Eight years ago is the last time we listened to a new album from Metallica titled Death Magnetic. A complete waste of time for Metallica and us the fans. I would say it has been twenty five years since we die hard fans have enjoyed an album from them. That would be the self titled album otherwise known as The Black Album.
Last week James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo delivered to us their newest collaboration titled Hard Wired to Self Destruct.
The Four Horseman have once again put their saddles on their stallions and rode into town. This time they actually bring us some metal that the legions were demanding. This two disc set (three if you buy the deluxe edition) comes out of the gate hard and fast.
The first track Hardwired will remind you of a time when you had long flowing hair and would flip it around hard enough to cause whiplash. Almost conjures up distant memories off of their first album Kill Em All. Probably the best album they ever released. This heart pounding, adrenaline fueled, head banging, return to form will continue for the next couple of songs ( Atlas Rise, Now That We’re Dead).
The album comes into its high point with Moth Into Flame. The most impressive song from the Bay Area boys in a long time. Kirk and James bring some heavy handed guitar riffs that just explode off of the track.
However after this song the album starts to decline. Man UNkind is a track that should’ve been left on the cutting room floor as it already feels like the song was a reject o
ff of their Load album.
Once you get past the lackluster songs of Dream No More, Halo On Fire, Confusion, and Man UNkind get ready to turn your speakers up to eleven. Here Comes Revenge, Am I Savage, and Murder One will once again have you rocking back and forth like a death metal dinghy in the high seas of rock. The album closes with a tremendous crescendo in Spit Out The Bone, closing our the record on a very high note.
Overall this is an album that Metallica should be proud of and so should you. Spend the extra money and get the deluxe edition. You will get some live recordings of some classic songs performed at Rasputin Music and a tribute medley to Ronnie James Dio. Just like the old shirt the band had many moons ago said it is, Metal Up Your Ass.
Let me know what you thought of this album in the comments below. Or if you feel like yelling at me on twitter or just want to talk some Metal hit me up @CHILIHB