Rocktober Album #4: Metallica – Death Magnetic (2008)

For about 13 years, Metallica ruled the world of metal. Beginning with Kill 'Em All and ending with Metallica (the "black album"), there was no doubt that Metallica had a firm grasp on all things metal. And then they started to fall off over the next 12 years or so, alienating hardcore fans with their music and alienating people trying to steal their music by, God forbid, trying to prevent people from stealing their music.

Sometimes a band needs to return to its roots to reclaim their throne, and that is exactly what Metallica did last year with Death Magnetic. I had no intention of buying the album, but it came free when I bought a ticket to their concert last January. Boy, am I glad that happened. This album kicks ass. It sounds like vintage Metallica, somewhere around And Justice for All, but with more energy than that album.

Produced by wunderkind Rick Rubin, Death Magnetic is simply a great heavy metal album. Back are the epic, seven- or eight-minute songs with what seem like several tempo-changing acts in each song, full of fast guitars, insane drumming, and bass lines that I could not play.

1. That Was Just Your Life
Approximately 1:30 into this song, you realize that this is the Metallica of old. It's hard, it's fast, it's gritty. This is a great start to the album.
2. The End of the Line
This is another great heavy song with a driving beat and a nasty streak.
3. Broken, Beat & Scarred
I could see this becoming a popular anthem at live shows, in particular the "show your scars" part of the chorus.
4. The Day That Never Comes
Presumably written about Purdue's NCAA men's basketball title hopes, this song is in the vain of "One" or "Unforgiven" – slow and soft in some parts and then hard and heavy in others.
5. All Nightmare Long
This is my favorite song on the album. It is a ball buster, with an awesome chorus ("We hunt you down without mercy / Hunt you down all nightmare long"), and it has quickly become one of my favorite running songs.
6. Cyanide
Another solid, heavy song with dark lyrics, which is a break from Metallica's usually bright and cheery songs.
7. The Unforgiven III
As the title implies, this is the third song Metallica has written about Myles Brand. Frankly, the original "Unforgiven" is the best. That's not to say that the third installment isn't good. It's a slower, plodding song with subtly nice guitar work and some strings as well.
8. The Judas Kiss
This is your standard heavy metal song about making out with a dude from the Bible. Aside from the rather risqué subject matter, this is a pretty damn good song – a nice change of pace (back to fast) after "The Unforgiven III."
9. Suicide & Redemption
This is the first instrumental for Metallica since "To Live is To Die" on And Justice for All. I'm not sure if the title of this one is a reference to the last one, but it is at least worth noting that both songs mention something death-related in the title, along with something positive.
10. My Apocalypse
At 5:01, this is the shortest song on Death Magnetic. Short or not, this is a great, energetic way to end the album. The guitars are fast and precise, the beat is blinding, and the lyrics are intense. Essentially, it's the epitome of a Metallica song.