Metallica, back at the top where they belong! After 2003's major misfire, St. Anger, Metallica in the mainstream eye was undoubtedly hurting. Many hardcore fans questioned whether or not they would ever return to their tremendous success of the 1980s, and others felt that they simply lost it. I was discouraged by St. Anger, and I am a big fan of the band, and that album just didn't have it. It didn't have the musicality and cohesiveness of past Metallica albums, which were for the most part, all classic in their own ways. Death Magnetic marks a return to vintage Metallica, but also at the same time, shows the band aiming their sights at the future in a new direction - and ultimately rejuvenated.

     The first significant change in Death Magnetic is the production. Bob Rock, longtime Metallica producer since the days of the mega-popular Black Album, has been dropped in favor of Rick Rubin. Rubin has an extensive, and impressive resume of bands he has helped sound better - he has produced Slayer, Audioslave, Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and even Johnny Cash. With such versatility, and understanding, Rubin seems like a great choice for cleaning up the muddy sounds of St. Anger. Of course, it's not all Rubin, but the band itself evolved dramatically over the five year absence from the studio. They return focused, and driven, something that was lacking in the previous album.

     This is Metallica returning to its heavy metal roots, but also embracing and encompassing its entire grand history, and delievering all of the different facets the greatly talented Metallica possesses. What I always loved about Metallica is that they have always been able to craft such masterpieces in the heavy metal genre, and never sound dissonant - always maintaining a high level of aesthetic quality. This brilliance is exuded here again on Death Magnetic. From beginning to end, it is a smartly crafted, modern day Metallica masterpiece. It is easily their best work of the past twenty years, arguably on par with the Black Album. It harkens back to And Justice For All... in many ways, but also touches on some of the more mellow and melodic sounds of their later 90s albums as well.

     The musicianship on this album is some of their best. We know how great they are, and this album shows why. And thankfully, guitar solos are back! Yes! That's right! St. Anger had NO guitar solos! How could such a legendary band like Metallica, known for some of the most technical of guitar work have an album completely absent of solos? Well, the band quickly turned that around as Death Magnetic features some incredible guitar work. It's simply a marvel to behold!

     The heart of Metallica, I always felt, lies with James Hetfield, the lead singer, primary songwriter, and guitarist. His voice sounds as good and as strong as ever - he shouts, spits, spews, and also vocalizes in all the right places. Listen to the strength, energy, and aggressiveness of the opening track "That Was Just Your Life", and then the epic beauty of "The Day That Never Comes." Also, "The Unforgiven III" features some of his best vocal performances ever, and on a personal note, it's one of my favorite Metallica songs to date.

     The album even looks like a classic Metallica album. Just look at the track layout on the back of the CD or vinyl record - it looks just like Master of Puppets or And Justice For All.... And the songs themselves all get the grandiose, epic treatment as each song clocks in at around six or seven minutes. It features an instrumental near the end, just like Ride The Lightning did and Master of Puppets. And similarly, like Master, which ended with the thrash classic "Damage Inc.", Magnetic ends with a thrash piece of its own in "My Apocolypse." Is this to say their new album is formulaic? Not really, because this is the Metallica brand - this is good music!

     Death Magnetic is a great album. From the opening heartbeat sounds of "That Was Just Your Life" to the blazing fury of "My Apocolypse", this album is tremendous. It should end the polarization among some of Metallica's fans that the band isn't hardcore anymore - they always were, I never thought they "sold out" by any stretch, but only matured. Here in Death Magnetic, they have peaked I feel in maturing as a band, and now can enjoy this even-keeled state of balance and great music on par with all of their best work. Metallica is one of the best bands to ever grace the music world, and this album epitomizes why they remain on top.

     Though they never really faded away at all from our hearts, this album serves as a reminder, and as a lesson in how good Metallica is. Enjoy!

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS:

"The Day That Never Comes"

"The Unforgiven III"

"That Was Just Your Life"

"All Nightmare Long"

"Cyanide"

"The End of The Line"

-Kurt L.

_______________________________________________________