Well, James made it through rehab and counseling, Lars sold some paintings, a new bass player arrived in the monstrous form of Rob Trujillo, and Kirk remained centered and well-adjusted, which appears to be his emotional role in the group.
Death Magnetic represents their first real creative output since that time, and it is evident upon the first listen: this album is a return to form -- and then some.
Metallica sound confident enough here to allude to their own musical past - teasing with old licks in new ways, in new contexts - not tired, trite ways - more like Ownership - they can take command and revel in this material knowing NO one else makes music like this. No One. Shades of former tracks meld with the new in a completely satisfying way for the longtime Metallica listener.
Metallica sound confident enough here to allude to their own musical past - teasing with old licks in new ways, in new contexts - not tired, trite ways - more like Ownership - they can take command and revel in this material knowing NO one else makes music like this. No One. Shades of former tracks meld with the new in a completely satisfying way for the longtime Metallica listener.
On the surface, Death Magnetic is a return to a classic Metallica album structure - pirmarily the structure of the 3 albums forming the core of their greatest output -- Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, ...and Justice for All.
True to this structure, the album begins with a clean, brooding, riff in E minor, before breaking into the introductory pummeling of 'That Was Just Your Life'. Think: 'Fight Fire With Fire', 'Battery', and 'Blackened'.
In overall sound and composition -- Death Magnetic is most like ...And Justice for All. Compositions are full of intricate twisting complex parts, meters, with sudden changes lurching into new riffs and rhythm structures - some that bring themselves back around again in a track, and some that simply come, go, and are gone. The sound is very much like AJFA -- especially the percussion.
Death Magnetic feels like a new creative peak for Metallica with all of their creative freedom regained!
Hetfield impresses throughout with strength and range of voice and creativity of line. Lyrics are a highlight of Death Magnetic:
"I'll spatter color on this gray!" is the wounded cry from 'The Day That Never Comes' -- the first video release from DM. The track is remarkably similar in form to 'One' without really copying any of that songs musical material. The similarity lies more in shades, shadows and structure: The Day's intro ends with a figure nearly identical to the same moment in 'Fade to Black' - just before resolving into the arpeggiated chord progression of the verses. As in 'One' we have essentially a ballad, featuring a unique, stuttering drum pattern. After a few verses / choruses, we shift into a mid-tempo grind before James declares, "Love is a four-letter word." And finally, the track features a blistering finish with a marching band from Hell riff.
A quick note about guitar solos -- Death Magnetic has tons of great ones! If you recall, James and Lars made the ridiculous decision to have no 'old school' guitar solos on St. Anger -- thereby silencing an amazing musician in Kirk Hammet. Apparently, they have regained their senses and re-granted Kirk a lisence to TEAR.
"I'll spatter color on this gray!" is the wounded cry from 'The Day That Never Comes' -- the first video release from DM. The track is remarkably similar in form to 'One' without really copying any of that songs musical material. The similarity lies more in shades, shadows and structure: The Day's intro ends with a figure nearly identical to the same moment in 'Fade to Black' - just before resolving into the arpeggiated chord progression of the verses. As in 'One' we have essentially a ballad, featuring a unique, stuttering drum pattern. After a few verses / choruses, we shift into a mid-tempo grind before James declares, "Love is a four-letter word." And finally, the track features a blistering finish with a marching band from Hell riff.
A quick note about guitar solos -- Death Magnetic has tons of great ones! If you recall, James and Lars made the ridiculous decision to have no 'old school' guitar solos on St. Anger -- thereby silencing an amazing musician in Kirk Hammet. Apparently, they have regained their senses and re-granted Kirk a lisence to TEAR.
And.... 3 cheers for Lars for being the most musical of rock drummers. Not content to simply be a speedy metronome, Lars always creates his own rhythmic compositions.
On Death Magnetic, Metallica returns in greatness and achieves something beyond my wildest hope - they finally prove again that they are the masters of a music they invented and perfected.
AND.... the boys are on Tour AGAIN!! If you have never seen Metallica Live in Concert, then you have missed an earth-shattering event. If you have - then you want to again, and again, and again. Don't miss out while they are at the peak of their form!
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Title: Death Magnetic
Artist: Metallica
Released: September, 2008
Track Listing:
1. That Was Just Your Life
2. The End of the Line
3. Broken, Beat & Scarred
4. The Day that Never Comes
5. All Nightmare Long
6. Cyanide
7. The Unforgiven III
8. The Judas Kiss
9. Suicide and Redemption
10. My Apocalypse
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