Track Listing

1. That Was Just Your Life
2. The End Of The Line
3. Broken, Beat & Scarred
4. The Day That Never Comes
5. All Nightmare Long
6. Cyanide
7. The Unforgiven III
8. The Judas Kiss
9. Suicide & Redemption
10. My Apocalypse

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1434 in Music
• Released on: 2008-09-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 75 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review

CD Description
'Death Magnetic' is the ninth studio album from heavy metaltitans Metallica, who link up with producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Slayer) for the first time. Epic guitar solos from Kirk Hammett, constant speed changes and multiple riffs per song make the follow-up to 2003's 'St. Anger' a throwback to the band's pre-1990s style. James Hetfield's vocals and the pounding rhythms of Lars Ulrich are as powerful as ever, while Bass player Rob Trujillo appears on a studio recordingwith the band for the first time.

Customer Reviews

NORMAL SERVICE IS RESUMED....
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...

thank you thank you thank you thank you
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

Death Magnetic
Riffs, riffs, and more riffs. This album is littered with them, with several in each song and guitar solos to boot. The fancy fretwork of Kirk makes a welcome return, with him diving, shredding and flying around the guitar. The speed at which he plays is at times breath-taking.
This is a return to 'old-skool' Metallica, with the tempo changes and subtle dynamic shifts of pre-Black Album work. The pace doesn't quite compare with their thrash style of that era, but it's just as heavy, if not more so. The playing sounds more polished than those albums, though there is still the passion and frantic feel in the music. It's very loud too, perhaps sometimes too loud, as the vocals seem to be drowned out by the guitars (then again, Hetfield isn't going to win any awards for his lyrics - they paint a picture of a post-apocalyptic world, but they don't make much sense). There is a case for saying that it's over-produced and it might not be a favourite of any audiophiles who like their music to be without clipping and over-distortion.
But overall, this is Metallica on top form. Most people were disappointed with St. Anger, this is the album that it should have been. It's not exactly innovative as it's a return to their older sound, but it's what the fans have wanted for years.