Metallica Posts All Of "Death Magnetic" Online
Band Photo: Metallica (?)
Metallica has uploaded their new album, "Death Magnetic" online in its entirety at their official website.
The band has also posted the following message online:
"So what will you be doing tonight? We'll be celebrating the release of Death Magnetic by visiting one of Lars' favorite record stores, GUF in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"Located near the Townhall Square at Vestergade 17, GUF will be open at 11 PM to start selling Death Magnetic one hour before anyone else in continental Europe!
"We'll be swinging by around 11:30 PM to see how things are going and signing your copy of Death Magnetic! We'll have a full 90 mins. to hang out before we have to go to Berlin and get ready for Friday's next level shenanigans.
"For directions and other information, check out www.gufmusik.dk.
"Hope to see you there!"
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64 Comments on "Metallica Posts All Of 'Death Magnetic' Online"
Member
2. writes:
Awesome, this ranks as my 4th favorite Metallica Album.
RTL
KEA
MOP
DM
AJFA
Black
Load
Reload
Anger
The only song I cannot get into is Cyanide. Highlights on this album for me are:
"This was just your life"
"The Day that never comes"
"All Nightmare Long"
"My Apocolypse"
"Broken, Beat and Scarred"
"The End of the Line"
Excellent. Metallica has yet again refined the sound of Metal, keeping true to thrash elements, but introducing a new modern sound. Can't stop listening to it.
Senior News Correspondent
Member
Member
5. writes:
this would have made a great followup to Justice if it were actually recorded, produced, mastered, and mixed well. this is some of the worst production from a signed band i've ever heard. it violates all the basic laws of recording 101: clipping is BAD, very bad especially in the digital realm. this is also probably the LOUDEST metal record i've ever heard. RMS is between -6.5 and -7.5 depending on the song and at which point in the song. most metal albums RMS is between -12 and -10. it literally hurts my ears to listen to this album for more than 5 minutes. the songs themselves aren't too bad, as i said it would have made a great album to follow up the black album or justice. honestly i prefer st. anger's RAW production over this mess. you want to turn up an album not down. that's the effect this had on my ears. it also needs more low end and high end or less mids.
Supporter
Supporter
Member
8. writes:
I think it's pretty good, actually! The only thing I disagree with is, it seems that everyone hates Cyanide, but I don't understand why! I think it's got some of the best riffs on the entire album. Personally, if I had to list them in the order I like them, it'd be like this:
All Nightmare Long
Cyanide
The End Of The Line (thankfully, they didn't pitch that intro from 'the other new song')
That Was Just Your Life
My Apocalypse
The Day That Never Comes
Judas Kiss
Broken Beat & Scarred
Unforgiven 3
Suicide & Redemption
I know, I know, how can a Metallica fan like the instrumental the least? I don't know. It sounds more thrown ogether than anything, but in short, I'm not at all disappointed. I've heard people say it sounds like AJFA/Black album, but I think it's more along the lines of Black Album/Load. I don't want to decry it right away, seeing as I haven't yet heard the actual retail copy of it, so I can't trust the mix of it that I have. I think the copy I heard had a volume equalization with lots of bass boost on it. I hope that this isn't the best Rick Rubin could do. Plus, it kind of sounds like these guys had Guitar Hero in mind before they even wrote the songs. The solos in TDTNC sound like they were actually written FOR Guitar Hero. Disturbing.
But, yeah, I mean, Jason Newstead isn't going to be gnashing his teeth or anything, seeing as this is probably the best we're going to get from them this day and age.
I will be listening to this album for a while to come. It's already got more play just in this past week than United Abominations ever did! And I've always been a huge Megadeth fan. How weird is that? I say "bravo". A job well done.
Former Contributor
9. writes:
Me and a friend scoured the record stores last night but no-one was doing a big midnight opening like they did for Tool! Meh, I'll have the album in my grubby mitts in about 4 hours - It's the 12 in NZ!
Oh and from what I've heard zMETALlica, I'd agree the production is not great. Mids - wtf!?!
10. writes:
First of all to post 5... i have always found that i need to EQ an album to different or better than production because the engineer is listening to the music through the most expensive equipment money can buy. I have the exact same feeling about "And Justice for All', it's too much for cheap speakers. A nice 12 band EQ can make any song sound good to you, get a better receiver maybe something from sherwood, or onkyo and some really top end Cerwin Vega speakers. If you have high end equipment then you already know this. This is once more their best record today. I LIKE THEM ALL!!!
Member
11. writes:
Don't get me wrong I LOVE METALLICA no matter what!!!
It was good, but I'm getting an "ify" sort of feeling...maybe because it's new to me; some things just don't sink in until I actually sit and listen to something I don't understand a few times. (I previewed it fairly quickly)
Overall the album sounds good,I like what I hear but I'm gonna continue to wait til I have the album in my hands. On a critical note, the song The Unforgiven 3 was good, but it didn't 'hit me' in the emotional way that I was hoping for...once I again, it might get to me later...
I gotta get this album! :)
12. writes:
It's not bad. Not a return to the 80's but that bridge is burned. Still it's a good album and I will be picking it up.
And post 5: pul-eeze. Your "knowledge" is only overshadowed by your stupidity. No one cares how much you and your unsigned crap band pretends to know about recording. Go back to your mom's garage and pretend you're Metallica, or Amon Amarth, or Slayer or any other metal band that you wish you could be. Oh and get a better system and good speakers and you might like some stuff more. Dumbass.
Member
Member
Founder, owner & programmer
15. writes:
Man, AJFA has some bad muddy production. I mean it was the first to have some good deep bass, but compared to good production, it was very muddy and too low. I have a few albums that are obviously recorded too loud. The last few Vader albums and Himsa was way loud. I like to listen to music at the limit of my tolerance on my car stereo and I always have to turn these down a couple notches. I can't imagine the new Metallica being so bad, but I would have never imagined the disaster that was St. Anger either. I guess I'll find out soon enough.
Former Contributor
16. writes:
Hmmm I never got the AJFA thing, I love that album to pieces, who needs bass :P I remember the first time I listened to Darkthrone in my car, just sounded like a bunch of static haha.
Just listening to the album now.... verdict is... pretty average, below expectation. Maybe I'll go listen to United Abomination haha. But seriously, production annoys me and James's voice is shot to hell. The songs aren't too bad, in fact some of these riffs would slot awesomely into AJFA with James's old voice over the top. Oh well, the wait for Cynic's new album begins!
Now Playing: Metallica - "Suicide & Redemption"
Former Contributor
17. writes:
Member
18. writes:
Overall the album is actually quite good, sounds like an album that could have been made between AJFA and Black. the only song that strikes you as bad is the instrumental Suicide & Redemption. I got the feeling that they were trying too hard to get that thrashy sound, and that made the song sound very emotionless. Although over all good the instrumental lets it down, and some songs lack the rhythmic parts that James could once write, But as stated above the biggest let down is Kirk's solos. They could be described as horrible compared to their older stuff, and sound like they were added there for guitar hero.
19. writes:
Of course the first and last songs are the best like their last few albums. Much like their last few albums I prolly wouldn't own this if it weren't Metallica, but I will still pick it up eventually. But man, if they had a better drummer would the album be better? That drummer they have is just lazy. Or do I listen to too much death metal and just expect too much out of my drummers?
Member
20. writes:
" citrus_tea writes:
^^zM Given the producers credentials I find this really hard to believe. Do you have the CD?" - i'll say that this was exactly what i was worried about happening when i heard Rick Ruban was producing this. The last few records he did were waay too loud that they distorted. listen to the last two red hot chili peppers, system of a down, etc. they all are extremely loud and distort at times, but this new metallica is so bad that it's constant. as far as owning it? hell no, I downloaded a legit lossless rip online (and i checked it out). it sounds better than whats posted online, but still is crap.
Jennythesaint: I went to an audio school and have professional studio monitors (aka speakers). I record bands at professional studios, do live sound at 500+ capacity venues, and work for metal underground. what do you do?
in hell you will know me: I use studio quality speakers that give a flat response, the problem with that high end gear is that they'll make ANYTHING sound awesome, which sure is good to mask poor production and make the awesome music sound even better. I also did mess with some mastering EQ plugins and it didn't help enough because the master is so freaking loud that changing the EQ won't help the volume enough. remember there are two things you can't get rid of once it's in a recording: distortion and compression. this record has both.
I will also say that I don't think I know everything about this stuff as I'm still learning (always will), though I can certainly know more about this stuff than the average listener. I also appreciate in hell you will know me's post more than Jennythesaint's as it was NOT a personal attack for no reason.
I'll also say that my biggest 'beef' with justice production wise wasn't that it didn't have bass, but rather that the drums were extremely dry and had no life as a result. I'll definitely agree with cynic's comment too.
Member
21. writes:
I listened to the whole album last night. The only song I wasn't feeling so much was the unforgiven 3. There was no need for that. Other then that awesome f***ing album. Best album since the black album. As far as I am concerned metallica have returned to form!
Member
22. writes:
I admit, I am that bitter ex-girlfriend. I was so disappointed with St. Anger. SO. DISAPPOINTED. I was even more disappointed when Some Kind of Monster came out and for a long time I couldn't speak about Metallica with some sort of snark being there. Guilty as charged and I know a legion of people know exactly what I am talking about here. Death Magnetic didn't have my hopes high. I'm a traditional girl and I love Metallica of the 80's. I listened to Death Magnetic and was happy it wasn't the disaster that St. Anger was. But was hoping they would revisit their earlier roots a little more. You can definitely tell which songs they tried to make radio ready for more than rock and metal stations - which is what cyanide screams to me.
23. writes:
you guys shouldnt judge the production so fast. I just recieved the new album in 320 Kbit quality emailed to me by missionmetallica site and it sounds better i think. The earlier songs like the day that never comes, My apocalypse and Cyanide that were released on mission metallica as free mp3 downloads were much better quality than anything on Youtube and other sites and even those songs were only 256 kbit. Compared to the 320 the 320 sounds better obviously and i think the druming isnt as load in the 320 for sure. I dont know...u guys take a listen when you get the album. By the way the I love the new album. It really grew on me. I found the more I listened to it the more vintage 80's it sounded to me. In the beginning it sounded new but for example, hearing songs like that was just your life at certain points i thought i was listening to blackened....gave me the same feeling
24. writes:
Also can someone tell me what lazy drumming sounds like? What does that mean? Can you hear him yawning in the songs while he's drumming? I dont get it. I mean call me the average listener but I dont understand what lazy drumming sounds like especially since the drumming is so fast on alot of the songs on the album. It sounds to me that there is a lot of overanalyzing going on here and not enough of taking it for what it is. I dont know what you guys are hearing in the drumming but it must take some sort of sixth sense to hear it and if it does the average fan (like 98 percent of us) dont hear it and dont care even if its not a figment of your imagination and it does happen to exist. Maybe you guys are refering to the drumming arrangement, i think thats the proper term, dont you think they would make lars do it over again if it wasnt rite until they get it perfect. The way the drums sound is not just lars decision. Its the decision of the whole band and the producers. If they collectively agree that the drums should sound a certain way, im pretty damn sure they are capable of achieving that sound, theyre professionals. So if it doesnt sound good to a few people here and there, its not because lars is a bad drummer. The sound of the drumming was a collective decision. I think metallica is easilly the most overanalyzed band out there by far! Yeah so someone please explain to me what lazy drumming sounds like? Im not trying to talk sh** or anything....i would just sincerely like to know!
Member
25. writes:
It's not 1988 anymore...what your witnessing is a band that helped define a genre then, do it again now. I'm not even seeing the AJFA/Black combo stuff. I'm seeing basic thrash elements, with styles on this album that hit on 80's/90's Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth - but in a NEW modern format. I think it's great. It sounds great, it's fresh, and it gets BETTER with each listen, which is more than what I can say about anything since AJFA.
Trust me, I'm a fanatic for my 80's thrash...but I can appreciate something new, fresh and still TRUE to the 80's idea's that Metallica once helped create. Buy this album - it IS the best album of 2008.
To appreciate this thing, some people need to appreciate what year it is, how times have changed, etc. It's all good man, it's all good.
Member
29. writes:
Whoa, so many Jennys out there besides me...that's weird but whatever. :)
I have nothing against anybody, and the album sounds OK. zMETALlica has the right to express whatever he wants due to the fact that he has the knowledge AND experience to back up his critique from a professional standpoint. Thanks for the extra info man! ^_^
Member
Member
Member
32. writes:
I know, it's like everyone assumes that when they read some information they are not aware of, they think the other person is making an attempt to be smart: I could never grasp why people do that. Thanx for taking notice of my post. :)
I'm thinking of getting the album...I just wish The Unforgiven 3 could have had more of an impact, and the solos are weird to me...?
Former Contributor
33. writes:
I'll admit, I don't know much about production - but I don't need to. I have ears. All I know is I listened to Death Magnetic through, and then started listening to United Abominations. And I liked the way United Abominations sounded. Don't think I'll give Death Magnetic many spins, in the end life's too short to waste listening to average music.
Now Playing: Sunn O))) - "My Wall"
Former Contributor
34. writes:
"My Apocalypse" and "Suicide and Redemption" make this album. Their best music since Black and AJFA. Tracks 1 and 5 were also quite strong. Going to buy it tonight.
"Unforgiven III" sounds like a Frankenstein's monster of decayed "Fade to Black" and the "Unforgiven (1)" parts ...Track 2 and 4 also felt very patched together. Lars to James: "Lets take this heavy part, this somber, melodic part and these kicks and blamo!....New Metallica!"
Lyrics were hit and miss, which I was ready for...Nothing near-poetic like "Lightning"-"AJFA" but little of it was flinch inducing.
Production is neither as strong as I had hoped or as dismal as I expected--poor by what should be epic Metallica standards...but more than passable. I can discern everything and Lars sounds almost as robust and clear as Black. Very happy with the drum sound--maybe just because I still hear the "turn signal" snare in my nightmares.
Performance-wise...Whats to say...this album is their strongest since 1990, handily. Kirk has a voice and I don't mean crummy backing vocals. Rob got to put some new blood into the once anemic beast and James and Lars have snapped out of following the current trend.
It's not great or even classic, but it is quite good. Lively even...Like seeing a friend you havent seen in ages.
3.5 outta 5.
"Welcome Home" Metallica.
Member
35. writes:
Jenny: i can't really grasp why people do it either, but they seem to be rampant on the internet.
Remember metal: nice short little review. I'd probably give it a 3 out of 5. mainly because the production really got on my nerves. I'll agree with everything else you said though.
36. writes:
Oh my god, would you listen to most of you? wah production was bad, wah, it hurts my ears its so loud, shut the f*** up!!! First of all this is an awesome album, its marks the return of METALLICA. 2nd post 5 if it's to loud, your to old dipsh**. and finally this was a huge eyeopener to what metallica can do, i mean great lyrics, great solos and most of all they worked together and made a great album. Much better than anything from bleeding through or as i lay crying and bands of that sort. This is an huge middlefinger right to the face of the world and the message behind it is... YOU CAN"T f***ING STOP THE METAL
Podcaster, Writer
37. writes:
To zMETALlica:
I agree with the fact that metal albums are getting bad with their volumes these days, and the loudness war has been going on for some time now. Have you tried to listen to it on anything else? I only use my monitors at the studio for recording and separate monitors for mastering. I don't feel as though casual listening is worthy for studio monitors as they are not made to be pushed like that.
I can totally see where you are coming from though, as I listen to it through my monitors as well. However, I listened to it in the car and it sounds great. Remember, It's not common place to use studio monitors for casual listening especially with metal music. I also think Rick Rubin knew this and did what a lot of producers do, which is push this for the standard demographic of people who are just listening to this on regular stereos. It sucks when your using your engineer ears to listen because you can always find flaws. With me personally, I cannot even listen to anything out of Studio Fredman these days because it's so ridiculously loud.
It's nice to see someone else on here with the same views as myself, if you ever want to bullsh** about recording or what not let me know!
Supporter
Reviewer
40. writes:
death magnetic was alright. it had some nuggets on it, but i dont buy the riffs they ripped from themselves. i thought the lyrics and song titles were pretty bland. james' has no voice left...though i think he's always wanted to be a singer like d***inson, but he's never had that kind of voice. there were also too many moments where the timing sounded off. i didnt care for the production either.
41. writes:
I don't think I've ever been so p***ed off about a Metallica album. The creative side of the album is great! Lyrics, drumming, riffs - it's all there! AND IT'S DISTORTED/CLIPPED AS F***!
I won't buy this album. I'll just wait for live versions of these songs for my listening enjoyment. If I was deaf and dumb, I'd happily jam this repeatedly. Unfortunately, my discerning ears can't take this oversaturated/distorted noise. I swear to GOD St. Anger sounds 100x better production-wise. What a shame...
Former Contributor
42. writes:
Yeah it really is a shame - hope they release some demo tracks, they might actually sound ok! That was like with St Anger, I enjoyed the DVD of them rehearsing a lot more than the album. "My Apocalypse" is a great track though, it's the only one where Hetfield's singing is really hitting the nail
"So we cross that line
Into the crypt!
Total eclipse!"
Member
43. writes:
to post 39
the napster thing was that a song was leaked before the album was done, and that song was related to a high budget film. In this case the album was done, and metallica did release songs before the ablum was leaked so they didnt care as much. Adn also its a different thing if U are giving YOUR stuff away, than some1 stealing it and selling it
Member
44. writes:
Alright I got the album as a gift and here is what I think about it. First I despise everything from load to St-anger. that doesn't take anything away from what they did before but what they did and how they acted was f***ing bull crap. I was amongst the Metallica haters because they just sucked huge donkey balls.
Now on another post I told a guy who was angry at me because I was so mean to Metallica that if I liked the next album or it was good I would be there to tell him and everybody that I like it and that I am stoked about it. Since I am an honest person, I really like this album. no it's not the greatest Metallica album but it is pretty solid with very great guitar riffs and solos. I love it and I think they did a great job on it.
So I think they deserve to be told...after all the sh** I said on them ( I still think that Load, Reload and St-Anger were a disgrace and some kind of monster a homo dvd)
Supporter
Member
46. writes:
red i think that might have been me that you were talking about in your post lol, and i wasn't especially angry, just frustrated at the people who judged the album before it was relelased. anyways, that's all over now. i bought the album, i think it's really awesome, best metallica for 20 years. they've redeemed themselves after St. Thing...
Former Contributor
Member
50. writes:
Pretty good album, I'd give it a 4 out of 5.
The recording quaility on the other hand, is really hard to tolerate. zMETALlica hit the nail on the head in saying that the album is overdriven and oversaturated. I bought the CD and I have listened to it on several sound systems in the past few days... it sounds clipped, overdriven, and oversaturated on everything. If you can't hear it, you shouldn't be sharing your opinion because you're clearly deaf.
As further proof, there is a petition going on here that already has 2200+ signatures asking for the album to be re-mastered and re-released. http://www.gopetition.com/online/21800.html
Member
Former Contributor
54. writes:
It's on every torrent out there, called "Better, Shorter, Cutted" - but note that I have the album so I don't particularly consider this illegal ;) And there are still gripes I'd have with it too, but it's an improvement.
Now Playing: Faith No More - "As The Worm Turns"
55. writes:
Metallica SUCKS!!!!!! They've SUCKED ever since Load, & Re-Load!!! They oughtta' just give it up. I was a HUGE Metallica fan from 86' til about 94'. Now everything they do sounds LAME!!! Enough already. &... LARS is an ass-hole!!! Things he & even James have said about Jason Newsted??? What B.S. f*** em' All!!!
Founder, owner & programmer
56. writes:
Definitely over amped/oversaturated. I like some of the songs, but not the entire album. But this album ranks up with the worst of them being recorded too loud. Did someone tell Metallica that LOUD would make them sound heavier? Or did they tell Rubin that? I can't believe such experienced musicians could make such a poor decision on the production...
Member
57. writes:
it's definitely a lot better than many people expected it would be... the worst part is the production... it is muffled and staticy.The music sounds forced and disjointed, and the lyrics are embarrassingly poor.
No single song is memorable enough for me to be excited about putting it on my player, or listening to it again. But again better than expected!
Former Contributor
58. writes:
It really is astounding to me that one of the biggest bands on the planet could have anything less than perfect production. To many yes men? Maybe Metallica just told Rubin they wanted it their way, because all in all it sounds a stones throw away from St. Anger.
Member
Reviewer
64. writes:
Anyone who wants to hear an example of bad clipping/distortion/over-compression on Death Magnetic go straight to the last section of 'The Day That Never Comes'. I didnt hear it until I listened to it in a quiet envoronment on a decent stereo (previoously I onlu heard in the car in heavy traffic). The distortion is very noticeable and mindboggling considering the money behind it. The mastering engineer is quoted online as being embarassed that his name is associated with the job. Apparantly the distortion and clipping was done in the mix prior to mastering which means a remaster will not solve the sound. A complete remix would be very expensive and unlikely which is a pity as a complete remix would make this album much better. Overall it is the best thing they've done since AJFA - some great tracks and nice riffs but the biggest dissapointment is Kirks solos. If in doubt A/B any solo off this album with any solo from AJAK, MOP, RTL or KE - there is simply no comparison. I think Kirk is a great guitarist but the solos sound like he was handed his guitar and told to shred franticaly over a backing he never heard or had time to think about. With the exception of the solo in the first track, The Day That Never Comes and the end of the instrumental the solos are piss poor. Re the instrumental... I thought is was missed opportunity. Nice riffs and drumming (I though Lars sounded good throughout - solid rhythms and lacking the bullsh** triggers so many drummer rely on) but it is so damn repetitive - it sounds like they just muted the vocals at the last minute. The solo break is good and original, one of the few good pieces of lead on here, still nothing like the solos from their past. Its not a bad track but its just nowhere near same league as To Live is To Die, Orion, Call of Ktulu.
Overall I like the music on this album but the production is very poor. I had never heard of the noise wars before now but this album was like a rude awakening.
Overall 3.5 out of 5.
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1. Kanadian KoRn writes:
im confused, are they not against downloading? it says nothing about it at all in the article. what the hell!