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Metallica roars back from mediocrity with rediscovered chops

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 8, 2008 at 6 p.m.

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James Hetfield leads Metallica back to bone-crunching form on Death Magnetic.

Photo by Mark Humphrey / Associated Press

James Hetfield leads Metallica back to bone-crunching form on Death Magnetic.

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Metallica

Death Magnetic

Warner Bros. Records

Grade: A

Fans have a right to be wary. After the computerized mash-up of St. Anger and the overlong, mediocre songs of Load and Reload, the notion of another Metallica album full of long tracks and pushing the limit of what'll fit on a CD doesn't sound appealing.

Don't fear. Death Magnetic is a return to form (a phrase that's going to be heard endlessly about this disc, but it's undeniable), with strong songwriting, bone-crunching guitar and nothing that sounds a bit forced.

Lars Ulrich's lightning-speed drums are tightly synced with the band, and unlike the Pro Tools-heavy St. Anger album, on this one it sounds as if they're all playing together live in the studio straight to tape (which they say they did, an anomaly in this day and age of digital trickery).

Sometimes when bands try to go back to the sound that won them the most fans, it can be simply pathetic - either the inspiration isn't there or the band no longer has the chops to equal those of their heyday.

That notion isn't even an issue here: Death Magnetic roars with conviction, energy and the blasting, monstrous riffs that made Master of Puppets and ... And Justice for All classics of the speed-metal genre.

A highlight is Suicide & Redemption, a crunching, melodic instrumental that explores various riffs and solos as it clocks in at just under 10 glorious minutes.

Producer Rick Rubin is known for coaxing the best out of the artists he works with. This time, it sounds like he just got the band to be itself.

Fans will thank him for years to come.

brownm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2674

Hear a sample of Suicide & Redemption from Metallica's Death Magnetic album at Rocky MountainNewscom/extras.

OTHER NEW CDS THIS WEEK

* Natalie Cole: Still Unforgettable

* Eric Benet: Love & Life

* Jessica Simpson: Do You Know

NEXT WEEK

* Ne-Yo: Year of the Gentleman

* Lindsey Buckingham: Gift of Screws

* Various artists: The Imus Ranch Project

Comments

  • September 9, 2008

    6:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    warrengfunk7 writes:

    Hydrollica!!!!!!!
    Metallica!!!!!!!!
    Z-Rock!!!!!!!!!!
    KBPI Rocks The Rockies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • September 9, 2008

    8:19 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Marshdale writes:

    I'm not a metal guy, except for some of the classic albums of all time. Maiden, Metalica, Tool, Black Sabbath and a few others. I am looking forward to this one.

  • September 9, 2008

    8:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    blacksho89 writes:

    warrengfunk7: You remember Z-Rock? You must be old!.
    Like me.
    *sigh*

    I'm looking forward to this one!

  • September 9, 2008

    9 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    CapnPoon writes:

    Dude, Z-Rock! Haven't heard that in a while, just like KAZY. That was the station back in the day, before KBPI bought it out.
    We'll see about this album, could be good, could be shite.

  • September 9, 2008

    9:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Deadwingsuck writes:

    LMFAO I wonder how much Lars will charge for this "news" so that we can read it for free? ??