Metallica: Hardwired...To Self-Destruct [3CD Deluxe] $9.99 at BEST BUY or AMAZON!

[GasmaskAvenger]

If you ask me, my least favorite album is easily "The Black Album", with "Master of Puppeets" also being not one of my favorites.

"The Black Album" is, for my money, Metallica Lite whereas "Master of Puppets" is an inferior remake of the legendary "Ride the Lightning" (The songs on MOP are still friggin' great, keep in mind).

Everything else from the early demos up to (and including) Beyond Magnetic and the Lou Reed collaboration (which really isn't a Metallica album at all, but cannot help and defend it as a rather brilliant end to Uncle Lou's music legacy). All of them (sans what I mentioned in my least favorites section) have their own respective individual identity I enjoy immensely.

Really looking forward to hearing "Hardwired...To Self-Destruct" as soon as it arrives in my mailbox.

[Gieferg]

"The Black Album" is, for my money, Metallica Lite

Frankly, I prefer "Metallica lite" (only have Load, Reoload, S&M and... Live Shit on my shelf) and I dont really listen to this kind of metal anymore as I prefer more hard rock/southern rock, some classics from 60s/70s and grunge. I suppose I'd rather have another "Load"/'ReLoad" than what we've got.

Maybe I'm just too old for this sh*t

[jradford]

I've listened to Hardwired and like it a lot. It's a great heavy metal album. Some great songs and the production seems a bit cleaner than DM.

I feel like Metallica has matured and so has their sound. With that maturation they've left the traditional thrash characteristics behind. There's the occasional drop of speed and chugging...and the themes are there but overall this is heavy metal album (not that there is anything wrong with that). I'll be listening to this for quite a while.

Side note...after all this St. Anger talk i went back and listened to it, or at least tried. IMHO it is just not good. I love Metallica, have owned all the albums on pretty much every format, seen them live multiple times, t-shirts, stickers you name it. But St. Anger isn't Metallica. Besides James' singing nothing on that album would make me think it's Metallica. The lyrics are bad, the production sounds terrible, and the songs just aren't memorable...and what happened to the solos?

[DamageINC]

I think that album was exactly what Metallica was at the time. It was an album unto itself, made during a very strange and uncertain time within the band. I thought it had some good riffs and i liked a number of songs or parts of songs. It sounds a lot better to me on the DVD version, which was played live at their HQ. Still , by far, the weakest , but i did enjoy some of it.

I still haven't heard the new album, as i was waiting for my pre-order from Amazon. Amazon just changed the status to arriving on Nov. 25th because , apparently, they have no stock.

Looks like i'll be hitting Best buy early this morning. Metallica is streaming their release party show from London @ 1pm PST on Youtube.

[DarkSide2473]

Originally Posted by DamageINC

I think that album was exactly what Metallica was at the time. It was an album unto itself, made during a very strange and uncertain time within the band.

I still haven't heard the new album, as i was waiting for my pre-order from Amazon. Amazon just changed the status to arriving on Nov. 25th because , apparently, they have no stock.

Looks like i'll be hitting Best buy early this morning. Metallica is streaming their release party show from London @ 1pm PST on Youtube.

Do you have Amazon Prime? If so, you should be able to listen to the MP3 version right away with AutoRip. It should be in your music library. I'm listening to it right now and got my CD delayed, too.

[DamageINC]

Originally Posted by DarkSide2473

Do you have Amazon Prime? If so, you should be able to listen to the MP3 version right away with AutoRip. It should be in your music library. I'm listening to it right now and got my CD delayed, too.

Yes, it was ripped into the library (already cancelled so not sure if it's still there) but i really want the disc and to listen to it that way. I've put off listening to the leak, the videos they released, all of it, until i get the CD. I'm not even really sure why. Guess its been too long since i was excited for a release day and got an album. Kind of miss those days, i guess.

Already put the order into BB. Will pick it up in an hour or two when they open. Thanks for the heads up.

[sandman slim]

Yeah, yet another Amazon fail. I preordered the deluxe version two months ago, the day the listing went up, and today they say I won't be getting it till Tuesday the 29th. Getting really tired of paying for a service that isn't being provided.

[Steelmaker]

Poor production aside, ...And Justice For All IS Metallica's best album! If AJFA had the Black Album's production, it would've been freaking amazing!

Regarding the Black Album, I love it! I think it's a GREAT album! I have it on vinyl and it sounds freaking spectacular! That drum sound is so thunderous through my sound system!

[DamageINC]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Regarding the Black Album, I agree with the above post that it was what Metallica needed at the time.

That was about St.Anger.

Finally got the Disc in hand. Time to dive in and then watch the release party show.

In case anyone is interested -

Metallica: Hardwired… Live from The House of Vans, London - YouTube

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by DamageINC

That was about St.Anger.

Yeah I saw that! That's why I changed my original post!

Regarding St. Anger...TURD! Regardless of where they were at at that time, it was misguided IMO. Plus that snare drum, ugh!! How in god's name did NO ONE speak up during the recording of that album and say "uh, guys, we might want to switch drum kits, change the way they're mic'd up, something." It's such a strange album because it sounded so different from the other Bob Rock produced albums. Like they used a completely different producer on that album.

[Loiselle]

This album is fantastic. No matter what Metallica does, the cool thing to do is hate on them. So I ignore the haters, and embrace what they do. This album isn't what I expected, but that's a good thing.

[RD1973]

Does anyone know where we could see a list of the different editions and store exclusives for this release?

I don't remember where I saw this, but there was a pretty complete list for Megadeth's Dystopia when it came out.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Got my deluxe set today and have listened to the full album. I'm pretty disappointed, I don't think it's a bad album by any means, but it just feels all over the place.

In terms of sound, it sounds a lot like Load/Reload mixed with Death Magnetic although there are a few tracks that have their own sound such as Here Comes Revenge and Spit Out the Bone.

Highlights for me are Hardwired, Moth Into Flame, Here Comes Revenge and Spit Out the Bone. I wouldn't call any of them great but they are enjoyable for what they are and are a far cry from the (ironically) more mature music they were making back in their early-mid twenties which had more musical intelligence and incredibly poetic, timeless and often Lovecraftian lyrics.

As far as where I'd rank it:

1. Master of Puppets
2. ...And Justice for All
3. Ride the Lightning
4. Kill 'Em All
5. Black Album
6. Death Magnetic
7. Load
8. ...Hardwired to Self-Destruct
9. Reload
10. St. Anger

Keep in mind that 1-4 change every now and then. They're all five star albums in my book.

[Troll2fan]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

[Show spoiler]Got my deluxe set today and have listened to the full album. I'm pretty disappointed, I don't think it's a bad album by any means, but it just feels all over the place.

In terms of sound, it sounds a lot like Load/Reload mixed with Death Magnetic although there are a few tracks that have their own sound such as Here Comes Revenge and Spit Out the Bone.

Highlights for me are Hardwired, Moth Into Flame, Here Comes Revenge and Spit Out the Bone. I wouldn't call any of them great but they are enjoyable for what they are and are a far cry from the (ironically) more mature music they were making back in their early-mid twenties which had more musical intelligence and incredibly poetic, timeless and often Lovecraftian lyrics.

As far as where I'd rank it:

1. Master of Puppets
2. ...And Justice for All
3. Ride the Lightning
4. Kill 'Em All
5. Black Album
6. Death Magnetic
7. Load
8. ...Hardwired to Self-Destruct
9. Reload
10. St. Anger

Keep in mind that 1-4 change every now and then. They're all five star albums in my book.

1. ...And Justice for All
2. Master of Puppets
3. Ride the Lightning
4. Black Album
5. Kill 'Em All
6. Load
7. St. Anger
8. Reload
9. Death Magnetic

Waiting until I receive my CD before listening to Hardwired to Self Destruct.

[stvn1974]

Ride The Lightning
Master Of Puppets
...And Justice For All
Black Album
Death Magnetic
St. Anger
Hardwired...To Self Destruct
Reload
Kill Em All

I enjoy them all. I put Kill Em All last and while I love it and know how important an album it is it is still my least favorite.

[DamageINC]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Yeah I saw that! That's why I changed my original post!

How in god's name did NO ONE speak up during the recording of that album and say "uh, guys, we might want to switch drum kits, change the way they're mic'd up, something." .

I wonder that as well. I read somewhere Hetfield used to be very exacting and demanding in the studio. A perfectionist. I wish he'd get on Lars and Kirk and tell em to step up their game. Especially Kirk. Lars isn't great, but he adds a lot to the band. Then again, if he had maintained that attitude the band might not have survived. I don't know how many bands go 35+ years with the small amount of turnover Metallica has had.

AS for Hardwired - Really liked disc 1. Disc 2 left me a bit underwhelmed (mostly due to the leads), but i just replayed a few songs and started digging them a little more. Usually takes me a ton of listens to really form a good conclusion. Right now though I'm pretty happy.

[miller_time22]

Ordered the deluxe edition from Best Buy hoping to get it early. Tracking is saying it will show up on Monday now. Damn. I knew I should have just picked it up in store.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by DamageINC

I wonder that as well. I read somewhere Hetfield used to be very exacting and demanding in the studio. A perfectionist. I wish he'd get on Lars and Kirk and tell em to step up their game. Especially Kirk. Lars isn't great, but he adds a lot to the band. Then again, if he had maintained that attitude the band might not have survived. I don't know how many bands go 35+ years with the small amount of turnover Metallica has had.

Really liked disc 1. Disc 2 left me a bit underwhelmed (mostly due to the leads), but i just replayed a few songs and started digging them a little more. Usually takes me a ton of listens to really form a good conclusion. Right now though I'm pretty happy.

Leads?? What leads?? I admit it's been a long time since I've listened to St. Anger but I honestly don't remember those songs having leads.

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

Ride The Lightning
Master Of Puppets
...And Justice For All
Black Album
Death Magnetic
St. Anger
Hardwired...To Self Destruct
Reload
Kill Em All

I enjoy them all. I put Kill Em All last and while I love it and know how important an album it is it is still my least favorite.

Here's how I rank the albums (not including Hardwired as I haven't listened yet)...

...And Justice For All
Ride The Lightning
Master of Puppets
The Black Album
Load
Re-Load
Death Magnetic
Kill 'Em All
St. Anger

[DamageINC]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

Leads?? What leads?? I admit it's been a long time since I've listened to St. Anger but I honestly don't remember those songs having leads.

Sorry. I meant the new album in regards to the lead play. I tend to ramble and go all over the place. I made an edit