Album of the weekend

Metallica-Hardwired to Self Destruct

Metallica will never be as good as they were pre-the Black Album, and we need to accept that. This album is as good as Metallica will ever get. Older bands can create outstanding albums. Judas Priest and Megadeth both released great ones in the last three years. Metallica has always been the most popular and well liked thrash band-but they were never the best. This album is better than St. Anger or Death Magnetic that's the good news. The bad news is that it's still very hit or miss. Like Muhammad Ali when he fought Leon Spinks and to quote Megadeth-The end is near, it's crystal clear. 

The singles released from the album including the title track, "Atlas, Rise", and "Moth into the Flame" are the better songs on the album- though the best is clearly "Spit Out the Bone". It's loud, aggressive, angry and could easily be placed on Justice for All or Kill Em All. It's my personal favorite and a truly outstanding song. In fact, I think it's their best song in years. Better than anything off Death Magnetic or St. Anger. "Now That We're Dead", "Dream No More", "ManUNkind" are all mediocre to bad and would be filler at best on a better album. "Murder One" sounds a little like the classic song "Sanitarium" and it's actually a bit sad to listen to because it reminds you of better times and what they could do a long time ago. Not a pleasant experience. 

This is it for them. Sorry for the boxing metaphors but Metallica is like the boxer who can still win one round in match-but the lose the fight overall.