So Death Magnetic......

[Tyrone]

One thought how f@!king loud?

any one else feeling that?

[truthnlife13]

Not impressed with the mastering nor am I blown away by the overall production but as a long time fan (Since 85 seen 19 shows) this is definitely the best Metallica record since the AFJA in my opinion

[skiltrip]

Originally Posted by truthnlife13

Not impressed with the mastering nor am I blown away by the overall production but as a long time fan (Since 85 seen 19 shows) this is definitely the best Metallica record since the AFJA in my opinion

Anything after Justice lost my interest. Maybe I should check this new one out.

[truthnlife13]

Originally Posted by skiltrip

Anything after Justice lost my interest. Maybe I should check this new one out.

I could listen to the black album but mostly thought it was a great recording didnt like the songs as much. I always wished I could have heard justice with the black albums sound. I guess thats what Death Magnetic is supposed to be. I like it but I wouldnt go that far

[skiltrip]

Originally Posted by truthnlife13

I could listen to the black album but mostly thought it was a great recording didnt like the songs as much. I always wished I could have heard justice with the black albums sound. I guess thats what Death Magnetic is supposed to be. I like it but I wouldnt go that far

I definitely thought the Black Album sounded sweet, but like you, the songs lost that edge and didn't appeal to me in any lasting kinda way. I do understand they were trying to grow and write more melodic stuff. And believe me I love melody. But they are better with more grit, but not BS grit like I heard on that St. Anger stuff.

A actually love the sound of Justice. It's freaking classic. You can play one beat / one chord from that album and instantly recognize that it's Justice.

[Tyrone]

You can play one beat / one chord from that album and instantly recognize that it's Justice.

Yeah I get that its certainly "unique" sounding!

I just can't get over how clipped the new album is I mean I picked it up at lunch time and had a listen when I got back to the studio, is it just me or is it pushed more than your average OTT big budget loud recording?

[Crash]

Originally Posted by skiltrip;3479038A

actually love the sound of Justice. It's freaking classic.

It's just too bad they never unmuted the bass on that one. Talk about no "sack."

[Neon Heart]

Originally Posted by Crash

It's just too bad they never unmuted the bass on that one. Talk about no "sack."

well, theory is, it was because they lost their old bassist before.

after listening to the new album I am really surprised how bad it is.

not only the well known clipping (and yes it really hurts the ears more than other "loud" records) but also the lack of ideas are frightening.

I even did grab the vibe of the song "St. Anger" at that time (!), so its not that I'm not trying.

[Star Ark]

I'm loving the album

The mixing/mastering I am not. Sooooo fatiguing. Listening to the entire album on headphones as I make my way to work is an ordeal which is a shame cos I love the tunes. I slowly turn the volume down as I go, and by the time i get to work the albums playing really low and my ears are still tired!

I just wish Kirk had tracked some tight and original solos.

[Rob-K]

What did you guys expect? A recording and a mix that sounded like it was done in the 80s or 90s? There's no way in hell that it would have come out "unsmashed". Rick Rubin isn't known for his engineer friendly records, but he is known to make stuff for the everyday music fan.

[turnstile]

Im really liking the record. Like others I haven't liked much of anything past "And Justice For All" and this record might just break that trend. I have to say the clipping of the kick, and drums (among other things) is almost unbearable. Fatigue after just a few songs. Was this intended or f'ed up in mastering...? I wonder.

[Tyrone]

There's no way in hell that it would have come out "unsmashed". Rick Rubin isn't known for his engineer friendly records, but he is known to make stuff for the everyday music fan.

Of course you're right but its still seems to have been taken a step further than anything I've heard before. It was mastered by Ted Jensen, who to my ears any way general gets the optimum level with as minimal distortion as can be expected but I've listened to Death Magnetic several times now and its just off the scale in the clipping stakes!

[ArcCirDude]

Oh... I thought this was another "Tape is Dead" thread.....


So... Death Magnetic.... Kind of like that suicide chain-reaction thing that happened in England earlier this year...

[Flying_Dutchman]

Never tell a girlfriend she looked better 10 years ago
If you still feel her, love her
If not bury the idea
And Justice For All...

[Chris]

Just listened to some mangled sound from a youtube video.

I like it. It sounds like what you would hear at a concert. Very real.

The snare is too loud, which I think just about everybody and their mama has mentioned. I know they didn't do any automation from what I hear, but I mean, didn't they do fader rides back then?

All in all, very raw. Sounds like an old Iron Maiden album.

[ChaNce144]

Dude over at sevenstring.org:

Death Magnetic - Wave Form Analysis

Says it all, really. If it is real, of course.

[pedrodash]

about the mastering process and the distortion thing: Death Magnetic

I like St. Anger better than this one. Well, I don't like this one. 6, 7 minutes songs that sounds like caricatures of old songs.. it's like when you're a guitar player and metallica's fan, and you're in your bedroom playing some random riffs.

[pedrodash]

And Lars playing... it's just wrong. You can hear the bad fills and kicks all the time, and he probably didn't let anyone to fix that.

[dbbubba]

I just listened to St. Anger....

WOW... they certianly have not progressed musically at all since I dealt with them back in 1989.

The prison video would have been WAYYY cooler if they played a Johnny Cash song because he had the balls to play at San Quentin about 38 years ago and it kicked WAY more ass than that.

[Louderock]

Tough to say who the finger should be pointed at. I've been in situations mixing records where I was asked by the producer to do things that I wouldn't necessarily have done. I can guarantee you that Rick listens to all of the mixes. He has a courier bring them up to his house. He does comment and make suggestions for the overall sound. It's possible that the 'brickwall' was Greg's take on the whole thing but don't be surprised if it came from somewhere else like the band or Rick. Ultimately, the band and Rick should be responsible and have the final say.

[rectifier]

love the record and it's getting good reviews in lots of places.. Welcome back Metallica - stick on Judas Kiss if you think they are dead, one of their best songs ever imo. Would have liked some flamenco bits though as someone else said in another thread.

[PhiloBeddoe]

Well they've always been a little rebellious so maybe they decided to thumb their noses at the AE community by ignoring all their advice. I'm pretending this is what happened, which keeps me entertained.

BTW, has anyone else seen these .mogg files from Rock Band? Someone sent me the song "And Justice for All" which has the separate drum, vox, bass, guitar tracks. It's great fun to play with the mix adding a bunch of bass.

[Monster_Drew]

I think its great... but for different reasons

Given the initial reaction & 'backlash', The ME disowning it, and the general Derek Smalls Jazz experience nature, it has done at least one thing - Got people talking.

Now when your a MASSIVE band like metalica and you can stir up some argument that it sounds shit because is levels are insane some of that discussion will spill into the general public and the public listens to what you tell it dammnit!

Maybe... just maybe.... dynamic range becomes the new marketing angle for future bands trends? When you tell the kids that its no longer cool to be too loud all the time then you cold probably even convince them Katey Perry has talent.... oh shit someone already did that :s

Yeah... either that or more likely it will go down as a few rich egomaniacs f'ing up....

[Anonex]

Listening to the Album right now. i can even hear the Clipping Artifacts on my cheap 30€ PC Speakers, which usually don´t let me hear clipping at all because their Tweeters suck bad...

I´m really dissapointed by Death Magnetic, expected far more than that...

[Young Al Capone]

I decided to do some comparisons from Death Magnetic to the Black Album:

Sad But True vs The End Of The Line



The Day That Never Comes vs Nothing Else Matters



You tell me how it sounds.

[Crash]

Ouch!!!!

[84K]

SLOW DEATH magnetic should be the title

[Igotsoul4u]

I just previewed the album on itunes and its good ole metallica from back when i liked metallica. I think they did a great job.

[chk027]

Where can you buy this chit release, noise R us?

Metallica the game has passed you by!

Used to love these guys but they really have hit the creative wall, recycled Justice with bad James singing. Why did he ever go to that yoodling style sissie fn singing??

Thats what they get for not wearing ear plugs back in the 80's

[PhiloBeddoe]

Originally Posted by Monster_Drew

I think its great... but for different reasons

Given the initial reaction & 'backlash', The ME disowning it, and the general Derek Smalls Jazz experience nature, it has done at least one thing - Got people talking.

Now when your a MASSIVE band like metalica and you can stir up some argument that it sounds shit because is levels are insane some of that discussion will spill into the general public and the public listens to what you tell it dammnit!

Agree that the music has taken a backseat to the total entertainment value. If you just stop expecting that there will ever be another great Metallica album, their entertainment value is top notch. I was riveted by the movie Some Kind of Monster. You could never script that kind of thing, brilliant. Lars wondering if Echobrain is poised to take over the world still cracks me up. Dave Mustaine joining the estrogen fest is priceless.

Anyway, this album is better than St. Anger but don't expect innovation. James is always good for a few good guitar riffs. End of the Line and Cyanide are probably the strongest songs IMO. Autotune on Unforgiven III is pretty painful. The instrumental tune is pointless, main riff sounds like Spanish Castle Magic. I think they were trying too hard by making all the songs about death.