Nick Mockoviak reviews Metallica's "Death Magnetic"

I'll try to not rehash anything that's been said already, but will in most cases.

Got the digital download of Death Magnetic and it sounds great. Much tighter and crisper then the downloads from Mission: Metallica.

So, on with the review...

That Was Just Your Life

When I first heard the heart beat and the guitars, I had to double check that this was Metallica I was listening to. When the main riff kicks in and the band goes for the jugular, there is no letting up from Metallica. The vocal melody almost floats above the instruments but it sinks in like teeth into succulent meat. Well-realized song; a 10/10.

The End of The Line

Reincarnated from the ashes of the "new song" from 2006, this one really surprised me. Well designed and crafted, this if anything shows how with time Metallica can nurture an okay song into something great. 9/10.

Broken, Beat & Scarred

Took me some time in adjusting to the track, but it's a fairly straightforward song that lyrically and conceptually could be related to "2 x 4". It certainly does have a funk aspect to it that just gets you going and stays on course throughout its duration. 8/10

The Day That Never Comes

Epic and dark comes to mind when I hear this song. A song structured in classic Metallica fashion cradled with subject matter akin to anything written in the 1980's. I actually enjoyed the slow half of the song as opposed to the back half of speed metal; it seemed a bit too all over the place. In any case, "The Day" is all eras of Metallica rolled into an epic song, an 8.5/10.

All Nightmare Long

Wasn't too keen on the song name, but damn it does steamroller over you with riffs and extraordinary guitar work. Also great to see how the recycled staccato riff from the "new song" fits so well in this song, a 10/10.

Cyanide

Compared to the rest of the album, this may be the weakest song if for no other reason than that it's not quite as dense. That still doesn't stop me from loving it, as the chorus was the first thing I heard from the Mission: Metallica trailers back in May and its so damn catchy. Also enjoy the slow middle section; just never envisioned them belonging to the same song. A 7.5/10.

The Unforgiven III

Easily the second proper single from the album, this song took a few listens to wrap around, but when it did, it didn't let me go. The vocal pattern on the chorus threw me off a bit, but I love the way James sings on this song. The lyrics personally resonates with me; the metaphor of a ship lost at sea may be too literal at first for some. But it does tie into the idea of the other "Unforgivens": making decisions on false assumptions that change your life and end up not forgiven. 9/10.

The Judas Kiss

An 8-minute pummeler that will be an instant live classic. Another frontrunner as a proper single, the combination of carefully molded music with in-your-face lyrics makes this a Metallica essential. 10/10.

Suicide & Redemption

The most linear of Metallica's instrumentals, when I first heard it it sounded ham-fisted and not quite on the same scale as their other works. However, with multiple listens, the main riff just drives this song and pretty much stays on track. Good to see Lars with a "drum solo" in there. 7.5/10.

My Apocalypse

Pure thrash metal-short, simple, and to the point. Not much in multiple riffs and flavors like the other songs, but then again it doesn't need to be. Unapologetic for what it is, "My Apocalypse" sits next to "Whiplash" as a long-lost brother. 9/10.