Death Magnetic by Metallica
Death Magnetic is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on September 12, 2008 through Warner Bros. Records. It was the band's first album to be produced by Rick Rubin, making this Metallica's first album since 1988's ...And Justice for All that was not produced by Bob Rock. The album received mostly positive reviews upon release, with critics describing it as a return to the musical style of their early albums. Musically, the album is a radical departure from Metallica's previous album, St. Anger, which featured no guitar solos and a more modern sound. Death Magnetic, on the other hand, features very long, technical guitar solos from both Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield, marking a return to the band's thrash metal roots. The album was also the band's first album released through Warner Bros. Records, although they still remain with Warner Music Group, which also owns their previous label, Elektra Records. Outside of North America, they are distributed through Universal Music Group as they remain signed to Vertigo Records in the UK. The album is also the band's fifth consecutive studio album to debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., making Metallica the first band ever to do so.
Like an aging heavyweight returning to the ring after months of rigorous training, Metallica appear chiseled and focused for <i>Death Magnetic</i>. It was paramount that Metallica prove to its fans that they still pack the ferocity and muscle of <i>Ride the Lightning</i> and <i>Master of Puppets</i> and prove it they do: <i>Death Magnetic</i> is an awe-inspiring display of power. The hands-off production strategy of Rick Rubin gives the listener the impression that we are hearing Metallica naked — playing together in a room, without overdubs or extraneous effects, and with only their skills as musicians to protect them. The album abandons concept for pure technique, and <i>Death Magnetic</i> is a master class in dynamics, tempo changes, and rhythmic interplay. After being relegated a subordinate role on previous albums, Kirk Hammett finally emerges as this album’s MVP. His solos on “That Was Just Your Life”, “Cyanide”, and “All Nightmare Long” are passages of pure electrocution. After several years of fracture and frustration that threatened the existence of Metallica, perhaps the best news <i>Death Magnetic</i> delivers is that this metal institution once again sounds like an all-for-one band.
