It totally does rock, I agree.
I hated St. Anger so much, that I really honestly believed that they stopped making music that I liked...because I didn't like the Loads either. I just figured if St. Anger was them trying to "be heavy and angry" again, then all was truly lost.
It's still no Burton era masterpiece, but I never expected that. I at least think it's the spiritual successor to Black.
Yeah I agree with all of the good feedback the new Metallica album is getting. The first time I heard it I was like "It's new Metallica and I like it? WHAT. THE. FUCK?"