The Metallica Thread v. Reloaded

[Stadler]

Kaos, I hope you know I don't say this to argue with you but only to offer a slightly different take (and this was really formed for me while watching "Some Kind of Monster" which is, with the possible exception of the Rush doc, my favorite musical documentary ever)...

I think they are the one band that DIDN'T do that.   They follow their muse.   I respectfully, but honestly, think that the people that think Metallica sold out are those that are wishing for RtL Part 9.  Or MoP over and over again.   We forget, because it landed, and landed BIG, but The Black Album was a huge risk.   They spent a LOT of time on that, and what, remixed it twice or some shit?    If it tanked, they were arguably done.   Load and Reload were - for them - WAY off the reservation, and there was no guarantee of financial success.    St. Anger was more polarizing than any album from Testament, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer COMBINED.   Those other bands (with the exception of Testament, who I am not that familiar with) are still doing the same shtick.   Slayer is to me a cartoon.   Every time I hear them I hear the melody of "Entrance of the Gladiators" (the "circus theme") in my head.   

I think if they were really about the "business" first, they would have put out "The Black Puppets", "Load the Lightning", "Reload the Lightning", "St. Justice", "Death Days Revisited", and "Hardwired... to Kill Em All".   At least with Metallica (like Zeppelin), if I want to bang heads, I have an album or two to go to.  If I want to put a little "prog" in my metal, I have an album to go to.  If I want a little classic rock, I have an album to go to.   

I think they are way bigger than any of the other bands you mentioned (perhaps, again, combined) and so there is an element to business that is unavoidable.  You can't play stadia without at least ONE eye on the wallet, but in that context, in my opinion, they have stayed very relevant and have taken some big risks. 

[BlobVanDam]

I agree with Stadler, up until DM, at which point I think they decided to pander to the thrash fans instead of being really inspired to create music for the sake of feeling creative. Hardwired so far sounds like it's going to be more of the same.

[Onno]

I agree with both of you.

Also, new song is a bit boring, but we'll see how the album turns out. I do really hope it's going to be an inspired album, not a "let's go back to the old days 'cause that's all people want to hear". If they want to do that type of music, fine, but if they're not 100% into it and they do it anyway to make people happy I don't think it's gonna sound inspired.

[kaos2900]

Kaos, I hope you know I don't say this to argue with you but only to offer a slightly different take (and this was really formed for me while watching "Some Kind of Monster" which is, with the possible exception of the Rush doc, my favorite musical documentary ever)...

I think they are the one band that DIDN'T do that.   They follow their muse.   I respectfully, but honestly, think that the people that think Metallica sold out are those that are wishing for RtL Part 9.  Or MoP over and over again.   We forget, because it landed, and landed BIG, but The Black Album was a huge risk.   They spent a LOT of time on that, and what, remixed it twice or some shit?    If it tanked, they were arguably done.   Load and Reload were - for them - WAY off the reservation, and there was no guarantee of financial success.    St. Anger was more polarizing than any album from Testament, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer COMBINED.   Those other bands (with the exception of Testament, who I am not that familiar with) are still doing the same shtick.   Slayer is to me a cartoon.   Every time I hear them I hear the melody of "Entrance of the Gladiators" (the "circus theme") in my head.   

I think if they were really about the "business" first, they would have put out "The Black Puppets", "Load the Lightning", "Reload the Lightning", "St. Justice", "Death Days Revisited", and "Hardwired... to Kill Em All".   At least with Metallica (like Zeppelin), if I want to bang heads, I have an album or two to go to.  If I want to put a little "prog" in my metal, I have an album to go to.  If I want a little classic rock, I have an album to go to.   

I think they are way bigger than any of the other bands you mentioned (perhaps, again, combined) and so there is an element to business that is unavoidable.  You can't play stadia without at least ONE eye on the wallet, but in that context, in my opinion, they have stayed very relevant and have taken some big risks.

No worries Stads. I really enjoyed Some Kind of Monster as well. I remember seeing that in the theaters and walking out pumped to be a Metallica fan. I don't hate any albums they've put out. What I hate is that they've put out 2 albums in 13 years. I really like Load and Re-load I get that they're following their muse, but I don't think their Muse is focused on new music. Hopefully the new album is amazing. I'll reserve final judgement until it's released, but after one song I'm not impressed.

[BlobVanDam]

I'm hoping they chose this song as the lead single simply to reassure the fans they regained with DM that this album was going to have similar songs, and that the rest of the album will display more diversity.

[jammindude]

I'm just taking this song on its own merits, and it's hitting me ****A LOT**** harder than anything on DM.   

I agree that DM was a good album, but basically sounded like a retread.    I personally felt that there was a "hunger" factor missing from that entire album even though the music was decent.   I know that's hard to quantify, but I'm getting a much bigger sense of urgency with this song.   I was totally surprised with how great it was.    It's the best single song I've heard from Metallica since 1988. 

[BlobVanDam]

Really? After multiple listens, I still can't remember a damn thing about the new song, except the chorus lyrics for the wrong reasons. Not a single decent melody in the entire song. Bland af.

[Kotowboy]

Really? After multiple listens, I still can't remember a damn thing about the new song, except the chorus lyrics for the wrong reasons. Not a single decent melody in the entire song. Bland af.

You've said that the songs on Hardwired will sound "less frenetic" than those on Death Magnetic. What do you mean?
Most of the songs are simpler. We introduce a mood and we stick to it, rather than songs we've done where one riff happens and we go over here and then over there and becomes a journey through all these different soundscapes. The songs are more linear. And by "less frenetic," I mean there are certainly less starts and stops in the songs. It cruises along a little bit more than the last record.


So not riff soup basically. Plus much shorter songs this time around... .

[Kotowboy]

I'm hoping they chose this song as the lead single simply to reassure the fans they regained with DM that this album was going to have similar songs, and that the rest of the album will display more diversity.

In a new Interview - Lars said this song was written really quickly JUST to have a short fast song to open the album.

They wanted it to be the album opener and lead single.

I'm guessing the rest of the album is stronger material.

[BlobVanDam]

Well that all sounds promising. Hopefully that means the rest of the songs will be a bit more musical, with harmonies and melodies. At least I have no major complaints about the production this time.

[jammindude]

You don't like the chorus?   I'm not normally a fan of the F-bomb, but in spite of that, I find that chorus to be amazing. 

Only twice and I can't get it out of my head. 

Maybe it's just because I was feeling particularly "kid like" today, and this made me feel like a kid again.  (something that DM failed to do entirely)

[Kotowboy]

Just put the song on again and got goosebumps.

It's really growing on me. Can't wait for the album.

Production is great too. REVERB!!!

[BlobVanDam]

You don't like the chorus?   I'm not normally a fan of the F-bomb, but in spite of that, I find that chorus to be amazing. 

Only twice and I can't get it out of my head. 

Maybe it's just because I was feeling particularly "kid like" today, and this made me feel like a kid again.  (something that DM failed to do entirely)

First time I heard the song, I didn't even realize it was supposed to be a chorus, and then it just goes into the riff/verse and you realize that was it. I was expecting it to be a pre-chorus. I don't even consider it a chorus, it's that weak and forgettable. Even with remembering the lyrics, I can't recall it at all. There's not a real melody in the entire song. The song's too blandtacular to even be outright bad.

[bl5150]

I like the straight forward , heavy sound/vibe but the lyrics stand out as pretty ordinary and I find myself listening to Lars speed up and slow down .............must be bad for me to notice.

I'd view it as an average track with a vibe that bodes well for the album.

[Kotowboy]

I just pre - ordered the 3CD version

[Mladen]

This song made my day. And it made me smile.

[jammindude]

Maybe another reason it seemed fresh to me is that I honestly NEVER listen to thrash any more. I don't think I've listened to a single note of thrash in 3 years.

Absense makes the heart grow fonder...

[Progmetty]

What's kinda unique about this song is that I cannot think of the main riff without listening to it, it's very.. undistinguished, it could be cause it's new but I doubt it.
It's very easy to listen to this song and think of Hetfield's Kill'em All vocals on it haha

[Kotowboy]

Really ? i can hear the main riff in my head.

[Ben_Jamin]

I find myself listening to the drums during the verses. They're that loud for me, the snare and bass drum.

[Train of Naught]

Meh, listened to it 3 times total now and this just sounds like something similar to the style of DM but much, much worse. I'm glad atleast some people can find enjoyment in this I guess

[Kotowboy]

Meh, listened to it 3 times total now and this just sounds like something similar to the style of DM but much, much worse. I'm glad atleast some people can find enjoyment in this I guess

This is awesome compared to that Lords of Summer nonsense.


And even if " Hardwired...To Self Destruct " is just Death Magnetic 2 - at least the production is nice FINALLY...

[El Barto]

The rhythm behind the verse lyrics is straight off of RTL. I like it. Everything else is straight out of DM. Meh. I had no problems with DM, and I suspect this will be no different. It just doesn't blow me away.

That really is a peculiar sounding bass drum. And Lars shouldn't be doing anything in the studio that will cause him fail spectacularly when they play it live.

[Kotowboy]

Lars can manage double bass like that live.

Also that riff at 1:40 or so . . . isn't that just Metal Militia ?

[Progmetty]

Really ? i can hear the main riff in my head.

Wow! Whenever I try it turns into a mix of My Apocalypse and This Was Your Life.

I find myself listening to the drums during the verses. They're that loud for me, the snare and bass drum.

Agreed, throughout the song it sounds louder than it should be.

And even if " Hardwired...To Self Destruct " is just Death Magnetic 2 - at least the production is nice FINALLY...

I'd be happy with that.

[Kotowboy]

Their best sounding studio album of *original* material since Reload.

in 1997.


19 years ago.

[pogoowner]

Really ? i can hear the main riff in my head.

Wow! Whenever I try it turns into a mix of My Apocalypse and This Was Your Life.

Yeah, I had That Was Just Your Life stuck in my head all day yesterday, because every time I tried to think of this new riff, it would just morph into that song.

[Kotowboy]

The part that reminds me is the B - Bb - A progression then the 3-5-6-5-3-5 bit comes next.

[OpenYourEyes311]

I just pre - ordered the 3CD version

Definitely not pre-ordering. Especially from the website, which will cost almost $22 total, and will probably not make it my house by release day. Picked up Death Magnetic on release day at Hot Topic for $5, and I'm sure I can pick it up at the local Newbury Comics for around $10. As long as I can listen to it for under $20 on release day I'll be happy.

[Kotowboy]

I treated myself. Plus it'll probably be on Spotify the day it's out.

[Zook]

Somewhere beneath those horrible lyrics is a decent Metallica song. Add a 5 minute repetitive instrumental section, and this song will fit right in on St. Anger.

[Kotowboy]

This song was the last thing written for the album and was written & recorded exclusively by James & Lars ( Kirk and Rob did overdubs but did not contribute to the writing ) in one week to open the

album when they wanted something fast and short to kick it off.

I think with that in mind it's perfectly acceptable. Especially since there's 11 more tracks and around 75 minutes.

[Zook]

I don't think rushing and half assing a song is acceptable.

[TAC]

This song was the last thing written for the album and was written & recorded exclusively by James & Lars ( Kirk and Rob did overdubs but did not contribute to the writing ) in one week to open the

album when they wanted something fast and short to kick it off.

Maybe that's why it feels like a B side.

[KevShmev]

More like a side of shit.

I listened to it again and can't believe how generic and bad it is.