It’s official. September 12. Fall 2008. Death Magnetic. Brand new Metallica.
Hearing the new album title is much like learning the title of the newest Harry Potter months in advance so as to ponder its contents. “Death Magnetic” does not fit linguistically with the previous albums, “old” and “new.” It’s not a phrase, like “Ride The Lightning” or “…And Justice For All.” It’s not a double entendre, like “Load” or “ReLoad.” It’s most god-lovedly not a deity or a revamped city name like “St. Anger,” …at least let’s hope to Christ it’s not. “Death Magnetic” is something new.
There is one HUGE and GOOD significantly different aspect of this album. Rick Rubin holds the responsibility of producing it. You know Rick Rubin. I know you do. He’s responsible for some of the most amazing albums put out by a small army of bands…including Slayer, The Mars Volta, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Public Enemy, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, Johnny Cash, and Slipknot, for God’s sake.
For those that don’t know, the original Metallica producer was Paul Curcio for Kill ‘Em All. Flemming Rasmussen took the reigns from Ride The Lightning to ‘Justice. Rasmussen basically just gave Metallica freedom in the studio and let them do what they did naturally. From there, the infamous Bob Rock took the artisic overseeing helm of Producer/Desecrater/Manipulator/Shit-Tizer-Of Metallica. He brought the market to the eyes of the then up-and-coming metal gods. He took the “fuck you, mainstream” vibe of Metallica’s natural sound and threw it a bit by adding none other than…a mainsteam vibe. Metallica hit sextuple platinum record sales with the new sound and decided to stick with it. Thank you Bob Fucking Rock. They guys haven’t been the same since.
It’s not like they never tried to change that. After the departure of Jason Newsted in 2000 and the battle with Napster by drummer Lars Ulrich, therapy was what Metallica thought they needed. They also made the…new age?… decision to let their therapy be filmed. While interesting to see a rich megaband’s weakest moments and commemorate the balls (or lack of, however you respond to it) of the band to allow it, it was a snuffing glimpse for many metal-heads. The horrendous result of the therapy sessions was none other than the bathroom break of St. Anger that knocked even die-hards to their fuckin’ knees.
Rick Rubin’s utter wonder of a history in music suggests good things not only could be but should be in store for the new album. Surely Rubin knocked some sense back into the aging metal legends, right? The rumors are that Metallica is bringing it back to the old-school on this new album. This could be from the leadings-on that Rubin is doing much the same type of overseeing that Rasmussen did; letting Metallica do their thing…not allowing a sweater-donned therapist tell a metal band how to create. Let’s all hope for the love of hope itself that that is the case.
If Death Magnetic kicks some old-school ass, it could be a new beginning for Metallica. If it’s another shit-sandwich, a term Ulrich is fond of using, it’ll probably be the last thing we’ll ever hear from the metal behemoth.
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Oh Burton, Where Art Thou?
Off to a good start
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Comment by daniel — August 12, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
At what point does a band become too old for this? Metallica’s been around nearly 30 years, James Hetfield has got to be close to 50 by now. Metal really requires a certain virility to be worth a damn, if you don’t have it, it seems a little sad, like musicians in a mid-life crisis. Look at the Stooges’ most recent album. Iggy Pop is the essence of virility, but the album seemed like an attempt to squeeze out more dollars from their work. They had no inspiration or passion on the album. Separated from their previous work, parts of it seemed downright creepy. Now, Metallica may well be able to pull off the aging rocker bit. But I don’t think history’s on their side.