RAVE! Metallica - Death Magnetic review

[outlawtorn]

Here is my review of the latest MetallicA offering called ‘Death Magnetic’. This is my favourite band of all time and I thought I’d throw in my review for what it’s worth.

Now I’ve been listening to this album for over a week now, thanks to some dodgy Frenchmen leaking the album on the internet, I’m in no way condoning illegal downloading, but I have spent over $250 on purchasing the limited edition coffin shaped box set which should arrive shortly, so there is my justification for it.

If there is one thing that strikes me about this album straight away is the amazing guitar work, the riffing and guitar solos are amazing, it’s good to hear Kirk being let loose again. James Hetfield’s voice really sounds like he has come straight off of recording “And Justice For All”. Lars Ulrich’s drumming is back to its solid dependable sound that we are used to from Lars, although it will be good to hear him play some of these songs live and see if he can match the ferocity of the studio.

A quick track by track review:

That Was Just Your Life
From the onset this song feels like it should have been on Master Of Puppets, quite epic, very musical and catchy as all hell, definitely a great opener for the album. It sets the standard for the entire album with great pace, superb guitar work, solid bass line and great drumming. If this song doesn’t excite you then you are most probably dead!

The End Of The Line
This is one of your classic fast/slow/fast track, with fantastic lyrics and superb solos (Thanks Kirk), it hooks you with a fast paced beginning, slows you down to catch your breath, then finishes you off. One of my favourites on the album, this is the kind of song writing that we have known and come to love from Metallica, good to see it coming back!

Broken, Beat & Scarred
Listening to this track it almost feels like it should be on St. Anger, thanks to the lyrical content, however the production is way better. The guitar work is once again killer; the song has the possibility of becoming a live favourite, akin to Seek & Destroy.

The Day That Never Comes
This is the track we are all most familiar with, as it is the first single off the new album. This song for me is “One” (...And Justice For All) all over again, and believe me that’s a good thing. This track proves that Metallica still have what it takes to produce a killer track that starts of deliberate and melodic and slowly starts to force its fist down your throat ending in a fury of riffing and drumming. An amazing song!

All Nightmare Long
This track starts of quite un-assuming but soon picks up pace and hooks you in with a very catchy rhythm. As the song starts to take shape the guitar work is once again brought to the fore, demonstrating once again why James Hetfield is one of the best riff creators in the genre. The chorus on this track is like your average flu, catchy as all hell!

Cyanide
The song has been played live by the band quite a few times recently and has gone down very well with the fans. It’s nice to hear some bass line standing on its own, I have been wondering what impact the addition of Rub Trujillo would have on the band in its writing/recording phase, glad to hear that it has worked so well. This track is very catchy, although halfway though it sounds like they get a wee bit confused, loose track and try and get back on it, although it does work in a weird kinda way. Personally I reckon this track would have been just as good if it had 2 minutes chopped if it.

The Unforgiven III
Take everything you expect this track to sound like and throw it out the window. This is a completely different song from its two predecessors; the only common bond is the name. This is the most relaxed song on the album with a beautiful chorus, the lyrics on this track are powerful and make for a fantastic ‘sing-along’ track. This is the track that could be the most radio friendly, however coming in at 7 minutes and 46 seconds it probably won’t get the airplay it deserves.

The Judas Kiss
This is the motorcycle riding track! Wow, really catchy amazing chorus, fantastic guitar work and James’ vocals are a mixture of ‘...And Justice For All’ and ‘Load’. I can picture craving up the twisties with this track blaring through the iPod. This track will be amazing live and a favourite in the mosh pit for sure. Checkout the amazing solo from Kirk at roughly the 5 minute mark, it goes on for roughly one and a half minutes and does a great job of reminding everyone what a bloody good guitarist he is.

Suicide & Redemption
The instrumental track has made a triumphant return. I know I shouldn’t but I am comparing this track to its 3 instrumental predecessors (The Call Of Ktulu, Orion & To Live Is To Die), and it’s right up there, although a lot slower and sounding more like a jam, but it sounds like they are having fun and enjoying themselves when they recorded this song, which is exactly what this is all about, you can almost hear the passion and happiness coming through the speakers. Clocking in at 3 seconds short of ten minutes it is quite lengthy but a solid track none the less.

My Apocalypse
They saved the best for last! This track pulls you through the speaker, drills a hole in your head, beats you up and spits you out. This track is fast paced, mosh pit friendly with great chugging riffs and doesn’t let up to give you a breather, I’d love to see this become a permanent fixture in their live set list. Everything about this song is on par with other great speedy Metallica thrash anthems, such as Damage Inc and Dyers Eve. A great way to end the album.

Overall this album delivers the goods, people who hated St. Anger will love this album. People who hated everything after “...And Justice For All” will love this album. This album will hopefully silence the critics and the sceptics and bring back all of the ‘fans’ who left after Metallica hit the big time. It shows a return to form with great production (compared to its predecessor) and the tried and trusted song dynamics are back.

Buy it. Listen to it. Love it. Ride to it! :headbang:

www.metallica.com (http://www.metallica.com)

www.missionmetallica.com (http://www.missionmetallica.com/)

[wysper]

I will be picking up my copy today. I can't wait! :rockon:

[enigma51]

sweet another cd for my collection!

Alot of poeple saying that its more old style metalica like master of puppets and that is a good album!

[Bren]

good to hear it will be worth my dosh....my wife will be happy...

[Swoop]

Reported on the radio as having "already gone platinum, without being released yet".

Pre-sales.:clap:

[Kendog]

And for those wannabe musicians out there, the entire album is going to be available on Guitar Hero, including some extended guitar solos.

Even better, it will also work on Guitar Hero World Tour, so you can play lead guitar, lead vocal, bass guitar or drummer. Check it out here (http://www.gameplanet.co.nz/news/132321.20080909.Guitar-Hero-III-gets-exclusive-DLC/).

Can't wait!

[Benk]

Yup, truely a great album. Had it for a week or so now. Rocks, hard.

[TerminalAddict]

JB Hifi isn't open yet in hamilton :(

but I have the MP3s and have been listening to the album .. I just have to wait until smoko before parting with my cash

[Sellout]

Thanks for the review! Good work! I am patiently (not!) waiting for the weekend when I can get to the shops and pick mine up!!!

[Kendog]

For a different opinion have a look at Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/4689141a1860.html)

[Trudes]

Loving it!!! Just loaded it onto the ipod to listen to for the day and the courier just turned up with the disc, so I'm set for the weekend!! YAhhh!!!:niceone:

[TerminalAddict]

in cyanida at about 5:38 .. listen to james

nyahhhh

[bully]

yer, welcome back the solos!

[wysper]

My wife dropped it in to me at work a couple of hours ago.
I am on the second listen now. Loving it. This may eventually become one of their classic albums.

Early days I know, but what a comeback.

Can't wait to get it home this weekend and give it a real thrashing!

[Bren]

Just picked it up now....half way into first song...yup so far so good!

[sAsLEX]

Well I actually purchased an album!? Think I might be coming down with something......

But a good album so far :headbang:

[Devil]

For a different opinion have a look at Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/4689141a1860.html)

Unfortunately he's known for giving shit reviews. Grain of salt n all that.

[outlawtorn]

Unfortunately he's known for giving shit reviews. Grain of salt n all that.

Yeah, he seems to be taking a bit of flack because of the review.....quite funny actually...

[Headbanger]

I'd imagine he was well aware what the reaction to his review would be.

Here is another negative review, Though far better written on every level, I found myself agreeing with it.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/145305-metallica-death-magnetic

[wysper]

I'd imagine he was well aware what the reaction to his review would be.

Here is another negative review, Though far better written on every level, I found myself agreeing with it.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/145305-metallica-death-magnetic

I can see his point of view.
However as a fan (and slightly one eyed of course,comes with being a fan) I would disagree. This album is a good album, may even become a great one. Only time will tell.
Sure, Metallica made some mistakes, any band that has been around for over twenty years is bound to. They have all changed as people, so clearly couldn't continue releasing MoP or ...And Justice for the rest of their careers.

I am sure you can find parts of the new album the echo back to the older albums. Is that a bad thing? To me there are nods to their past but done in ways that are still current for them and shows them to be the Metallica they ARE and not the Metallica they WERE.

So for me, as a fan, this is an album to be welcomed with open arms.

Funny how Master of Puppets which is regarded as one of the best metal albums of all time has made it quite difficult for them on subsequent releases.
Often the only way to go when you are at the top is down. Not always easy to keep going up.

Anyway.. back to Death Magnetic

[Conquiztador]

I'd imagine he was well aware what the reaction to his review would be.

Here is another negative review, Though far better written on every level, I found myself agreeing with it.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/145305-metallica-death-magnetic

I had been waiting for this album!

Sadly I end up agreeing with Headbanger and the review.

[Headbanger]

I can see his point of view.
However as a fan (and slightly one eyed of course,comes with being a fan) I would disagree. This album is a good album, may even become a great one. Only time will tell.


Yep, Thats perfectly valid, I"d even agree with you in some ways.

If the band love it, and the fans love it, Then long may they roll, musically its certainly a step up from the last few albums, But, Like the last few albums,not for me.....sadly.

Just a damn pity that I played their first four albums constantly for so many years that I can barely handle listening to them any more.

[McDuck]

I sort of agree with the reviews. they have valid points.


It will not stop me hanging the poster i got with it on my wall.

and it will not stop me loving the album and thrashing it to bits. For me it is amazing, the charactiristics i like from thair early stuff with a bit more throughen in. A+ from me.

[Coyote]

I pre-ordered Saint Anger. Groan. That's put me off.

[Coyote]

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[Headbanger]

Rick Astley is a rock GOD.

Keepin it real, Old school stylz.

[outlawtorn]

I'd imagine he was well aware what the reaction to his review would be.

Here is another negative review, Though far better written on every level, I found myself agreeing with it.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/145305-metallica-death-magnetic

The guy who wrote this review doesn't seem to like MetallicA anymore, and I mean that sincerely, for someone to mention that shopping at Armani is a bad thing I reckon he has some internal issues he has to deal with. Does it really matter where people shop? If they afford it, good for them!

His review doesn't seem to be based on the music on DM, but he seems to want to compare it to the first 4 albums, which shouldn't be the case, yes, the songs can and do have similarities, but it is a unique album and should be treated that way, far too many people are expecting Master of Puppets II and that just won't happen. But this guy is one of those 'fans' that refuses to accept anything after the Justice album, which I personalluy think is a little narrow minded.

[outlawtorn]

According to Hits Daily Double (the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS), METALLICA's "Death Magnetic" has sold 329,000 copies in the United States in its first full week of release to hold on to the top spot on next week's The Billboard 200 chart. The album has outpaced hit songwriter/performer NE-YO, whose "Year of the Gentleman" bows at No. 2 with around 251,000 units.

METALLICA's No. 1 debut on the Billboard album chart with "Death Magnetic", made history. The No. 1 arrival made METALLICA the only band to have five albums debut in the top spot, breaking a tie at four albums held by THE BEATLES, U2 and the DAVE MATTHEWS BAND. "Death Magnetic" is also METALLICA's fifth consecutive studio effort to enter at No. 1, following 1991's self-titled "black album," 1996's "Load", '97's "Reload" and 2003's "St. Anger". The album sold 490,000 copies in just four days of release, arriving in stores on September 12 instead of the usual Tuesday.

"Death Magnetic" also debuted at No. 1 in countries all over the world, including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the U.K., Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland and Sweden.

Yeah Baby!!!!!! :headbang:

[Conquiztador]

According to Hits Daily Double (the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS), METALLICA's "Death Magnetic" has sold 329,000 copies in the United States in its first full week of release to hold on to the top spot on next week's The Billboard 200 chart. The album has outpaced hit songwriter/performer NE-YO, whose "Year of the Gentleman" bows at No. 2 with around 251,000 units.

METALLICA's No. 1 debut on the Billboard album chart with "Death Magnetic", made history. The No. 1 arrival made METALLICA the only band to have five albums debut in the top spot, breaking a tie at four albums held by THE BEATLES, U2 and the DAVE MATTHEWS BAND. "Death Magnetic" is also METALLICA's fifth consecutive studio effort to enter at No. 1, following 1991's self-titled "black album," 1996's "Load", '97's "Reload" and 2003's "St. Anger". The album sold 490,000 copies in just four days of release, arriving in stores on September 12 instead of the usual Tuesday.

"Death Magnetic" also debuted at No. 1 in countries all over the world, including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the U.K., Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland and Sweden.

Yeah Baby!!!!!! :headbang:

Ai. And it is understandable. It IS a good album. It IS by Metallica, the best there is (a few weeks ago Rock's 1000 top had two Metallica ones as #1 and #2). Also as St Anger was so crap all the fans were soo wanting someting better. And when it came, they all bought it. Does not mean that it is the best album ever. But it does not need to be. Metallica sells. Shit, they made many outta St Anger too...

[imdying]

Listened to it a couple of times now... singing is shite, but the playing is awesome. 7/10.

[scorry]

Listened to it a couple of times now... singing is shite, but the playing is awesome. 7/10.

yeah i would agree with that, espacially track 1, it sounds mint till he starts singing.
i do like unforgiven 3 and the day that never comes

[SlashWylde]

Aaaaarghhh!

I just dragged myself though the second half of this album and made it to the first chorus of 'My Apocalypse' before pressing the stop button. I can't take any more!

OK. So a couple of days ago I scraped together the $22-odd dollars required to buy the CD from JB Hi-Fi (Sorry Real Groovy, I is poor student type).

I like the way 'That Was Just Your Life' opens, tasty use of chorus and flanging so characteristic of 80's 'Tallica. But then the dirty guitars and drums kick in. "Damn! I thought something sounds distorted here, is one of my speakers or amp channels poked?". Nope, tis the CD, but we'll get to that in a minute. The track has the energy and youth of Kill 'em All. It's raw and thrashy which really sums up the whole album.

The main hook in 'The End of the Line' is cool.

"Broken, Beat and Scarred" is a great song. Really infectious groove.

'All Nightmare Long' is fantastic. Great riffs and guitar parts there. The chorus lyrics are cool, and I dig the accompanying guitar parts.

Cool bass lines from Robert in 'Cyanide'.

Don't think much of the rest of the album though there are some cool if somewhat cliched guitar parts in 'Suicide and Redemption'.

Throughout the CD James' vocals often sound strained, though he has more grit and raw power than we've heard from him in a while.

On the whole not a bad effort considering the last 20 odd years of directional shifts. I like the raw crunchy guitar sound with mid-range emphasis.

As a guitarist it sounds to me to be a very 'jammy' album. Lots of fun potentially interesting hooks and riffs strung together, which sometimes work and sometimes not. On the whole the album sounds disjointed and rambling. Also, death isn't a particularly original theme for a metal band to write about, though the album title itself is inspired.

The really disappointing thing about the album is how it sounds. It's compressed all to hell, which is why it sounded distorted when I first listened to it. There is a great deal of discussion raging on the net regarding this issue, with fans sharply divided between loving the sound and hating it. The most bizarre part is the revelation that the version of DM that appears on Guitar Hero III seems to have more dynamic range than that on the CD version. Some fans have already ripped their own versions from GH3 and posted to bit torrent sites. I find this last point bitterly ironic. The band who made such a fuss over fans downloading music from file sharing networks such as Napster may have now forced fans to download illegal copies of their music in order to overcome poor production quality issues. Oh dear...

I understand that the version from iTunes in AAC format has the ability to control the loudness which somewhat ameliorates the problem but apparently it is still noticeable.

More info here (http://mastering-media.blogspot.com/2008/09/metallica-death-magnetic-sounds-better.html) and there are plenty more blogs and articles on the net regarding the issue with regards to DM and as an industry wide issue.

Kick-ass energy and thrash on this album, it is clearly recognisable as Metallica but there are only brief glimpses of the inventiveness and technical brilliance of 'Master of Puppets' and my personal favorite, 'And Justice for All...' Seems like Metallica are a different beast these days, so I guess one has to accept them as such and enjoy the music for what it is rather than what one wishes it could be.

For what it is worth there are plenty of other contemporary bands such as Iced Earth, Symphony-X and Opeth who play the kind of interesting and technically brilliant metal that I love. Metal as a genre is stronger than it has ever been and the only real problem is finding the money to enjoy all the myriad different offerings there are out there.

Hmmm, must be about time for a new BLS album surely...

[jrandom]

I've heard that the Guitar Hero audio is superior to the CD - no FM-radio-friendly dynamic compression.

[SlashWylde]

I've heard that the Guitar Hero audio is superior to the CD - no FM-radio-friendly dynamic compression.

Yup, that's the claim. This album is being held up as a casualty of the so-called 'Loudness Wars' where albums are heavily compressed to give the appearance of sounding louder in order to get peoples attention and push sales revenue. Many commentators are also pointing to the iPod and MP3 generation as being the cause of death to Hi-Fi and well produced albums. Dunno if I entirely agree with that, the last few Opeth offerings are glorious, for example. Aggressive, haunting, beautiful.

[jrandom]

Many commentators are also pointing to the iPod and MP3 generation as being the cause of death to Hi-Fi and well produced albums. Dunno if I entirely agree with that, the last few Opeth offerings are glorious, for example. Aggressive, haunting, beautiful.

There's no reason why a purist sound engineer allowed free run of his equipment can't still record a high-quality album, but it's definitely the case that studio recordings of the last decade have degenerated, and tend to cater to the lowest common digital music denominator.

CD is still a great audio format with plenty of potential (I f'rinstance wouldn't be likely to bother with a dedicated SACD or DVD-A etc player if I was building a high-end system), and the kind of music that gets listened to by audiophiles (jazz, classical performances, etc) is still recorded with their tastes in mind.

But the kind of music that's mostly listened to by the iPod Generation is being recorded with iPods in mind. And I guess there's no way you or I can change that; we're stuck in the tiny and unfortunate minority of people who listen to modern pop and rock music and want it to sound good.

[SlashWylde]

In a funny way this latest offering has made me return to the first four albums Metallica put out in the 80's.

I'm listening to 'Eye of the Beholder' as I type this. Damn I love those guitars. So intense, so deep and saturated. Jaymz' vocals and lyrics had such intensity and aggression.

There was a time when I could play all the rhythm parts from AJFA and stylistically it was very influential on me. Once I'm done with my degree studies for the year I think I'll pick up my tab books over the summer and re-learn all my old favourites and a few newer ones to boot.

[98tls]

My favourite band of "there time" sadly the fat lady continued to sing long after it was worth listening to.Can remember watching the doco with there new manager (or whatever he was) ended up changing channels.

[sAsLEX]

But the kind of music that's mostly listened to by the iPod Generation is being recorded with iPods in mind.

And yet this still sounds shit on the ipod or CD with one track in paticular having shocking bass!

No wonder I normally avoid purchasing music, all my illegally downloaded metallica sounds better than the album I paid for, crazy!

Though I hear its available on vinyl? Now to buy a record player, as my uncle just kindly donated a couple of nice amps to play with....hmmmmmm

[jrandom]

Though I hear its available on vinyl?

That'd be... interesting.

See, I think you'd actually lose dynamic range on the vinyl as opposed to a properly mastered CD. A quick googling confirms that at least one internet crackpot shares my view on this:

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Vinyl_Myths

Also, re dynamic compression on CDs:

http://georgegraham.com/compress.html

Any recording that goes anywhere near an 0xFFFF sample value on a CD is automatically disqualified from being good. Dynamically-compressed digital audio isn't just 'loudness-adjusted' - it's mangled. You're not hearing what went into the microphone, and that's all there is to it.

:angry2:

[sAsLEX]

That'd be... interesting.

See, I think you'd actually lose dynamic range on the vinyl as opposed to a properly mastered CD. A quick googling confirms that at least one internet crackpot shares my view on this:


hmmmm I wouldn't say that to my uncle....... especially not when he is on the turps!


The term "analog", by definition, means that the signal is not and cannot be a perfect reproduction of the original - it is merely an "analogue" of the existing signal, corrupted in the process of encoding.


Some interesting reading on your link, seems they have got all confused.

[jrandom]

hmmmm I wouldn't say that to my uncle....... especially not when he is on the turps!

I learned some years ago that arguing technicalities with vinyl fans is never a good idea, particularly when they're on the turps.


Some interesting reading on your link, seems they have got all confused.

I did say 'crackpot'.

[skidMark]

Just bought it today, giving it its first pl,ay over at this moment - then the new disturbed cd goes in :devil2:

[outlawtorn]

Ethan Smith of the Wall Street Journal reports that some fans are complaining that METALLICA's new album, "Death Magnetic", has a thin, brittle sound that's the result of the band's attempts in the studio to make it as loud as possible. "Sonically it is barely listenable," reads one fan's online critique. Thousands have signed an online petition urging the band to re-mix the album and release it again.

METALLICA and the album's producer, Rick Rubin, declined to comment. Cliff Burnstein, METALLICA's co-manager, says the complainers are a tiny minority. He says 98% of listeners are "overwhelmingly positive," adding: "There's something exciting about the sound of this record that people are responding to."

But the critics have inadvertently recruited a key witness: Ted Jensen, the album's "mastering engineer," the person responsible for the sonic tweaks that translate music made in a studio into a product for mass duplication and playback by consumers. Responding to a METALLICA fan's email about loudness, Mr. Jensen sent a sympathetic reply that concluded: "Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one." The fan posted the message on a METALLICA bulletin board and it quickly drew attention.

Mr. Jensen regrets his choice of words but not the sentiment. "I'm not sure I would have said quite the same thing if I was posting it to the bulletin board," he says. But "it's certainly the way I feel about it."

Read the entire report from the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122228767729272339.html?mod=googlenews_wsj).

"Broken Beat & Scarred" album version:

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"Broken Beat & Scarred" unofficial remix using nothing but **six** separated/extracted Guitar Hero tracks:

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[outlawtorn]

If you listen to the two different version from YouTube above you can defintely hear the difference, personally it doesn't bother me, sounds fucking awesome any which way you listen to it.......:headbang:

[jrandom]

Jesus. Even post-Youtube-compression via my laptop's shitty sound card, the difference in audio quality between those two tracks is instantly noticeable.

I really hope they cave in and release a remastered album.

[sAsLEX]

Jesus. Even post-Youtube-compression via my laptop's shitty sound card, the difference in audio quality between those two tracks is instantly noticeable.

I really hope they cave in and release a remastered album.

Maybe they were just hoping fans were deaf after years of metal?

The difference is rather pronounced!

[DarkLord]

Yeah I love this album. It is KILLER.

I think The End Of The Line has to be my favourite track. I heard a live version of that a few years back, and the live version was pretty horrible in contrast to what ended up on the album.

Cyanide is really fun to jam to on guitar - the only full song I've learned to play on the album so far. Unforgiven 3 is awesome too, and I constantly find myself singing "All Nightmare Long" and "Broken, Beat and Scarred".

The sound issue doesn't bother me too much. If people think the production on this album is poor, they should go listen to St. Anger, IMHO.

[vifferman]

Jesus. Even post-Youtube-compression via my laptop's shitty sound card, the difference in audio quality between those two tracks is instantly noticeable.

I really hope they cave in and release a remastered album.
Indeed. I tried listening to 15 or 30 seconds of one, paused it, then did the same with the other. My hearing's not the best any more (too much biking without earplugs, too many litres of milk steamed with the espresso machine, too many power tools...) but even so, the difference was readily apparent.
Anyone who knew about this would feel a bit ripped off if they bought the album.
Mind you, it's the trend, innit? Max out the compression for radio and downloads, fuck the quality, no-one will notice. Probably true too, with a couple of generations walking around with headphones glued to their ears all day long....

[vifferman]

The sound issue doesn't bother me too much. If people think the production on this album is poor, they should go listen to St. Anger, IMHO.
Maybe that's the problem. Until the Great Unwashed Masses stand up and say, "Enough crap audio engineering - give us the real deal!", this is what you can expect.

[Reckless]

Bugger this thread!!!
I absolutly loved it till I read through this damn thread!!
Now I want a deal where you bring the old one in and get a remixed one for $5 bucks!!!
Not that it would help? I'm a bit like Viffer my panelbeater, builder, loud music, karting and 2stroke damaged ears aren't the best?? Still could easily hear the difference between those two clips though.

[wysper]

Bugger this thread!!!
I absolutly loved it till I read through this damn thread!!
Now I want a deal where you bring the old one in and get a remixed one for

Love it anyway. It is what it is.
I like it.
Sure I would like a remastered one. But only if they remastered it WITHOUT the compression. No guarantees they would do that.
This shit will ROCK live.

[lanci]

James Hetfield took singing lessons.............James Hetfield lost his raw edge sound..............James Hetfield is now rather country music like in his singing (esp Reload).

I still like selected Metallica though, selected!!!

[Reckless]

Love it anyway. It is what it is.
I like it.
Sure I would like a remastered one. But only if they remastered it WITHOUT the compression. No guarantees they would do that.
This shit will ROCK live.

yeh I still love it mate. That post was a bit toungue in cheak not a real moan?? trouble with the written word there's no body language!! lol!!!!!!!

[wysper]

Yeah can be a bit tricky sometimes when you are typing things out!

UP THE IRONS (Maiden I know, but they ROCK)

[riffer]

James Hetfield took singing lessons.............James Hetfield lost his raw edge sound..............James Hetfield is now rather country music like in his singing (esp Reload).

I still like selected Metallica though, selected!!!

Good point. Without modification of his vocal style he'd never have lasted the distance. Metal singers don't usually have a long career.

[SlashWylde]

Good point. Without modification of his vocal style he'd never have lasted the distance. Metal singers don't usually have a long career.

Hob Halford?
Brian Johnson (more rock that metal I'll grant you, but still a searing voice)?
Maynard James Keenan?
Bruce Dickinson?
Lemmy?
Joe Elliot?
Tom Araya?
Dave Mustaine? Well, OK he can't really sing as such :Pokey:

[outlawtorn]

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich has commented on the fan-generated controversy over the audio quality of the group's new album, "Death Magnetic".

Several articles from both the mainstream press and recording industry web sites have discussed the album in context of the so-called "Loudness Wars," a term used by UK publication The Guardian, which claims that the music industry is trying to make recordings as loud as possible mainly to stand out on radio.

An audio clip has surfaced on YouTube comparing music from the "Death Magnetic" CD to tracks from the album used for Guitar Hero, which were prepared differently. A number of fans prefer the Guitar Hero versions.

A petition circulated by some fans asking the band to remix the CD has gathered 12,000 signatures, although they are dwarfed by the nearly a copies the CD has sold in the U.S. since going on sale September 12.

Ted Jensen, the engineer who mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York, recently responded to fan complaints that the CD is too loud and the audio is pushed to distortion levels by writing, "I'm certainly sympathetic to your reaction, I get to slam my head against that brick wall every day. In this case the mixes were already brick-walled before they arrived at my place. Suffice to say I would never be pushed to overdrive things as far as they are here. Believe me, I'm not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."

Mastering is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device, the "master," from which all copies will be produced.

Blame for the sound quality has been laid at the feet of the band itself, producer Rick Rubin and his recording engineer, Greg Fidelman.

In a brand new interview with Blender.com, Ulrich responded to the complaints by saying, "Listen, there's nothing up with the audio quality. It's 2008, and that's how we make records. Rick Rubin's whole thing is to try and get it to sound lively, to get it to sound loud, to get it to sound exciting, to get it to jump out of the speakers. Of course, I've heard that there are a few people complaining. But I've been listening to it the last couple of days in my car, and it sounds fuckin' smokin'.

"Somebody told me about [people complaining that the Guitar Hero version of 'Death Magnetic' sounds better]. Listen, what are you going to do? A lot of people say [the CD] sounds great, and a few people say it doesn't, and that's OK. You gotta remember, when we put out '...And Justice for All', people were going, 'What happened to these guys, this record? There's no bass on it. It sounds like it was recorded in a fuckin' garage on an eight-track.' And now '...And Justice for All' is sort of the seminal METALLICA record that supposedly influenced a whole generation of death-metal bands. The difference between back then and now is the Internet.

"The Internet gives everybody a voice, and the Internet has a tendency to give the complainers a louder voice. Listen, I can't keep up with this shit. Part of being in METALLICA is that there's always somebody who's got a problem with something that you're doing: 'James Hetfield had something for breakfast that I don't like.' That's part of the ride.

"I will say that the overwhelming response to this new record has exceeded even our expectations as far as how positive it is. So I'm not gonna sit here and get caught up in whether [the sound] 'clips' or it doesn't 'clip.' I don't know what kind of stereos these people listen on. Me and James made a deal that we would hang back a little and not get in the way of whatever Rick's vision was. That's not to put it on him — it's our record, I'll take the hit, but we wanted to roll with Rick's vision of how METALLICA would sound."

[McDuck]

Well i love it. I do a little mixing myself (given not massivly good) and i prefer atmosfere over pure quality (live at least). I like the harshness of the album, fits with the names etc