Death Magnetic
by Metallica
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 715 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 578 out of 715
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 715
  3. Negative: 79 out of 715

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  1. Thenewone
    Dec 30, 2015
    8
    78 Reviews Hasty or just the reviser is very idiot... All nightmare long, The day that never comes, The judas kiss and the amazing instrumental Suicide & redemption is masterpieces of the new Metallica....
  2. DevinEYounanian
    Aug 21, 2016
    8
    Solid album! Really solid, especially after the disaster of St. Anger. Glad they went to their roots here. Not as good as their older stuff, but still very good and enjoyable.
  3. Dekielek112
    Feb 20, 2023
    8
    The production threw this album in the mud. I can't listen to the album on full volume due to the awful producer's work. Some parts of the songs sound either like a weak recording of a gig or a demo. But on the other hand, the songs are well made - the solos (though a bit overwahed), vocals (though a bit autotuned), and riffs are brilliant. It's definitely stronger than "Hardwired".
  4. MusicMaven
    Oct 7, 2008
    7
    It's a return to their hardcore, thrash-metal style, but without the superior songwriting of their 1980s albums. Several songs come close to matching those high standards, but the overly long album is burdened by too many rehashed riffs that they did better back in the day. The over-compressed mix doesn't help either. While it is their best since 1991, it is nowhere near their It's a return to their hardcore, thrash-metal style, but without the superior songwriting of their 1980s albums. Several songs come close to matching those high standards, but the overly long album is burdened by too many rehashed riffs that they did better back in the day. The over-compressed mix doesn't help either. While it is their best since 1991, it is nowhere near their best work overall.… Expand
  5. SimM.
    Oct 8, 2008
    7
    Metallica used to be my favorite band - when I heard this album was going to between MoP and Justice - I was out of mind excited. But unfortunately - I was very disappointed. Poor lyrics and solos for the sake of solos bring the album down. Not a single song would even make it as a filler song on Pre Black Album.
  6. CF
    Oct 11, 2008
    7
    The riffs remind me of Master of Puppets. Very good, but what happened to James voice? Either the recording sucks or his voice is shot. His voice sounded great until the load album, where he got a country twang. Then St Anger sounded like he was talking in a trash can. If his voice was better, I would have given it a 8. It would have only got a 10 if the songwriting was a bit better. The riffs remind me of Master of Puppets. Very good, but what happened to James voice? Either the recording sucks or his voice is shot. His voice sounded great until the load album, where he got a country twang. Then St Anger sounded like he was talking in a trash can. If his voice was better, I would have given it a 8. It would have only got a 10 if the songwriting was a bit better. Anyways, at least Metallica finally gets it...no goo album=no money. Make the next album with better song writing and a good voice we will have a 10.… Expand
  7. ChrisW.
    Sep 12, 2008
    7
    At least it's better than their last album.
  8. SimonG.
    Sep 15, 2008
    7
    So basically, according to most critics, in order to be good, Metallica have to redo the Black Album over and over. I don't understand this. They've been in the business for 30 years and they can't try anything new? U2 have never been blame for taking various avenues. Well, I guess it all comes down to personal tastes. I say this because I really enjoyed St-Anger. I taught So basically, according to most critics, in order to be good, Metallica have to redo the Black Album over and over. I don't understand this. They've been in the business for 30 years and they can't try anything new? U2 have never been blame for taking various avenues. Well, I guess it all comes down to personal tastes. I say this because I really enjoyed St-Anger. I taught it was a great album with a solid garage sound. The songs were memorable and well written. It seems like a lot of people have a grudge against Bob Rock. I don't. So I wasn't waiting for Metallica's come back, because to me they never left. Now to Death Magnetic, while it's a great album, I don't understand where Rick Ruben did so much better than Bob Rock. The sound is still solid and sound a lot more like a studio album. Not a bad thing. I just don't see yet how the songs differentiate from each other. So far it all sounds like a 60 minutes long song after a few listening, which wasn… Expand
  9. NeilS
    Sep 18, 2008
    7
    So it's finally here...the album meant to resurrect the career of (arguably) the world's most famous metal band. And the record succeeds in doing that - reminding us of the band's ability to create bone-crunching and mind-numbing heavy metal. But unlike their first few records, 'Death Magnetic' doesn't strike a chord with it's listeners. Don't know So it's finally here...the album meant to resurrect the career of (arguably) the world's most famous metal band. And the record succeeds in doing that - reminding us of the band's ability to create bone-crunching and mind-numbing heavy metal. But unlike their first few records, 'Death Magnetic' doesn't strike a chord with it's listeners. Don't know what I mean? Listen to some of their tracks like 'One', 'Nothing Else Matters' or even 'Call of Ktulu' (if you haven't a thousand times before). Surprisingly, 'Unforgiven III' is the only track that's reminiscent of their glorious past. I'll grant one thing though, 'Death Magnetic' makes us forget 'St. Anger', and that in itself is a great achievement for the band.… Expand
  10. DaveL.
    Sep 19, 2008
    7
    I can't see how so many people have rated this a 10, it's not bad, not bad at all considering there last effort, but its not Master of Puppets, Black, live pinge and purge type stuff, Makes me wonder what these people rate there older stuff then.. Its Good but just not that good, but still nice to hear a bit of the old Metallica in there, just not as much as an old Metallica fan I can't see how so many people have rated this a 10, it's not bad, not bad at all considering there last effort, but its not Master of Puppets, Black, live pinge and purge type stuff, Makes me wonder what these people rate there older stuff then.. Its Good but just not that good, but still nice to hear a bit of the old Metallica in there, just not as much as an old Metallica fan would like to hear.. Good effort guys, but some beery magic and a garage is deffently needed... Metal up ya ****.… Expand
  11. LouieF
    Sep 21, 2009
    7
    Reading some of the highest rating reviews and lowest, I can see where certain points from each are valid in my opinion. From the higher: Death Magnetic at times sounds like an evolution from the Black Album, with monster riffs and lyrics that are well thought out. The return of Kirks' solos are welcome in hindsight to St. Anger. From the lower: The vocals are vibrato ridden and a Reading some of the highest rating reviews and lowest, I can see where certain points from each are valid in my opinion. From the higher: Death Magnetic at times sounds like an evolution from the Black Album, with monster riffs and lyrics that are well thought out. The return of Kirks' solos are welcome in hindsight to St. Anger. From the lower: The vocals are vibrato ridden and a flashback to the Load/Reload era, something that I believe Death Magnetic was hoping to differentiate itself from. Many songs sound like a long jam session, for example "The Day That Never Comes". Last but not least the solos are not very Metallica-like in my opinion. They seem to challenge the riffs and might be thought of more as leads, and not enhance the music like the solos from previous albums (ex. Master Of Puppets). All in all a decent album worth a listen that tries to recapture all the heaviness, anger and musicianship of earlier Metallica albums, but falls slightly short of its mark.… Expand
  12. DanM.
    Sep 19, 2008
    7
    Their stongest album in years! But, if only they cared about quality control and caught the obvious song issues prior to mastering the CD they would do better. How many albums are they going to sell once people find out they are buying a very poor sound quality CD in 2008!
  13. WeaselSlayer
    Nov 2, 2011
    7
    The album is impressive, I must say. I'm a huge Metallica fan and my "fandom" had been fading, but for awhile they brought me back with Death Magnetic. However, I must say the songs lost their luster after a good amount of listens and it turned into an album that I can really only listen to while driving or occupying myself with other things. It's just not an album I can sit and listen to,The album is impressive, I must say. I'm a huge Metallica fan and my "fandom" had been fading, but for awhile they brought me back with Death Magnetic. However, I must say the songs lost their luster after a good amount of listens and it turned into an album that I can really only listen to while driving or occupying myself with other things. It's just not an album I can sit and listen to, much like Kill 'Em All. It's a good, fun album, though, and it has me very interested to see what Metallica comes up with next.… Expand
  14. godwinkent888
    Mar 27, 2014
    7
    This is amazing. Metallica still hasn't lost its flair after some disappointments. I love how they returned to their old style of music but they added a little bit of a modern twist to it.
  15. Monkeywash
    Nov 16, 2014
    7
    Metallica tries to re-create 80's magic and succeeds to some extent. Death Magnetic is a solid album but if you are a lifelong Metallica fan like myself it will be hard not to hear the materials as a musical mid-life crisis.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed Album of 2008
15
#15 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Sometimes the album's mini-epics come off as we've still got it! stunts. But when it's working, the effect is like ceding your senses to a particularly well-engineered roller coaster in the dark.
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  2. Pitchfork
    49
    The best ones spit in the face of death; this album instead finds aging men trying to reclaim their youth.
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  3. Rolling Stone
    80
    The musicianship feels thrillingly live throughout, and nimble new bassist Robert Trujillo helps, even though he's mostly heard as a distant, ominous rumble.
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