So I have listened to every song on the new Metallica album

[jnurp]

THere are some really great moments but none of them involve Kirk in any way. He is the worst professional guitarist out there. Yes he was the author of some amazingly memorable solos 30 years ago. I could literally hum every note and every bend of every solo he wrote pre 1990's. THey were perhaps a bit simple from a theory point of view but the bends and twist and turns always kept the listener involved and entertained. These solos on the new album are just shit. WHen I say shit, I mean that he jsut went into the studio without a fucking clue of what he was going to play and just mailed it in. A rich guy having fun playing guitar in the studio without hunger and drive. He just mailed it all in. Its just a mountain of garbage to my ears.

Like I said there are some fantastic moments on the record. I really really love Lords of Summer on the deluxe version, best song on the album. Spit out the bone is WAAAAAY overrated, that isnt that great. I can name 1000 tracks better than that in this "genre". Its good but not this epic track everyone has been giving it credit for. Moth into Flame is mostly great. I enjoy the title track its short and to the point although it isnt daring but its solid and its good. Actually most of the album isnt really "daring" but some of the riffs and vox are super catchy. IMO James tries to sing way too much, he needs to stop trying to be Michael Bublee and remember he is a thrash metal vocalist thats where he shines.

Overall I would give the album a B-. This would have been a B+ to an A- had Kirk just not been invited to ruin the material. The songs are good, not great but good some really really good. Kirks solos are so outdated and so garbage it basically ruined a pretty good album.

[Devin]

I listened to that Spit Out the Bones song on youtube earlier this morning. Totally forgettable and that music video for it is one of the strangest piles of crap I've ever seen

[itchyfingers]

But is it really that big of a surprise that the guys who made amazing albums 30 years ago aren't making that great of albums now? I mean, when they need walkers to get out onto those arena stage floors in a few years, do you really expect these geezers to bring the heavies?

I don't hate em, but I'm not a huge fan (because Napster). I saw them on Fallon last night and just thought, holy crap these guys have aged. Pretty sure Lars needs dentures, or perhaps forgot to wear them...

[Tortuga]

Yeah, can't bring myself to watch those vids, unfortunately. I like some of the material on the new album, but prob won't get much more than a couple plays

As much as I Hetfield's voice pre-Load (and the Black Album is a bit of a stretch for me), their material over the past 25 years REALLY makes me wish they'd gotten John Bush on board way back when. At least Bush's voice hasn't lost the aggressive power and tone from the early times.

[video]https://youtu.be/jvMmlHn8Wvc[/video]

[jnurp]

I actually love all these videos they have put out. THis is such a great idea.

[Loins of Fire]

I've always defended Kirks lead playing but I completely agree. You can tell the guy just doesn't have passion for the instrument anymore.

[jnurp]

best tracks on the album are the title track, moth to flame, Halo on fire, Dream no More and Lords of Summer. They are all solid tracks that could stand with material on the black album and perhaps any of the earlier albums. After these 5 there is a tremendous amount of medicority. I just listened to Spit out the Bone again, I just dont get it. That "breakdown" section is such shit. BUt some of these videos are amazing, this was a fantastic idea. Only a band with a $100 million dollar budget could pull this off, but it was well worth it imo.

[Holy-diver]

best tracks on the album are the title track, moth to flame, Halo on fire, Dream no More and Lords of Summer. They are all solid tracks that could stand with material on the black album and perhaps any of the earlier albums. After these 5 there is a tremendous amount of medicority. I just listened to Spit out the Bone again, I just dont get it. That "breakdown" section is such shit. BUt some of these videos are amazing, this was a fantastic idea. Only a band with a $100 million dollar budget could pull this off, but it was well worth it imo.

maybe it's the load appreciation in me but I also really like here comes revenge. I also like atlas rise, but other than that I agree with you. I heard everyone hyping spit out the bone and got excited but it was just good, didn't really make me jizz like I thought it would.

[JerEvil]

Ok I see this is now on iTunes so I will have to give it a listen. I have only heard the one or two songs that were released a bit ago. Hardwired and some other one.

[Anomaly]

I like the album, it's got some great stuff on it, but I sorta agree about Kirk's leads.... it sounds as if It's 100% improvised instead of thought out like his older solo's are. It's just him winging it, which is fine sometimes, but ya gotta get some melody in there.... there's very little catchy melodic parts to the solos.

[RIFF]

I FEEL this... I mean damn, dude rarely has his foot off.

Im listening now..

[rear naked]

i agree. definitely not bad!

['63-Strat]

To me Kirk and Kim Thayil are two of the *luckiest* guys in rock.

[The Hiryuu]

Lars is my biggest problem. Kirk is a big problem too, but second to Lars.

I have to disagree pretty strongly and say that Spit Out the Bone is miles beyond the rest of the album (I will agree that the breakdown is shit and unnecessary, but the rest of the song completely makes up for it. I'd still call it just "pretty darn good", not great or anything.)

[RIFF]

I gave it a listen, & Ill be critical here, but Im not gonna pretend my opinion is anything more than that.

Straight away, Ill FIRST say there are certain elements of this recording that I hear and that are monotonous or hard on the ears.
Its less brickwalled than DM, but still overdone.
Natural punch has been compressed away. Let the fuckin music BREATH a little!

The guitar sounds seemed ok, but sterile to me.. fatiguing.
Id like to hear a little more tone or personality to them.

Lars playing sounds like he banged the snare too much didnt go diverse on the kit enough. Mostly, not every song.
Snare seemed a little overbearing in the mix.

Hamsters solos are mostly just horrible on this album, I agree with Nurp.
Its like he just went in & quickly jammed on some songs he'd never heard, & theyre like "Cool bro, lets drink some coors light now!" Eventually I actually wanted to start SKIPPING past the solos. Thats sad.

James singing seemed great on some stuff & a little monotonous on others.

Bass might as well not exist. Instead of boringly note for note tracking with the guitars, it could have given the album some depth & interest, but nope.
What a fucking waste of a really good bass player.

Best songs IMO:

Dream-
Halo-
Savage-

[Chris Z]

Isn't this the album Kirk said he wasn't able to contribute to?


Aren't guitar solos contributing?

[Sizzler]

I really dig Hetfield's voice on this record. Pretty much like the whole album songwise - but I also liked most of Death Magnetic

[Mesa/Kramer]

Listened to the first 8 or so songs yesterday

Sounds decent overall

Kirk's leads sound no better or worse than the past 25 years
I hate it when he try's to play Bluesy licks in the middle of his solos, sounds horrible
His best sounding leads were when he just played sparatic fast stuff like he did on the first 3 records

[DISTORT6]

Lars should stop "coaching" Kirk while he's recording solos. It's not working any more.

[jnurp]

is it me or is Kurt turning into Pat Smear?

[***1776***]

The CD has a bunch of good riffs on it and there are many different diverse musical directions on the CD

Its a very SOLID CD from start to back imo, a very good (not great) but good effort imo


[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbxH5S9_A3M[/video]

[clipless bumper]

Isn't this the album Kirk said he wasn't able to contribute to?


Aren't guitar solos contributing?

Maybe it wasn't kirk..........

[RIFF]

Isn't this the album Kirk said he wasn't able to contribute to?


Aren't guitar solos contributing?

Maybe it wasn't kirk..........

Man, theres no mistaking Quirk!

[Anomaly]

It really does sound as if Kirk went in without doing an ounce of homework and just improvised every solo, which makes a lot of it really hit and very miss. I miss the melodic worked out playing he did pre-black album. Improvising has it's place, but a solo needs a melodic direction/skeleton beforehand.... a direction... then just fill in the gaps with the improv. He sounds directionless 90% of the time.

as far as the album itself, I think Hetfield delivered the goods. It's a great listen... for the most part. Better than Death Magnetic, way better than St. Anger, and better than the Loads.

[GuitarBilly]

I really love this whole album. Not every track is great, but that's normal for a double disc. But most of them are awesome. This could grow to be one of my favorite Metallica albums actually, although my number one will always be MOP. I liked some of their Load-era music and this album has elements of that as well as the old school Metallica.

I've always been a fan though, they only lost me with St Anger and Lulu. Death Magnetic was great too but this is better IMHO. A lot of these new songs will become classic Metallica songs and be played live for years to come. The title song, Atlas Rise and Spit Out the Bone will for sure.