So how good is the new Metallica music?

Yesterday, we were teased with the release of track 4 "The Day That Never Comes" (Windows Media) which sounds like it might be the ballad (the only one?) on the album. Enquiring music minds like Matt Wardlaw want to know what people think of the song. I read through a hundred or so of the Blabbermouth comments and it seems like a mixed bag. Matt says "The good news is, it’s pretty good." I sensed more reservation from other fans than delight.

My favorite Metallica album to date has been Ride the Lightning and this track almost feels like if had started with 12 and 6 string acoustic guitars it could have come from around that era (but not on that great album), but instead it’s all electric. I’m a little puzzled why they didn’t go more classical? The song in predictable Metallica fashion gets harder a la "Fade To Black", "Welcome Home Sanitarium" and "One" but it isn’t as stylistic as any of those three songs.

What we’re left with in "The Day That Never Comes" is an appetizer of what makes Metallica mellow metal ballads unique. Not very original for them but better than most of what is on their last album St. Anger. An album which didn’t have any ballad-like tracks. With that said, I’d still take "Frantic" though over this track, even with the tinny sounding drums because it’s more exploratory. Just listening to music that sounds like it came from something on an older album isn’t what I look for from a new album. I also am expecting some level of exploration and trying new things. I’m not sure "The Day That Never Comes" quite fits that description.

Metallica played track 6 "Cyanide" live (for the first time?) at Ozzfest in Dallas, TX on August 9, 2008. This song showcases former Ozzy and new Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and of course it’s on YouTube already (no idea if or when the boys will order it taken down, but I would encourage them not to):

This track jams. I’m looking forward to hearing the studio version. Would like to hear "The Day That Never Comes" played live for that matter.

There’s also a subpar quality compilation of "fly on the wall" clips on YouTube but I wouldn’t recommend that. It’s not a song, it’s simply a bunch of raw clips Metallica shared through MM that some fan cobbled together.

For now we can only judge Death Magnetic by two songs. I’m waiting for the other 8 tracks. People who are declaring these two tracks as indicative of the album as a whole are being way too premature. Wait for it. I know it’s easy to draw early opinions, but I want to hear the whole album through a dozen or more times at least before making any final judgment on where Death Magnetic ranks in Metallica’s overall studio album discography.

I will say this much for Matt and others curious: These first two tracks are promising. I am not expecting this to be another Kill ‘Em All or Ride The Lightning, but will be disappointed if the rest of the album is as devoid of soul as most of St. Anger. I’d be totally stoked if Death Magnetic turned out to be anything close to their early to mid era album releases.

We’ll all find out September 12.

Did this post make you go hmm?

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