Metallica/Death Magnetic
Review by Luci Herbert - To say that St Anger isn't held in particularly high regard within the world of metal and rock is a slight understatement.
It wasn't their finest hour, but the odds were stacked high against them.
James Hetfield was in rehab, the guys were at war with each another, and with Rob Trujillo not yet in the picture, bass duties were left to their producer Bob Rock.
Five years on, the biggest metal band on the planet follow up with their ninth album of original material.
It's a crucial moment for them as fans are eager to discover if their boys are back, or if they've lost them for good.
As the album kicks in with That Was Just Your Life, any thoughts of this being St Anger II are banished. It does precisely what an opener should and invites anyone to keep on listening.
There's one foot firmly entrenched in the band's early thrash metal roots, which is there from start to finish.
These heavier sounds are met with some bluesy melodies and licks reminiscent of the Load/Reload era. And the good news is, as this album proves, Metallica are far from dead.
Kirk Hammett's trademark fretwork is back in full swing, while That St Anger Drum Sound is a thing of the past.
Trujillo proves his worth as acontributor as his distinctive bass playing adds an infectious groove to the mix on songs like Cyanide.
At 10mins, Suicide And Redemption drags on a little and lacks the magic of Orion and their other instrumentals.
With some And Justice For All-style riffing, My Apocalypse plays out at a blistering speed, with End Of The Line another furious bruiser.
All Nightmare Long contains somecatchy, chugging riffs and an overall crushing sound that seeks to destroy.
The spark has returned to Hetfield's voice, which sounds vibrant and genuinely aggressive.
Vocals are equally as strong on the mellow but power-drenched Day That Never Comes and Unforgiven III, which bears little similarity to its precursors.
With Rick Rubin behind the desk,production is as it should be and the crisp sound allows the heaviness to shine through.
We can breathe a sigh of relief that 'Tallica did have some fresh ideas whirring about their collective head after all, and they are as relevant today as ever.
Most importantly, this IS a Metallica album you won't be ashamed to own. 8/10