Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NORMAL SERVICE IS RESUMED...., 19 Sep 2008
A BIG return to form here! This album takes all the experimentation of the past (the groove of Load, the raw anger of St Anger & the prog touches of And Justice For All) and successfully melds it with the thrashier elements of Lightning & Puppets.
The problems of St Anger have been erased; the lyrics are far less self loathing and repetitive, the arrangements are more varied and technical, the drums sound like drums, the bass is once again the holding player in midfield and the solos are back in style. This album showcases Hammett's most emotive & powerful lead work in over a decade! And there is also the small matter of some of the band's best riffs since 1986!
Hetfield is more 'in control' than on the 2003 misfire, and the production while not in the Black album sphere, is clear and powerful. Personally I would prefer a slightly fuller snare & less clicky bass drum but the guitars and bass are really strong. Had my doubts over Trujillo - not as a player, but more if he was suitable, but I have to say I'm really impressed.
There is much for all here; from the symphonic orchestration on Unforgiven 3 (STUNNING lead break) to the all out Thrash Metal of My Apocalypse and the epic The Day That Never Comes (similiar to One but better. Really!).
That Was Just Your Life is a corker of an opener and is reminiscent of the St Anger days but with better quality.
Instrumental track Suicide & Redemption has a real groove with some seriously crunchy riffs, and tasty leads. Not as good as Orion or the S&M version of Call Of Ktulu but more engaging than the plodding To Live Is To Die from 1988's AJFA.
What strikes me here is how clear the influences shine through; the rhythm of Zeppelin, the riffs of Sabbath, the swagger of Motorhead. Even the odd hint of Maiden & Priest. And yet this still sounds very modern.
I can't see how any Metallica, or Metal fan could fail to appreciate this. Please don't read too much into all this talk of a distorted sound -it's really not the case.
Here's to another good decade from the Masters....
And the second coming of Thrash gathers pace...
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32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
thank you thank you thank you thank you, 4 Sep 2008
Finally. After all these years of mild disappointments we have a new Metallica album worthy of the name.
First impressions track by track (because I'm that sad)...
"That was just your life" starts with a slow heartbeat then builds until by about 1 min 30 we're on our way. This could easily be off "Justice" its that good. 4m 52s and Kirks been thawed out of his deep freeze and ta da! we have serious solo action on a Metallica album again [large smile spreads across face]
"The End of The Line" keeps it going. Could it be off "Puppets"? It even sounds a bit like "Puppets". Did he just sing "taste me you will see..." ok maybe not but he could have. Always knew these guys still had it in them.
"Broken, Beat & Scarred" starts with just a hint of "Harvester of Sorrow" and we're away again - 'what don't kill you will make you more strong' the man says and this is strong. This album just isn't letting up. No longer will you have to defend Metallica to your mates who think 'they used to be good but...' Practice looking smug in the mirror.
"The Day That Never Comes" the single. Sounds better as part of the album . In the good old days this would be one of those last song on side one type of tracks like "Sanitarium".
"All Nightmare Long" some more serious heavy riffing - According to James 'luck runs out' not ours it hasn't. Killer solo again and James's voice sounds better than it has in years while Lars wears out some more pedals.
"Cyanide" you might have heard this live - the studio version is just as good as you'd hoped. Brilliant bassline. Brilliant track.
"The Unforgiven III" as you probably guessed its Black album time again. Piano and cello intro. Nice ballad which picks up in the last couple of minutes with another top solo.
"The Judas Kiss" sounds like it could be straight off "Justice" again. With another fierce solo - how amazing is this album?
"Suicide and Redemption" instrumental. Fade-in to killer bassline/heavy riffing. Slower tempo but heavy. Nice Calpton impression from Kirk about 4 mins in then approaching 6 mins its take off time with another big solo. Lars crazy on those drums too.
"My Apocalypse" last song on a Metallica album can only mean one thing - crank up the pace to meltdown. So close to breaking into "Damage Inc." at times. Awesome.
Overall impression? Buy this album. Right now. And you might as well shell out the £70 for the coffin version its that good
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Denial - over!, 24 Sep 2008
After getting used to this album (which takes a while; it's too complex to be an easy listen) I reflected that this was what should have been the follow-up to Justice. Then I thought, "Hell no, 20 years of mediocrity make this one all the more appreciated."
I suppose I can understand why Metallica (or at least the forces that dominate them - say hi Mr Hetfield) got sick of doing dry, complicated, relatively inaccessible material and wanted to try something a bit more middle-of-the road (i.e. actual sing-along SONGS). But the fact is that (a) there are about 90000000 other bands out there that do this sort of thing and (b) Metallica are absolutely no good at it anyway.
This album is a welcome return from a 20-year denial period; Metallica are back to doing what they do best, in fact the only thing they are really, phenomenally good at. I actually wouldn't have thought anyone could still write original thrash metal but they've done it. The only hints of their 90s style are in Unforgiven III and Longest Day, but these just add welcome variety to the sound. Riffs are complicated, entrancing, and combine with Hetfield's inspired vocal lines to brutal effect. Hammett's solos are back, thank God, and it sounds as if he's been practising.
I'm raising a beer to at least another future album with Metallica in sensible mode. It sounds like they've got it in them.
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