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Death Magnetic | 
 enlarge | Artist: Metallica
Label: Warner Bros.
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy Used: $5.00
You Save: $13.98 (74%)
New (58) Used (28) from $5.00
Rating:  871 reviews
Sales Rank: 46
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 508732
UPC: 093624986188
EAN: 0093624986188
ASIN: B00192KCQ0
Release Date: September 12, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | That Was Just Your Life | | • | The End Of The Line | | • | Broken, Beat & Scarred | | • | The Day That Never Comes | | • | All Nightmare Long | | • | Cyanide | | • | The Unforgiven III | | • | The Judas Kiss | | • | Suicide & Redemption | | • | My Apocalypse |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
One of the most influential bands in music, ranked eighth on the list of the biggest-selling groups in history, Metallica unveils its ninth studio album, Death Magnetic. The band's
first album in five years, Death Magnetic is also its first with renowned producer Rick Rubin (Danzig, Slayer, System Of A Down,
Slipknot), first with bassist Robert Trujillo, and first on Warner Bros. Heavy and thrashy, unafraid to embrace the band's past yet move
into the future.
Album Description
Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 866 more reviews...
 Overall: Excellent September 12, 2008
118 out of 142 found this review helpful
I remember when "Master of Puppets" was the new album, I had played my cassette of "Whiplash EP" to the point where it was worn and wobbled. I won't say "Master" wasn't awesome, but I was always partial to "Ride the Lightning." So when every new Metallica has come out in the last 22 years and people keep comparing them to "Master" I just say, chill out and let it stand on its merit.
What's hard is that Metallica will admit that "Load" "Re-Load" and "St. Anger" where not high-points in their career. Infighting, bickering, the firing / quitting of J. Newkid left the band "Broken, beaten and Scarred" Unfortunately with the exception of the exceptional "Symphony" disks and "Garage Inc." those three records represent in years, over half of Metallica's career. Is it any wonder then, that with Uber-Producer Rick Ruben at the helm "Death Magnetic" has become the single most anticipated Metallica Album ever?
As for the album, those of us who grew up with "Ride" "Master" and "Justice" will recognize the song pattern. While "Death Magnetic" has two more tracks (being it was recorded for 80min CD world, not the 45min vinyl one) the placement of the songs is very telling and familiar to those older records. The first track "That was just your life" starts quiet (heart beat, wobling guitar) and then suddenly burst in your face. The second track is about addiction and death (master = addiction, ride = death). The third track slows it down and is more grinding and heavy ("Bells" "Thing" Sad but True") and the fourth track is a ballad with a heavy second half ("Fade" "Sanitarium" "One") The second to last track is an instrumental ("Orion" "to live is to die") The last song is a ripper ("damage inc." "Dyers Eve").
Unlike "Load" and "Reload", "Death Magnetic" avoids the bluesy, dirty grinding songs, and unlike "St. Anger" this one aims for strong hooks, harmonies structure and flow.
"Death Magnetic" is not a new "Master" but rather a culmination of everything these guys have every done. While many songs will remind listeners of "Justice" "Broken, Beat and Scarred" is reminiscent of "St. Anger" with its chants of "what don't kill ya, makes ya more strong" and riffing rather than solos. "Unforgiven III" is far closer to "Unforgiven II" on re-load than the original. The Guitar has that same bluesy, flowing feel and the eastern influence that gave the original its greatest strengths are completely washed away by familiar metal riffing. Not to say the song isn't good, but without the late Michael Kamen the orchestration just doesn't life the song the way it should and the chorus builds and builds but doesn't crest, it keeps feeling like there should be more, some kind of heavy release that never comes. "My Apocalypse" closes the album by channeling "Slayer" as Metallica tries and fails to go back to "Kill `em All." Not that the song doesn't rock, it's heavy, fast and awesome closer, but the feel is forced and the song feels tacked on to a mostly mid to fast-mid tempo album.
The biggest shocker here may be the 10 min (and longest song) "Suicide and Redemption" the bands first instrumental in 20 years. This is the best they've done since "Ktulu", it's got more energy than "Orion" or "To live is to Die" but lacks the kind of expressionist solos you'd expect from such an epic. However, the ten minutes goes by fast! I had listened to the CD four or five times before I realized the song had no lyrics!!!
If there's one thing missing in all these loooooooooooooooooooong songs (only one song under 6 min) is a true epic. Yes, "All Nightmare Long" "The Day that Never Comes" and "The Judas Kiss" are all brilliant (so is the Black Sabbath inspired "Cyanide") but nothing comes close here to the epic feel of "master of puppets" "Just for all" "Outlaw torn" or "Fixxxer." those songs had such a deep, complex feel with so many ups and downs and such a perfect flow (ok, "justice" is the least of the four) that nothing on "Magnetic" quite get's there.
I am not in love with packaging, it looks cool with the coffin cut-out but the cut the lyrics out. That's annoying.
In the end "Death Magnetic" is just what it needs to be. It's everything Metallica's done better than anyone else for over 25 years, it's most of the best parts of all the albums to date and it's 100X better almost anything out there. Plus, these guys are in their 40's, and are harder, faster and more intricate and intelligent than anything these Kids half their age are putting out there. Buy this CD.
Update:9/16/08
It's been confirmed by several sources that the Guitar Hero III version of this album has not suffered from the brick-wall compression of the CD / Vinyl release. Apparently someone decided MP3's sound better mixed as loud as possible and then clipped of the highest and lowest ranges. So, the retail CD / Vinyl of DM have been mixed with heavy dynamic range compression (meaning they've eliminated the difference between soft sound and loud sound) the album now sounds like a wall of noise. This is a too common recording industry practice, it ruins the experience and removes the subtleties of the music. You may notice this CD suffers from a lack of bass guitar, that the guitar is flat, the drums do not resonate, the cymbols are thin and the vocals are often drowning in the music mix. Also, there is a lot of noise, you can not only hear distortion in the music, but their is noise at the beginning and end of every track, which, a CD should not have.
There are multiple petitions and blogs as well as thousands on Metallica's own website begging for an uncompressed re-release.
If you hear the GHIII versions, you may never go back.
The Kings Have Returned. September 13, 2008
39 out of 45 found this review helpful
I have been a Metallica hater since the black album.
I grew up with Kill, Ride, Master, and Justice.
Some of you have said my reviews of the black album, load, reload have been too harsh.
Keep this in mind, Metallica were always seen as the "every man's" band.
Four guys in jeans and t shirts who were the guys you went to the bar and had a beer with.
The original fans were thrilled by the success of "One".
But it appeared to all of us long timers that the little success of "One" went to their heads and with one album the band went from the "every man's" band to the pompous rock star nonsense that Metallica had always stood against.
They completely changed their sound, their attitude, they abandoned speed metal and started writing pop songs.
As a fan of "old" Metallica I, along with countless others felt betrayed, insulted and genuinely hurt by Metallica's new persona. How could this band of four guys in jeans and t shirts, who we put on top, turn their backs on us?
Was it the pain of losing Cliff?
Was it the money?
The reason really doesn't matter anymore. Fifteen years have passed since the black album and every album since the black album helped solidify my hatred of "new' Metallica.
The old Metallica I grew up with and loved was gone and never coming back.
WRONG!!!!!
I usually give a band three strikes and their out. Three bad albums and I pretty much abandon the group.
Metallica had four albums I detested.
But wait.......
Rick Rubin?
Master of Puppets as a template?
How could I not be curious?
I bought the cd and was almost afraid to put it in the disc player.
I was sure this would be yet another disappointment.
Metallica trying to reclaim their glory days? Yeah right.
Sometimes you can't go home.
I put the cd in and WHAM!!!
Guitars? Crunchy and heavy.
James and Kirk NAILED the sound this time.
Drums? Not irritating like St. Anger. Lars was never the most technical drummer but he's always been a solid player.
The bass is still kind of hidden but that's always been the case with Metallica.
I don't understand why people are complaining about the production. It rules.
Everything sounds perfect.
The mix is perfect, my only gripe is "The Judas Kiss" will NOT play for the first minute.
I may have gotten a defective disc. Anyone else have this problem?
Other than that the production is NOT an issue.
As for the music itself, in a word brilliant.
I like this better than even Justice.
Metallica accomplished the impossible by going back to their roots while making the whole thing sound fresh and updated.
I've already heard the haters saying James' vocals are shot.
I can't disagree more.
His voice sounds the best it ever has. Not as growly as the old stuff but it's been a long time since he's sung that style and he has grown up and so have I. If I want growly I'll put in a Deicide disc.
I was never a fan of James' vocal style from the Black album to St. Anger but obviously it's paid off, because the guy can actually sing in tune now.
He sounds very impressive on Unforgiven III.
Lars like I said, isn't the most amazing drummer out there but his performance is solid.
Rob is there in a few parts but he's not out in front enough, but he still does a damn good job of holding the whole thing together.
And Kirk..........THE SHRED MACHINE IS BACK!!!
Solos, solos and more solos, Kirk for the most part abandons the bluesy approach for a full out shred attack. He proves once again why he is considered one of the greatest shredders of all time.
How many shredders can inject so much feeling into a lead that's going a thousand miles an hour?
I'm not going to go into a song by song breakdown, everyone has their own opinion of what songs are good and what songs aren't.
I usually say which songs I don't care for and on this disc, there really isn't one bad track.
I will say my favorites are My Apocalypse, All Nightmare, and the song that EVERYONE seems to be ripping, The Day That Never Comes.
I hear people are saying, it's just a poor version of Fade To Black.
Here is the problem I have with people dogging the new album.
You have the old fans like me who hated new Metallica.
You have the new Metallica fans who hate the old stuff.
Then you have the people who will hate them no matter what they do.
And that really is the problem with this disc.
It takes everything that was good about old Metallica and updates it with some of the new Metallica influences.
So both crowds are going to feel alienated somewhat. Like Day That Never Comes, it follows the template of Sanitarium and Fade to Black but it sounds new and fresh at the same time.
The entire album does.
I read an article with Lars where he said he was tired of the world expecting Metallica to shoulder the entire heavy metal genre.
I have to feel bad for Metallica in that regard, it must be pressure beyond belief to have everyone love or hate you no matter what you do.
In the case of Death Magnetic, they did good. Very good.
Metallica has pulled off the impossible by going back to their roots and updating their sound without sounding corny or dated.
People are griping about the lyrics too, their just as good and just as dark as anything off Lightning or Puppets. Honestly people, is there no pleasing you?
The other big four of thrash should be very afraid.
Hell, I was very afraid Metallica would go the Testament route and turn into watered down death metal.
Or the Megadeth route where it's speed for the sake of speed without any emotion or any kind of memorable song structure.
Or the Slayer route where the same album has been released for the last fifteen years.
Anthrax?
Aren't they content on touring off their old stuff?
Have they even released anything new?
No folks, Metallica did it.........AGAIN!!!
They proved you can update your original sound without abandoning the core elements of what made you great the first time around. The dueling guitars, the smoking leads, memorable songs, harmony.
Thrash was always a merger of beauty and brutality. The other bands in the big four seem to have forgotten this.
Metallica has proved that thrash can be done in the old way but with new influences that don't detract from the original vision.
I call it thrash for grown ups.
And in many ways this album reminds me a lot of Over Kill's "I Hear Black" album.
An album that was classy, mature and WAY ahead of it's time.
Metallica has redefined the metal genre with every release, sometimes good, sometimes bad.
But damn if they haven't pulled off the biggest upset of the last fifteen years.
Completely redefining thrash yet again with a sound that is old and new combined.
Mature, classic songs that are layer upon layer of awesome riff after awesome riff, epic and majestic.
Metallica has proven that thrash is alive and well and if done right.....ahem Testament, Megadeth.
Very much relevant in today's world.
Metallica's original influences of Mercyful Fate, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden can be heard loud and clear along with the better parts of the newer stuff thrown in to make it fresh.
Easily their best album since Justice.
I would put it right behind Puppets and a little ahead of Justice.
People are saying this album bridges Justice and the Black album.
I have to disagree.
It's heavier and faster than Justice and a whole lot fresher, and it bears little resemblance to the Black album at all.
I have heard other trash talkers saying bands like Otep who were influenced by Metallica have carried the metal torch to places Metallica could only dream.
Dream on!!!
Metallica has proven that they are capable of innovative, progressive, genre defining thrash that few if any other bands can replicate.
Everyone, myself included said, they can never do another Master of Puppets.
And we were right, that was twenty plus years ago.
They were different guys then, they grew up.
So did we.
Sometimes you can't go home.
And after hearing Death Magnetic, I don't want another Master of Puppets.
I like this new Metallica who is progressive thrash at it's finest.
Metallica did it, and this is coming from a grumpy old man who has hated Metallica for years.
They gave us not only the best metal album but the best thrash album in the last fifteen years.
Metallica is back, a force to be reckoned with, hopefully never to be underestimated again.
Ignore that haters.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Giving the last 14 years the Kiss of Judas September 14, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
It's about time! I had given up all hope of them going back to their roots after St. Anger was released. Actually I feel a little disgusted with myself for not giving it much of a chance, but I couldn't get over that damn snare. But enough of that, they're back. Back I say! I've been listening to it since I got my grubby hands on it. It's just gotten better after each listen. After running through it more times than I could possibly care to count, I love it. In fact, I've broken my oath of not listening to my PMP while walking the streets. I can't put it down.
It feels so damn good to be listening to the way they ought to sound. The best part is that it sounds like they aren't caving in to the fan noise, it truly sounds genuine. I even don't mind the rather raw and clipped sound of it and the slightly post-black tone of Jaymz' rig. It gives it all a messy euphoria that's hard to stop listening to.
So far, I'd have to say the tracks I'm digging the most are All Nightmare Long, The Judas Kiss, and the first two. Bah, hell they're all good, even the "what the hell were you thinking when you named this" Unforgiven III has started winning me over.
I was seriously expecting to hate the damn album. In fact, I was bracing myself to write them off for good. I tried to hate it!! I just didn't think they would ever release anything that would make me want to give them any more room in my heart next to their work from the 80's. I now must pry the folds of my flesh open another quarter inch to fit this in there, because it belongs with the other 4 albums.
If this is how they're going out, they did it right. If they're just starting to dig a little deeper into the well and continue down this road, I can't wait for the next one. Bow down, sell your soul to me.. indeed...
A Great Comeback for the Mighty Metallica. October 4, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
Does a metal group as popular and looked up to like Metallica, have the right to make a few mistakes? ...Yeah. Do they have what it takes to be able to bounce back up? Sure. Do they deserve any praise when they bounce back. Why not? This is exactly what happened when they released this album, Death Magnetic.
The opening track, This Was Just Your Life, begins silently, clean electric coming in about 9 seconds into the song, giving a symbolic feeling how Metallica is creeping back into fan's hearts, (and steroes). This is one of many songs on here where many of the one/two star reviewers find clipping to be "unbearable". Don't take it too seriously. It's not that bad. Minimally noticable. One of my favorite songs, a true thrash song.
The following track, The End of the Line...another one of my favorites attaches itself nicely afterward. An excellent song to succeed it's predecessor.
The third, Broken Beat and Scarred, is another song subject to the complaints of distortion. This one is a little more noticable. I don't personally find it annoying to the point where I skip this track, but still a good song nonetheless.
Ahh the 1st single off the album, The Day That Never Comes. A style that reminds me, and several others of their first big hit, "One" about 10 years ago. They have managed to make the song more original than "One pt. 2) As probably you have heard on your local radio station or sattelite, song begins mild with a steady beat and drifts into a heavy driven thrash song, much like One. Probably the most noticable of the clipping/distortion, especially during the presence of hard hitting snare drums. I really enjoy hearing this song, though. Kirk's solos are some mean shredding.
The next track, my personal favorite. All Nightmare Long. And the song with the most noticable bass. Any one who states that there are NO audible bass tracks on here, probably listens to their music though earbuds. But anyway, this is probably the darkest song (musically speaking) on here, and it fits. Kirk really kills during this song's solo. This is also probably the most progressive song too as it contains SOME complex compositional structures. More so than the others, save their instrumental. Ending sounds like a borrowed riff off of Enter Sandman. Definately a song worth hearing. LUCK RUNS OUT!!!!!
The next song, Cynide, is a song I'm currently getting into. It originally was the song to skip while rocking out and playing the album in its entirety. I enjoy the chorus. It actually is a little catchy.
This next track is the Unforgiven III, one I was enthusiastic to hear when I first saw Death Magnetic's track listing. The theme, lyrically, seems to fit, but musically or vocally, it doesn't. No keyboards in parts I or II, but still a good song. The ballad of the album, it isn't horrible and plays a factor in not making the album purely thrash.
Next we have, The Judas Kiss. I like this song's lyrics, as they speak about drug addiction. Possibly, at least that's how I interpet them, if I can put my two cents in about the meaning of a song's lyrics.
I was surprised to find this next track is an instrumental. Suicide and Redemption. Metallica's first original isntrumental since To Live is to Die (my favorite Metallica instrumental). Suicide and Redemption is less melodic than other their instrumentals. Kirk adds a nice melodic part around the 4:20 mark. This is also their longest song on the album, clocking in at nearly 10 minutes.
My Apocalypse, the final track is their shortest. Probably the next single. A perfect album closer in comparison to Justice's Dyer's Eve, though not as fast paced.
To those who hate this album claiming Metallica sucked after the loss of Cliff Burton: If a band's music dies in a bus accident, then Metallica is the Jesus of Heavy Metal. I won't get sacreligious.
As for all the clipping and distortion you have been reading about: I won't type in what has aleady been written somewhere on this Death Magnetic page. Nor will I go on to place blame anywhere. I believe that this was intended to an extent, as providing the album with a raw feeling to it. As if to sound like it came straight from the garage. Why? I don't really know. What I do know is that each of the songs are great. And what I really know is that it is certainly an improvment from..... their previous release some five years ago.
Overall, I would say the theme is very ...And Justice For All. No, this isn't a remake of that excellent 6 star album. (Hell, 10 star) In fact, pretty comparable. In many ways these albums are not the same. Best comparison. Death Magnetic sounds most like.....Death Magnetic. Plenty of thrash, back by some progression add some catchy lyrics yet dealing with dark subjects, suicide, drug addiction, death. Not too progressive, as it is a straightfoward album. Vocally, I hear Black album and some St. Anger. Hey, doesn't mean it sucks, he just has that strong voice.
To avoid any more rambling, I'm just going to end it there. Buy the album! You won't go wrong. Metallica Is Back!!!!
The 300th person to give this a 5-star Review!!!
Stay Metal
The Band That Would Not Die... September 13, 2008
15 out of 18 found this review helpful
I first heard METALLICA back in 1986 w/ MASTER OF PUPPETS. I didn't like it. Why? Because it was so revolutionary that I didn't know what I was listening to! I grew to love PUPPETS, and soon became a rabid fan of all things METALLICA. I must admit that there were lean years, from the BLACK album to St. Anger (which I still enjoyed). It seemed that the band had settled into a groove (grave?) of aging rock-star status. Then, I put DEATH MAGNETIC into my CD player. My jaw dropped! My eyes bulged! I felt like a kid again! By God, I almost cried! This is METALLICA as timeless, ear-destroying, cranium-crushing thrash titans! Every song is classic! Guitars chug and race! Solos soar and shred! Drums and bass thunder like warring death-machines! Buy this now! Right this minute! METALLICA has taken influences from everything they've ever done, used the best from all of it, and melded it together into this monster of pure destructive power! Yep, this one's a flat out masterpiece...
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