On Demand
Soundcheck Smackdown: Metallica
For more than a decade, Metallica has thrived on controversy. Each new album is greeted with intense scrutiny and analysis. On their latest release, "Death Magnetic," the godfathers of thrash hark back to their 1980s glory. In a Soundcheck Smackdown that threatens to tear the metal universe in half, we dare to debate "Death Magnetic." We're joined by Phil Freeman, editor in chief of Metal Edge magazine, and Ryan Schreiber, founding editor of music-news site Pitchfork Media. And, we take your calls.
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on "Death Magnetic"
Tell us: Are Metallica roaring back to form, or sinking deeper into irrelevance?
More magnetic than "Death Magnetic"? Ryan Schreiber's list of five bands that rock harder than the new Metallica album
The debate continues on the Soundcheck blog: one Metallica fan reacts to our Smackdown
Metallica site
Phil Freeman's review of "Death Magnetic"
Pitchfork's review of "Death Magnetic" (by Cosmo Lee)
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Totally irrelevant.
Totally my least favorite band.
GET REAL.
i have been a huge metallica fan for years but have to say these guys havn't done anything good since cliff burton died. to old for this kind of music and far far to irrelevant.
GROW UP.
They are one of the most over-rated bands ever.
Truly terrible.
It's such a shame that we just expect Metallica albums to suck these days. Metallica should just stop making albums and get out of the ways of bands that actually shred. Bands like the Sword. Sword!!!
The Sword!! Second that! What about High on Fire? Mastodon? Darkthrone?
possibly the most useless music I've heard in the 20+ years I've been listening to you
Absolutely terrible.
Hearing this makes it hard to ever listen to them again.. Which has been difficult enough over the years.. the only thing that kept me listening to the oldies was the fact that all the new albums (from the black album on) were so bad i just imagined it to have been done from a different band.. But now hearing this new hybrid of old and new has tainted my palette for them all together.. R.I.P Metallica.
How about discussing a band that really matters and continues to challenge both the listener and themselves, such as The Melvins?
Despite the fact that they can afford the best of the best production values, this is a band that keeps trying to be something they are not.
This record basically says to the world, here we are after 20 years and we've had no personal or musical growth.
This band has ridden a few good tracks and an really excellent name as far as it will go.
When corp America wants to pretend they know metal, they put Metallica on the advert. Isn't that a sure sign that they are irrelevant?
This return to form for Metallica is an appealing sound, I must admit.
And, possibly, no matter what my stance on the Yankees, Mariano Rivera may be the greatest relief pitcher in all of baseball. Sure beats Billy Wagner, and Mo had the song first.
That said, it sure would be great if Soundcheck sees fit to give us some of The Sword. Come on! Play something that might stretch our ears - the new kings of METAL! The Sword!!
I reluctantly saw metallica with a longtime friend at Nassau Coliseum their last tour and was blown outta my shoes! Sensory overload and aurally orgasmic. Havent heard the new cd yet, what does it matter? They are a LIVE band with a rabid international following. New cd About as relevant as the latest cds from Springsteen, Neil Young, or Coldplay. And please stop giving PASTE a pass....they are pointless as Christgau ever was...its about their fans.....who will always support Metallica. Paste has no influence or relevance where it matters. And terrestrial radio wont play this new album because they are even more inconsequential.
To quote you "expected it to suck", and it does, and it did...
Group therapy automatically makes you and/or your band not metal. Irrelevant.
I have been a Metallica fan ever since I first heard Hit tHe Lights on the radio back home in Sweden 25 years ago, and I have been a huge fan ever since. What I think Metallica has done more than any other band that are still around from that era is that they have evolved. What I see in a lot of the people that bash Metallica is that they just want another version of Kill em All or RTL or MOP.
When I heard the songs on the new album I was blown away, and the songs grow on you.
And I soo dont buy the argument that being in group therapy makes you not metal. Metal to me is being real and honest and that what I think is what Metallica were in SKOM, very brave. It would have been the easy choice to hide it but they didnt.
As a guitar teacher for 20 years, I can honestly state that 99% of my students between the ages of 13 and up have stopped believing in Metallica's music after the Black Album. Nobody has ever wanted to learn songs contained on albums after that.
Maybe something goes wrong with any artist/group after they become well known rich and stop being hungry...
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