quote:

Originally posted by Duncan Black:
'Death Magnetic'

I hope that title doesn't turn out to be prophetic. Time will tell I suppose. Aside from financial gain, there doesn't seem to be much incentive for the band to keep going. The use of certain producers who specialize in comeback albums speaks volumes.

Let's hope it leads to something truly great this time. I don't think the band will survive another critical mauling.

I heard they ditched Bob Rock and worked with Rick Rubin this time around.

James Hetfield speaks about the title of Death Magnetic:

"('Death Magnetic') started out as kind of a tribute to people that have fallen in our business, like Layne Staley and a lot of the people that have died, basically — rock and roll martyrs of sorts. And then it kind of grew from there. Thinking about death...just like a magnet, some people are drawn towards it, (and) other people are afraid of it and push away."

also

"The concept that we're all gonna die sometimes is over-talked about and then a lot of times never talked about — no one wants to bring it up; it's the big white elephant in the living room. But we all have to deal with it at some point."

This is the track listing:

That Was Just Your Life
The End Of The Line
Broken, Beat & Scarred
The Day That Never Comes
All Nightmare Long
Cyanide
The Unforgiven III
The Judas Kiss
Suicide & Redemption
My Apocalypse

I'm curious to listen to this album because some of the demo stuff sounded really good. I'm hoping it will be good, but "Unforgiven III"? Why can't they just come up with a new name? Either way, I will reserve judgements until after I've heard the album.

Songs about suicide, Judas, and apocalypse? Sounds intriguing. Maybe there's one more trick left in this pony, afterall.

Wow, "The Unforgiven III" sounds amazing. I can't wait for "Battery VII" and "One II". Gosh, they're so creative. Lars is a wellspring.
Hey, what version of "Autumn Shade" are The Vines on now? IV? They're so hot right now...

Ok - I've given Metallica quite a battering on here recently.

However, I stayed up late last night and caught their live set at the Reading festival on TV and I have to say, whatever we make of their recorded output, as a live band they are most definitely back in action.

Whether it's the addition of Trujillo, or the fact they've just got old enough to know the score, the set was amazing. They played a set of songs from Kill 'em All to the Black Album and it was flawless. Part of the appeal was that instead of approaching their old material as some sort of half-arsed joke, they played it like they meant it again. Kirk was on top form (never thought I'd say that again) and they even played Ride the Lightning in it's entirity with straight faces - no irony!

Almost brought a tear to my eye.

I've really had a problem with them for a long time. Whether Death Magnetic turns out to be rubbish or not, they are most definitly back from the grave as a live act. Awesome stuff.

Have you heard “The Day That Never Comes” yet? I like the song itself, but the current production sounds ass, especially since Rick Rubin is the producer. Though apparently, Metallica released a statement saying the version on their website is botched, so hopefully we’ll get a nicely produced version of the song down the line, one which doesn't distort.

“My Apocalypse” is also available. Haven’t heard it yet myself.

Metallica will still go down in history as one of the greatest Metal bands that ever lived. Lars is still one of the best drummers of all time, dispite his arrogant attitude he has talent.

Why did you list a bunch of bands named after computer hardware? Odd.

Woops forgot the divider.... its my signature

As a drummer, i find it offensive when people say Lars is a good drummer. Homey started drumming like a week before Metallica started.

Here are some real drummers for your viewing pleasure:

Moon

Brann Dailor

DEP

Chippendale

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName84:
As a drummer, i find it offensive when people say Lars is a good drummer. Homey started drumming like a week before Metallica started.

Here are some real drummers for your viewing pleasure:

Moon

Brann Dailor

DEP

Chippendale

Wow, i have always thought Lars was boring and overrated. Moon was a god!
I dig Danny Carey

his kit (select tech, then present) http://www.dannycarey.org/page2.html
Brann Dailor has some great lessons out there and lightning bolt's Chippendale's speed and percision does approache the insane!

I am more interested in hearing drums unlike other bands. Dificult and alternating time signatures, unusually kit elements. Lars sticks to the middle of the road.

Each to their own opinions, but remember Metallica are one of the most influential bands ever.

And heres some more real drummers for your viewing pleasure.

Joey Jordison - Slipknot

Neil Peart - Rush

John Bonham - Led Zepplin

Truth is whether you accept it or not Lars is known and rated to be one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Yeah, Lars may be considered great by many (I'd say influential more than anything), but i think it's wrong to say that. He has fast feet... that's about it.

He's good, i'll just say that. Probably great, but not spectacular.

The best drummer I've seen live is John Stanier of Battles (but used to be the drummer of Helmet). He's a freak with a tiny kit.

Oh yeah, i forgot about him.

Greg Saunier from Deerhoof makes a shit-ton of racket from a tiny kit as well.

quote:

Originally posted by CleverName84:
Oh yeah, i forgot about him.

Greg Saunier from Deerhoof makes a shit-ton of racket from a tiny kit as well.

And by "kit", I mean...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ezatldude,

quote:

Originally posted by ezatldude:
The best drummer I've seen live is John Stanier of Battles (but used to be the drummer of Helmet). He's a freak with a tiny kit.

I saw Stanier playing with Tomahawk a couple of times and he was indeed pretty god-like.

On the subject of Lars, he's a pretty weird entity. His drumming displays an almost obsessive knowledge of whatever he's playing, but despite that he's very sloppy. I suppose he could be seen as a master of enthusiasm and passion over technical skill.

I used to love his stuff back in the day. I think 'And justice for all' is his best work as a drummer (although not the best Metallica release). Dyer's Eve had some truly great moments.

Trouble is, he will always be the epitomy of that classic drummer joke -

Q) How do you know when a drummer's at the door?
A) Because the knock speeds up

I always thought Dave Lombardo did that style of drumming much more effectively and fair play to Lars - he has freely admitted that Lombardo is superior.

Another seldom mentioned drummer in all of this is Charlie Benante from Anthrax. I love the energy in his work - it always sounds like he's having a lot of fun.

However, since metal has evolved into even faster and tighter realms, I would suggest that the old guard has been usurped to some extent. Gene Hoglan is quite frightening as is Chris Pennie (Dillinger Escape Plan / Coheed & Cambria).

I would mention some other great drummers, but they don't seem relevant to metal and Metallica in general.

quote:

Originally posted by Super'Shed:
Have you heard “The Day That Never Comes” yet? I like the song itself, but the current production sounds ass, especially since Rick Rubin is the producer. Though apparently, Metallica released a statement saying the version on their website is botched, so hopefully we’ll get a nicely produced version of the song down the line, one which doesn't distort.

“My Apocalypse” is also available. Haven’t heard it yet myself.

I liked both singles. Can't wait for the complete album in Sept.

I will argue that Lars is an excellent drummer, for history's sake. One of the best drummers now? Heck no. Back in the day... maybe.

Here's why I say that... if you listen or watch Lars in the last 14 years, his drumming rythems have not only changed drastically, but his physical presence behind the kit is very different as well. He no longer has the long-travel, lay-low and whale presence behind the kit that he used to have.

Between I would say 1986 and 1993, if you go back and watch those clips of Lars playing, he was dead-on much of the time. In live performances back then, he would beat the life out of the drums, and I would argue that he would physically push himself harder than a lot of drummers would.

Now, he has gotten lazy behind the kit. Many of his live performances now are watered down. I don't like the idea of cranking up the gain on the drum mics just to play softer or skip critical parts. However, as of late, for whatever reason, Lars has gotten a fire lit under his butt when it comes to live performances. I watched a complete show of them in Germany from a year or two ago... and they played the entire Puppets album, in order... and I must say, Lars looked damn good.

So I don't know what gives with him. I guess his skills haven't left... he's just lazy when he wants to be? LOL Who knows... but for whatever reasons, he seems interested in cranking it up a bit lately when playing live. Maybe he read the blogs and realized he was slacking. He will never be what he once was, but as long as he tries harder than he did in the late 90's and early 2000's, I would appreciate to see more of the effort at least.