Band : Metallica

Album Title : Death Magnetic

Label : Mercury - Vertigo

Distributor : Universal Records

Release Date : 08/09/2008

Release : CD

After the solo-free “St Anger” album from 2003 this is finally new work we’re all waiting for by the world's once-greatest thrash metal. And this “Death Magnetic” is bursting full of raw power with two exceptions, the ballad single “The Day That Never Comes” and the penultimate instrumental “Suicide And Redemption” that has a sensitive solo line without the brutality of the rest of the album. Besides the music also the lyrics are more metal related than before and the voice of James Hetfield is extremely well. But not the words are important, it's the irresistible maelstrom of guitars that kicks. Kirk Hammett is in for some shredding triplets or chiming with Hetfield in quite some Thin Lizzy like duels. And producer Rick Rubin is a master in balancing vertiginous progressive time shifts with chugging power chords. It's amazing how raw and hungry he has made the band sounds like. His greatest contribution is bringing in the outstanding work from new boy Robert Trujillo on bass. And drummer Lars Ulrich is almighty. “Death Magnetic” is the definitely the sound of a band giving both themselves and their fans exactly what they need. And than you may conclude that  nothing else matters.

80/100

Guido Claes.