Hardwired...To Self-Destruct
by Metallica
  • Record Label: Rhino
  • Release Date: Nov 18, 2016
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 29
  3. Negative: 1 out of 29
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  1. Record Collector
    Jan 26, 2017
    60
    Hardwired is a slightly less gripping version of the same, as is Moth Into Flame. There’s some sweet doom in the form of Dream No More, an obvious Sabbath homage, and a nod to their late mentor Lemmy with Murder One. In between, we’re treated to a lot of mid-tempo plodding.
  2. No Ripcord
    Nov 30, 2016
    60
    It's too long, with too many tracks that go nowhere. But those songs that do work are some of their best in the last couple of decades.
  3. The Line of Best Fit
    Nov 23, 2016
    60
    Problem is, this is essentially the same stuff they released in 2008, and since there are 77 minutes of it, it's entirely too much of the same stuff.
  5. The Telegraph (UK)
    Nov 17, 2016
    60
    Hardwired is two CDs, 12 tracks and 80 minutes of in-your-face, punch-to-the-guts, dense, harsh, shouty rage with absolutely no let-up. Frankly, if it was half as long it would be twice as effective.
  6. Exclaim
    Nov 16, 2016
    60
    They would have been wiser to trim more of the fat from the 12-track, two disc affair. In comparison to Death Magnetic's thrash-first approach, Hardwired features more mid-tempo material reminiscent of the band's divisive Load/Reload years, which bogs down the record's second disc in particular.
  7. Classic Rock Magazine
    Nov 2, 2016
    60
    A bumpy ride overall, but with enough peaks to excuse the more pedestrian sections.
  8. Consequence
    Nov 18, 2016
    58
    At nearly 80 minutes, it’s understandable for an album like Hardwired… to Self-Destruct to have lulls, but the band gets way too comfortable way too early.
  9. Spin
    Nov 23, 2016
    50
    Most of these songs have good parts--they’re just lost in long, boring stretches of the band faintly nodding off to their distant, better work.
  10. Chicago Tribune
    Nov 18, 2016
    50
    It's an album that would be far improved if it were chopped in half.
  11. The A.V. Club
    Nov 18, 2016
    50
    Hardwired is never embarrassing in the way of St. Anger or Lulu, but it’s rarely revelatory either. It’s not so much that Metallica is incapable of writing a good song in 2016; it’s just a little too complacent to write a truly great one.
  12. The Quietus
    Nov 18, 2016
    40
    Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, on the other hand, is a tired and somewhat cynical album that’s simply responding to market demand. It’s kind of like when your dad busts out his old-school skate board—cool for a bit, but, after day three of him “getting back into it” (he also refuses to change out of his old Pink Floyd shirt), you just want him to stop.

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Most Discussed Album of 2016
38
#38 Most Shared Album of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 399 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 332 out of 399
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 399
  3. Negative: 34 out of 399
  1. ji_alireza
    Nov 18, 2016
    10
    The album is very divergent ,It is like ,they created an album which represents Metallica's 35 years of career in 13 songs(including Lords ofThe album is very divergent ,It is like ,they created an album which represents Metallica's 35 years of career in 13 songs(including Lords of Summer). Thrash metal, heavy metal, and hard rock all combines together in this album and this happened for the first time for Metallica. Anyone can pick up his favorite songs from it.… Full Review »
  2. Seeker
    Nov 18, 2016
    0
    There is only a few old metal bands who manage to live up to their own glory. Looking at this album, it is not very hard to understand thatThere is only a few old metal bands who manage to live up to their own glory. Looking at this album, it is not very hard to understand that Metallica is not one of them.… Full Review »
  3. Perzonallica
    Nov 21, 2016
    9
    I think nowadays its in a mode to trash Metallica whatever they do or write. For people who wants the good old Metallica back: It will neverI think nowadays its in a mode to trash Metallica whatever they do or write. For people who wants the good old Metallica back: It will never happen and nor will with your favorite band neither. These people just want MoP, BA, AJFA albums every two year from them.
    HtSD has its ups and downs, it's not their best album, but because of it's diversity, tempo, lyrics its much more what I expected from them. If you listen to all the songs from the first one to the last one, and when you reach the last one of them (Spit out the Bones), I just don’t understand how can somebody who listens to metal give to this album 0-4 points… But again, we are not the same.    … Full Review »
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