Metallica are a band that everyone and their dog has an opinion on and whose every move provokes completely opposing reactions. Anything they do is either hailed by half the world as “great, just like everything they’ve ever done”, or let down by the other half as an absolute turd. I tend to be from the first group. I like “Load”, “Re-Load”, even “St. Anger”, which I consider a ridiculously raw but extremely honest and stripping-the-band album. So don’t expect me to spit on “Death Magnetic”. And the album really does deserve way better words than its predecessor. The solid riffs, the solos, the speed are back in Metallica’s sound. “This Was Just Your Life” opens the album fast and energetic with James running through the lyrics like never before. The following songs continue pouring down more of the heavy riffery that happens to carry the spirit of old and new Metallica at the same time. In “All Nightmare Long” somewhere after the sixth minute we hear some wild riffing that they seemed to be afraid of using at least since “Disposable Heroes”. First single “The Day That Never Comes” is like a modern version of the ballad that goes thrash crazy Metallica put in all of their 80’s albums. In the spirit of the 80’s tradition we also have the instrumental track “Suicide & Redemption”, followed by the closing track “My Apocalypse” that is also the shortest and fastest one on the album. As a whole, evidence of the production work - unlike in “St. Anger” - can be heard. This time the songs possess enough riffs and interesting moments to make their common length of over 6 minutes necessary. Even the drums don’t sound like knocking on the desk with a couple of marker pens. And thanks to Rick Rubin, or the pressure of popular demand, or because they just felt like it, Metallica have made their most full-on metal album since “…and Justice for All”. And a good one at it. Sadly half the world won’t miss putting shit on them for it…