I've heard reviews all over the place and it porbabbly because of Metallica's own fanbase.

AKA pre and post "Black Album" fans.

I'm most likely getting it Friday so....

First impressions from tracks 1-6 so far...


This cd sounds like the cd that would have been between "...And Justice For All" and "The Black Album".... encompasses the attitude and speed of AJFA but the production sheen of TBA. Trujillo(sp?) really ads some funky bass to the music.... Newstead rocked, don't get me wrong....

After hearing a bit of the first single today, I now know why Metallica fans are so excited about this record.

dynovinyl Wrote:After hearing a bit of the first single today, I now know why Metallica fans are so excited about this record.

On Metallica.com you can listen to 2 full songs and portions of another.

I have put a lot of listening time into this cd now....

It kicks ass. FWIW, I have never really hated a Metallica cd. I must say that I got into them off the Black Album first. The someone let me borrow Master of Puppets and I liked that one a lot. I then proceeded to get their back catalog. I did all of that before Load and ReLoad came out. I liked both but would agree they weren't close to the Metallica from The Black Album and before. I loved me some Garage Inc! I kind of got into the vibe on S&M. St Anger was decent delayed follow up but that annoying drum sound they had throughout that cd kind of dampened me having a major enjoyment in it.


I won't do a track by track synopsis of this cd...as I find it harder to do with metal cd's.

This cd....

has the polish of sound like The Black Album.
The thrash in areas like ...And Justice For All
The tone of Master of Puppets.

Its not quite the speed metal they were known for on their earlier cds....but from a band going on 25+ years in the game....

Very good guitar work here.

I'd have to agree that the bass lines layed down by Truijilo (sp?) aren't very pronounced...the cd seems to have no bottom end when listening to it....and I have to agree w/ IGNs review that is seems like hte Drums got turned up on a lot of the songs.

I'd say this is their best and most "Metallica-like" cd since the Black Album as it sounds more metal than "rock" like Load and ReLoad.

Give it a shot!