“You rise, you fall, you’re down, then you rise again,

What don’t kill you make you more strong”

I was in the states on September 10th, in New Jersey planning to head to Philly the next day, and you could not avoid it. It was in every paper, from the free Metro to the best broadsheets and everything between. It had its own website for months previous and one of the biggest marketing campaigns I have ever witnessed. No I’m not referring to the anniversary of the terrorist attacks. I’m talking about my subject, my lifeblood. Music.

More specifically I’m taking about Metallica.

No one can deny the impact this little quartet has had. They took metal to the masses and seventeen million copies of ‘The Black Album’ can’t be wrong, can they? Unfortunately maybe….

Metallica fans are currently split into some distinct groups, those who think they should be shot for crimes against music from that faithful 5th record on and those, whom according to the first group drank the “metala-coolade”. I fall into neither. I just like good music. The first group often annoys me because if not for ‘The Black Album’ few of them would own kill/lighting/masters/justice and the second group annoys me because they are still trying to justify the abortion of a demo that was “St Anger”.

I have opinions. The first FIVE were class; I’m not here to wax about the pros and cons of each but its fair to say they have shaped not just metal but outside perceptions of metal. The next two albums Load/ReLoad are where the division starts. Personally I believe these are two of the best alternative albums released in the ‘90s. To borrow Bob Morgan’s opinion,

“If any band other than Metallica had release these records they would be hailed as musical saviours offering something new and fresh as grunge’s death toll chimed”

(I paraphrased a bit). But the fans didn’t fairly review or listen to these albums. They didn’t even seem to be hung up on the fact that the gods of metal were making Alt.Rock. Message boards forums and the press was filled with the same complaints, threats and bitching.

“They cut their hair” Whoop de-fucking Do!

Then we got S&M and Garage Days. Both great and “Minus Human” & “No Leaf Clover” hinted that the metal was coming back…and how!

Then they release a demo. A really BAD demo. Most of us felt a little sick. It really was some kind of monster. But the return to metal fell flat on its face. So they got themselves “slick” Rick Rubin and retreated to their studios. Stocked up on ivory backscratchers, got a legend to play bass and crab walk from St.Anger into our hearts. They replaced the drum kit with some baked bean tins and started to hype before they started to write.

Then, eventually it arrived.

It is Death Magnetic.

Let’s do the nitty-gritty first…

Is it Metallica’s finest hour? No.

Is it the as bad as the last record? No.

Is it a step forward in the right direction? I don’t think so.

Is it any good? Well yes actually!











These statements are a bit contradictory but I will elaborate. For the first time in nearly a decade I can hear some tracks that are sure to become live favourites. I hear riffs and jams that really make me smile but taking four steps backwards cannot be good for anyone’s career, can it? I strongly have an impression that they tried to hard to be a band they were 20 years ago and once you change I don’t feel you should go back. AC/DC have made the same record for nearly forty years. Nobody expects them to change. Metallica have never repeated themselves before so why record Ride the Lighting 2? Well honestly it might be because that’s apparently what the fans want. So are they happy? Some, actually most, why? Because its not St Anger 2,that’s why.

When the bar is that low, its not hard to raise it.

It opens with ‘That Was Just Your Life’ not the worst opener enticing enough to keep you listening, as is ‘The End Of The Line’. ‘Broken, Beat & Scarred’ is unquestionable the first stand-out. James sounds like he has had some vocal lessons and it was money well spent, as when he pushes his voice he no longer sounds like the squeaky voice teen from ‘The Simpsons’. Then comes the first single. This was a little scary due to the Skids-esque opening riff but its after the singing has been done this track shines. The guitar screams Metallica and one of the best pieces of music they’ve released in quite some time. The rest of the tracks seem to pick up except the dire ‘Cyanide’ which sounds like Metallica doing a Metallica cover and finishes strong with ‘My Apocalypse’ a stonking track that could have been left over from the Kill ‘em All sessions.

Most noticeable is the return to form of Kirk Hammet and his amazing playing, welcome back…. you have been missed. Rob Trujillo should get an award for bringing back one element that has been missing. Bass. I am not nor will not knock Jason’s playing, but special it is not. Robert’s is a little special.

“Love is a four letter word”, so is hope, so is fear, so is hate. Metal fans don’t like “Love” in their music. I can hear you ask if I have a point. Yes I do. Make music for your self and not your fans. Hire a producer who produces, not micro manages.Then record and play something from the heart.

What do I really think of this record? I like it, its not love but it’s a good night out.

On a scale it’s a ‘C’, a seven out of ten.

Why? You ask, when I have not been most flattering?

Because I know next time I catch this band live I’ll be singing along with “The Unforgiven III”, “All Nightmare Long” “Broken, Beat & Scarred” and possibly more, but I will like most be wondering why the production is better on guitar hero than the CD?

Hype is a terrible thing. Let it die out. Then, listen without prejudice.

The Last DJ can be heard talking while its other half spins tracks on her metal radio show