Spring Break
Metallica's "Death" is Magnetic as Hell
Ralph MacDonald
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Entertainment
When you think of heavy metal music, one name is mentioned above the rest: Metallica. Many will argue that the glory days of the band faded after their first four albums. Die-hard fans of Metallica's early thrash metal sound will only listen to those first four, claiming that Metallica has sold out. The opposite end of the Metallica spectrum is the camp in which I sit. We prefer the more melodic and thought-out, yet still ass-kickin', rock music. We tend to prefer their last couple of albums. Both camps agree, however, that Metallica's last release in 2003, St. Anger, misfired in every possible way. The band was having extreme difficulty getting along and producing music. The creation of St. Anger was chronicled in a documentary film, Some Kind of Monster, which was a great film for both fans and Metallica-neophytes. Anyway, St. Anger had some okay songs, but it did not restore the band's status as the kings of metal.
After finding a new bassist, Ozzy Osbourne's Rob Trujillo, and a new producer in Rick Rubin, the band released a new album this past Friday, Death Magnetic, which puts St. Anger in its rightful, shameful place. Death Magnetic is a return to the glory days. In preparation for the album, the band focused on only three of their previous albums, and tried to create something that is a blend between their earlier thrash days and their newer melodic metal. The result is a nostalgic journey from the beginning of the band to the formula they found to create hits like Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters.
While die-hard thrashers who only listen to the first four albums may not accept Death Magnetic as a true Metallica album, the majority of Metallica fans will be pleasantly surprised. The band failed with St. Anger, but Death Magnetic, breeds Reload and Black Album, my two favorites by Metallica, with their original thrash sound, which culminates in one helluva metal good time. Metallica has not forgotten its softer side, and it has not forgotten its heart of metal.
After finding a new bassist, Ozzy Osbourne's Rob Trujillo, and a new producer in Rick Rubin, the band released a new album this past Friday, Death Magnetic, which puts St. Anger in its rightful, shameful place. Death Magnetic is a return to the glory days. In preparation for the album, the band focused on only three of their previous albums, and tried to create something that is a blend between their earlier thrash days and their newer melodic metal. The result is a nostalgic journey from the beginning of the band to the formula they found to create hits like Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters.
While die-hard thrashers who only listen to the first four albums may not accept Death Magnetic as a true Metallica album, the majority of Metallica fans will be pleasantly surprised. The band failed with St. Anger, but Death Magnetic, breeds Reload and Black Album, my two favorites by Metallica, with their original thrash sound, which culminates in one helluva metal good time. Metallica has not forgotten its softer side, and it has not forgotten its heart of metal.
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