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Metallica: Death Magnetic |
Contributed By: Sybru
Created On: Friday, 05 September 2008
Hits: 122
 Death Magnetic 'The End of the Line' is another brute with an intro many will remember from last years live excursions as 'The New Song'. Be-warned, The New Song’ has changed beyond all recognition into a monster that should not be. Riffs course through its veins as it beckons you to bang your head until it snaps. The sheer size of the song blows the mind, it twists and turns, attacked by mighty wah riddled solo’s, even allowing for a moment of respite in the form of an acoustic interlude before continuing on its kamikaze course to the end. 'Broken Beat and Scarred' falls slightly below the par set by the first two monsters but still holds its own. It is far more focused on groove than the previous two and no less powerful for it. Whereas the previous two were puppets era Metallica, this feels more like a 'Black album' song. Its focus more on the groove and the less is more attitude of that album.
The new single is up next. 'The Day that Never Comes', as you may of heard, is not all that dissimilar to 'One' in its construction. From gentle beginnings interspersed with moments of heaviness, the song moves through numerous different tempos culminating in an orgy of solos and tireless riffs. Before moving onto the next song its worth pointing out that James is in full working order. His voice is crisp and powerful. 'All Nightmare Long' never quite does what you expect. After a forceful intro you sit waiting for a riff that’s never going to come until all of a sudden they lay the smack down with a barbaric riff that itself only lasts for a few bars before swiftly and expertly warping into something completely different. Like a child with ADD this song switches mood and ideas with reckless abandon, all the time teetering on the brink of collapse.
The final two songs of 'Death Magnetic' end the album in a legendary fashion. 'Suicide and Redemption’ does not disappoint, its gargantuan wall of riffage crushing all it surveys, continuing a great Metallica tradition of bone trembling instrumentals. It feels somewhat at odds with the album and gives 'Death Magnetic' more breadth and scope, countering the intensity and violence of the majority of the songs with considered power acting as a lynchpin, holding the whole thing together. 'My Apocalypse' can only truly be described as completely insane, at points it sounds almost like Slayer. The song blisters with barely contained energy. To quote James on 'Cunning Stunts'. 'You want heavy? Metallica gives you heavy baby!'
Metallica has, since its inception, always strived to take metal in new directions. '...And Justice' and 'Black' are testament to this. 'Death Magnetic' feels like a consolidation of what Metallica is and the purpose of the individuals that make it up; to make great metal that shudders the bones and sticks in the mind. This revelation has allowed Metallica to create a focused, dynamic and incredibly powerful collection of songs that prove one thing beyond all doubt. Nothing. Else. Matters.
 
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