I realize my opinion(s) is not a popular one around here.
I really like the drum sound. It worked really well considering the sound they went for. It DOES sound like a garage band, and im sure part of it was intentional. After all, Metallica started out as a garage band.
When i heard it being described as Metallica trying to fit in with the nu-metal bands, it made me think. But I really don't think they were trying to fit in with any trend. They're fucking Metallica. They do what they want. Maybe they are just fed up with these trends, in pop AND underground/metal. They didn't want to put in solo's if they didn't want to, maybe they're tired of shit like that. And of course people only complain. Then they do Death Magnetic, which is exactly what so many who have been shitting on them have been wanting to hear, and they shit on it. I'm glad they did Lulu, because they wanted to and obviously knew making it what most of you would think. But they did it anyways. I can't fucking wait to hear what they do on their next album. Apparently it's going more in the direction of Death Magnetic, and taking it farther into thrash. Can't wait to hear how people pick it apart ;p
They're evolving musically to this day, and if you watched the documentary you can see that St. Anger is a product of all their lives during that time. I want to defend St. Anger against all the people bagging on it, but this is all i can really say. Some people will respond saying 'yea, and its shit' or whatever. Opinions.
To me, St. Anger is not shit. Listening to it i can really see and feel and hear so much emotion that was put into and comes out of these songs. Mostly Hetfield's. The documentary honestly helped me appreciate the album even more.