybe dating back to "Reload" or even "The Black Album." The following tracks are nothing less than Metallica covering their late 80's selves, which to some is a bad thing but to others is a good thing, where you stand is completely up to you.
What surprised me to see on the track list was "Unforgiven III", which apparently I thought was a joke but is actually a decent track. This version of the "Unforgiven" saga is probably the best predecessor to the original because of its emotional highs and lows and is probably the most "beautiful" song on the album because of its emotional honesty that the piano, strings arrangements, and structure bring. After "Unforgiven III", its full speed again, well... mid paced speed, and one thing that I noticed that note many will mention is that each song is no shorter than 7 minutes. This album is really not "radio friendly" in terms of length and I this is in part to the massive amounts of guitar solos and solo riffing sections, "The Judas Kiss" being a great example of riffing madness.
Overall, I actually enjoyed the album and this is coming from someone that was so against "St. Anger" that I completely wrote off Metallica as a band period. I can honestly say that listening to "Death Magnetic" reminds me A LOT of "... and justice and for all", something in the guitar tone or song structure was recaptured but whatever the case I can say that "Death Magnetic" is the 180 degree turn from "St. Anger" towards a good/rejuvenated band with actual spirit and lust for playing music.
So that is my point of view so love it or hate it, music is music and if it doesn't appeal to you the so be it; the beauty of music is its subjectivity.
