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. ChrisF.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    Good stuff! Makes me forgive St. Anger.
  2. MarkM.
    Sep 13, 2008
    9
    Thank you Rick Rubin for freeing Kirk Hammett--his solos have been sorely missed.
  3. AliM.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    Metallica's best work in 17 years!!!!!!!
  4. AlejandroC.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    a remarkable return to form. this album is a shot in the arm for old school Metallica fans who were convinced it could never happen like this again. It has. Thank You Rick Rubin. Thank You Metallica.
  5. MarioD.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    Damn good songs.
  6. whiplash
    Sep 13, 2008
    9
    Big dose of metal. Actually the biggest since the 80's. This album is their best since AJFA. Great job Metallica!
  7. Talos
    Sep 13, 2008
    9
    Epic riffs. Strong performance from James and Kirk goes ballistic. Energetic and brutal album which sounds like the band is having fun again. Best album since AJFA.
  8. MyBusiness
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    The best Metallica album for 20 years. Awesome.
  9. MehdiM.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    It fucking rocks the hell out of all metallica hater. It's amazing, fabulous, fantastic. Long Live Metallica !!!
  10. StephenF.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    A punch in the ribs. Thats how it feels to hear the new metallica effort. A true return to form and (finally) another 'proper' metallica album to stand up alongside Puppets Lightning and Justice. ANY fan of heavy metal needs to own this album, just like they do Metallica's Master of Puppets, Machine Head's The Blackening and Megadeth's Rust In Peace. A modern and A punch in the ribs. Thats how it feels to hear the new metallica effort. A true return to form and (finally) another 'proper' metallica album to stand up alongside Puppets Lightning and Justice. ANY fan of heavy metal needs to own this album, just like they do Metallica's Master of Puppets, Machine Head's The Blackening and Megadeth's Rust In Peace. A modern and future classic.… Expand
  11. JohannesP.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    Very good album, and there isn't any filler songs!
  12. MikeD.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    Incredible album. Start to finish, all quality songs. It has a new style but it rocks! Haven't stopped listening to it since I bought it. Album of the year!
  13. RonL.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    Total kick A$$ album, get this disc, it will be the best album easily this year
  14. ShivR.
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    A Metallica classic. Features an immense opener, scorching Instrumental and two of the best songs Metallica have ever done; All Nightmare Long and The Judas Kiss.
  15. Tom
    Sep 13, 2008
    8
    Some people are saying it almost has a St.Anger feeling, while it might, it's a lot more completed Metallica sound than their more recent albums. The whole album meshes really well from one song to another, I'd say this is a hit.
  16. Kumar
    Sep 13, 2008
    10
    Metallica come out swinging on this album. While I have been and will always be a Metallica fan, be it Reload or St. Anger, this album should and will make the old school thrasher fans to go rummaging through their wardrobe to find their old Metallica T-shirt so they can wear it again with pride while listening to Death Magnetic on their iPods with a sneer (and a smile) on their faces. Metallica come out swinging on this album. While I have been and will always be a Metallica fan, be it Reload or St. Anger, this album should and will make the old school thrasher fans to go rummaging through their wardrobe to find their old Metallica T-shirt so they can wear it again with pride while listening to Death Magnetic on their iPods with a sneer (and a smile) on their faces. Four thumbs way up!!… Expand
  17. BrianF.
    Sep 14, 2008
    9
    The album does not disappoint me in any way. Great riffs and solos. The only thing lacking is the drums.
  18. kaliss
    Sep 14, 2008
    8
    decent mix of old and new styles thrown onto "justicey" arrangements. this album does not redefine the metal genre but is very enjoyable. it seems to take the 'and justice for all' formula and make it more radio friendly. something like a missing link between justice and the black album but also combines the best elements of the newer material. production is a bit on the raw decent mix of old and new styles thrown onto "justicey" arrangements. this album does not redefine the metal genre but is very enjoyable. it seems to take the 'and justice for all' formula and make it more radio friendly. something like a missing link between justice and the black album but also combines the best elements of the newer material. production is a bit on the raw side and the audio clipping is a tad bit annoying. would've liked the production to blend justice and black album techniques to further compliment its the music. overall taking into consideration their age and where they're at in their careers, this is a very honest and genuine sounding album and it is what they ought to sound like at this stage of their lives. thankfully they're not trying to sound like and keep up with these newer metal acts who are still trying to pick apart old Metallica material. these new songs ought to be very fun and energetic when performed live.… Expand
  19. EliecerN.
    Sep 14, 2008
    9
    The music is excellent, but the production leaves a lot to be desired. Metallica did their homework, but not Rick Rubin. That´s why this album is not a 10.
  20. FrankR.
    Sep 14, 2008
    10
    This is the best album of 2008, and the best album Metallica have produced since "The Black Album".
  21. AlvaroL.
    Sep 14, 2008
    10
    Metallica is back. A very welcome return to their roots. That Was Just your Life is a killer opening track, solos are everywhere and they're pretty intense, Hammett style. This is definitely recommended to everyone wanting to get into Metallica, or to old fans who were lost during the Load/Reload/St Anger times. Definitely a worthy purchase.
  22. AaronK
    Sep 14, 2008
    9
    Once again, Pitchfork Media has made me laugh, by again, giving the lowest score to a Metallica album, twice in a row. It was ridiculous when it gave 2003's St.Anger an 8/100. Now, don't get me wrong, St.Anger was not a good record, but it didn't deserve an 8. In addition to that, the score that it gave to that album and this one was FAR below what every other critic gave Once again, Pitchfork Media has made me laugh, by again, giving the lowest score to a Metallica album, twice in a row. It was ridiculous when it gave 2003's St.Anger an 8/100. Now, don't get me wrong, St.Anger was not a good record, but it didn't deserve an 8. In addition to that, the score that it gave to that album and this one was FAR below what every other critic gave it. Pitchfork also says in their review that Death Magnetic is "essentially St. Anger with better riffs". Now tell me, in what damn way was this album ANYTHING like St. Anger. That album's theme was anger, this album's theme is death. St. Anger didn't have solos, this one does. St. Anger used different tuning, drums, and song structures than Death Magnetic. All in all, this shows how naive the critics at Pitchfork can be. Bias much as well?… Expand
  23. CathalH.
    Sep 14, 2008
    10
    Their best since "...And Justice For All" by a distance. This is the album Metallica fans have waited for for 20 years and it's bloody great!
  24. JohnF.
    Sep 15, 2008
    9
    Much better than i expected it. The opening track, "That was just your life" opens the album in the best possible way.
  25. RuudS.
    Sep 15, 2008
    9
    Fantastic "comeback" from the (re)load/st. anger era. lots of force in the songs. some tracks are utterly brilliant (especially cyanide and all nightmare long, which is, in my opinion, one of the best metal/rock songs of the year, if not the past few years). even though the songs are looooong, the don't really seem that way. unforgiven III seems a bit forced, but is a nice deviation Fantastic "comeback" from the (re)load/st. anger era. lots of force in the songs. some tracks are utterly brilliant (especially cyanide and all nightmare long, which is, in my opinion, one of the best metal/rock songs of the year, if not the past few years). even though the songs are looooong, the don't really seem that way. unforgiven III seems a bit forced, but is a nice deviation in the end. all in all, rock-solid album with it's share of fantastic tracks.… Expand
  26. SimonN.
    Sep 15, 2008
    9
    Best album by any artist since The Black Album in 91, without a doubt.
  27. 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
  28. SebastienF.
    Sep 16, 2008
    9
    Best album since the Black Album. Metallica's back baby !
  29. AaronL.
    Sep 16, 2008
    10
    F*ck the critics!! Metallica have just given the fans exactly what we wanted. They now have 4 great albums: RtL MoP AJFA DM.
  30. craigs.
    Sep 17, 2008
    8
    Throughout the 80's Metallica were the pioneers of thrash metal. They were a freight train of unrelenting speed and thought-provoking lyrics. Then in 1991, Metallica did something they always swore black and blue they would never do. They released "Metallica" aka the "Black" album and became a watered down, radio-friendly pop rock band. Gone were the 7-plus minute long tracks, one Throughout the 80's Metallica were the pioneers of thrash metal. They were a freight train of unrelenting speed and thought-provoking lyrics. Then in 1991, Metallica did something they always swore black and blue they would never do. They released "Metallica" aka the "Black" album and became a watered down, radio-friendly pop rock band. Gone were the 7-plus minute long tracks, one hundred mile an hour riffs and 10 minute long instrumentals. The latter having become a staple of every Metallica album. Following the release of "Load" I wrote Metallica off completely and branded them hypocrites. They became nothing more than Bon Jovi with slightly heavier guitars. Sure, this change in direction won them millions of new fans, but it lost them millions more of their long-time devoted ones. And the less said about St. Anger, the better. Then, when a mate of mine suggested that I should seriously consider picking up Metallica's latest "Death Magnetic" I was sceptical to say the least. So last week, I did something I haven't done in nearly 20 years. I added another Metallica album to my collection. Almost everything that I loved about the "old" Metallica has returned, long songs, intricate melodies, Hammett's electrifying solos and Hetfield's blistering riffs. Even the classic logo with the jagged "M" and"A" has returned. And last but not least, a ten minute instrumental. While not up to the standard of "Master" or "Lightning", it certainly has echoes of "And Justice". The songs are even structured in a very similar way. The opening track, "That Was Just Your Life" is much like "Blackened" "The Day That Never Comes" kind of like "One" and "My Apocalypse" sounds like "Dyer's Eve". There are a couple of tracks however, that feel as though they were written for "Load" or "Reload". "Cyanide", while being quite catchy, doesn't have as much punch as the rest of the album. And "The Unforgiven III" simply feels out of place. Hetfield has returned to his "Justice" sound vocally, but some of his lyrics are still stuck in the Load/Reload mindset. Lars' drumming is much more solid this time around and no longer sounds like he's bashing away on rubbish bins. Rob Trujillo, Jason Newstead's replacement, makes a fine debut with some chunky bass lines. And then there's Kirk Hammett. The master guitarist is back to what he does best. Solos. No-one rips it up like him. This is his best work since Kill 'Em All and that's all that needs to be said. So if you like your Metallica "old school" but wrote them off after the "black" album, give Death Magnetic a listen. It's not another Master Of Puppets, but it's definitely no St. Anger. And thank God for that.… Expand
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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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