Maximum Threshold Radio review of Metallica's Death Magnetic
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This record has had alot of hype from conception to completion and for good reasons. Metallica has been the "godfathers of metal." With a tag like that they must follow in greatness. Also, along with that comes criticism from the masses. Metallica, I give them credit, has been standing by their music no matter what negativity has been drawn towards them. I guess that is them fulfilling their buzz on their record.

Ok enough of that stuff, lets get to the meat of this topic.

If you are looking for a thrash album, you are going to be disappointed. But if you are looking for a record that is well-rounded in metal and the vibe of a return to past records than this is what you will definitely get. i guess it is like looking at snapshots of their older records and if they could add another song to them what would a modern Metallica do for it. One big positive note, you will definitely get your money’s worth on this record. There is not one short song on this album. I think the shortest is 5 minutes long.

Scale 1-5 ***** (note this is just my take on it and it may not reflect anyone else’s)

Track:
1 - That Was Just Your Life
Starts off slow and then beefs it in overdrive, gives you the bite that you have been waiting for. Catchy riff, good lyrics. “Like a General without a mission”, “Realize you Don’t Belong” are just a few lyric clips from this one. A lot of chuggin along in this one. I believe this will be my favorite track on this one. *****

2. The End of the Line
This fell off the back of the Black/Load album truck! But you get a second wind of a lot of chugging along. Damn good lyrics on this one. Catchy hooky chorus. *** too commercial for me.

3. Broken, Beat & Scarred
Get the lighters out!! Its ok, good riff, a lot of Lars in this one. If you are a drummer you will love this one. I have noticed that with these songs when they mellowed out they kept the chugging in there. Keep your ears out on that. I get the vibe with this one that if you took Kiss and had them make new music with Slayer this is what you would get. Kirk is outrageous in his solo in this song, a bit short but it is to the point. I guess Lars had something to do with that. ***

4. The Day That Never Comes
This should have been dubbed the Unforgiven 4! Listen to that open riff again. I hear radio play all over this one. Can’t dog on them for this, it is what sells and a lot of people rely on them to bank on this one. Great solo in this one **** (I marked it up because they leaked it and it will keep Metallica on the radio, I like it too)

5. All Nightmare Long
Ah, a good one!!! Cliff would have been proud of this one! This would have been an add-on off Master’s. We get to hear Rob open the song and a lot of chugging going on in this one. Kirk’s solo rips!!! Listen closely towards the end of it you want to scream our “Damage Incorporated”. You get the vibe of the old days in this one plus a lot of stops and really great lyrics. ***** 5 Stars. Everything you like about Metallica is in this song.

6. Cyanide
Ok, so this song is played on air already and has been leaked out by the band and is ok for some new Metallica song but is it what we have been waiting for. When listening to this song it sounds like it was the B side song to Disappear. “Hey where’s Tom Cruise at from Mission Impossible”. Ha I tagged it, didn’t I! Kirk is great in this one, phenomenal solo. **** 4 starts because Met leaked it on Ozzfest to tease us.

7. Unforgiven III
The piano/violin in the beginning is supposed to set the stage of this song and kinda drags a bit, but James pulls it out of at the end of it. Thank god! I forsee airplay on this one down the road. Black album again. Nothing spectacular at all with this song other than good lyrics and a poppy solo. Should have kept this one off the record. Sorry **

8. The Judas Kiss
Ah, good opening riff. Glad to hear them use this one. This was my favorite riff that they leaked out as the taste of death riffs. Real catchy chorus, good song for this album. A lot of breakdowns with this song. I like this song. ****

9. Suicide and Redemption
Good build up to this song. Sounds like if you took Foo fighters, Rush,Slayer, Tool and about 7,000 whipits (If you don’t know what a whipit is than google it). The intro is a bit too long and monotonous but we know there is something coming good. I think this song shouldn’t have made it to the record. It is just a jam song. I guess you can put your own lyrics over it and do a helluva karaoke to it. ** Sorry wasn’t feeling it.

10. My Apocalypse
Much better version on this song. This is a great chugging song. Has that Master’s/ Justice feel to it most of the. Kirk, thank God you are still in the band. *****

Ok, so you got my take on the complete album. Overall I would give it a **** 4 Star. Do I think it was worth the wait? Yes. I have only listened to it a few times and believe this is one that will need a few more takes and let it soak in. The band as a whole keeps this record together. It is nice to hear them jump to “sound era’s” and you can tell just by listening to it which one they can be categorized in.

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