So, the newest Metallica CD is actually pretty good.

[Forkboy]

Been listening to it quite a bit this last month. I was into them way back in the Kill 'Em All days (saw them in a club with Slayer in '84), and while they'll never do another Ride or Master, this one is as good as ...And Justice For All (which I always felt was a mixed bag...some great songs, some lame ones). For the most part the mix is much better than anything they've done in a decade, at least. James still can't sing, but he never could, and at least this time his voice isn't too high in the mix. Lars' drums actually sound like drums this time around. Hammett has some great solos (I usually hate solos by anyone...a bunch of puffy shirt wearing mofos wanking for the most part). And Trujillo has always been good (SUICIDAL!).

This won't be knocking Deathspell Omega or Stupid Babies Go Mad out of my CD tray or anything, but compared to the wandering in the desert Metallica have been doing for the last 15 years this is a solid CD. There's a few songs I skip, but I do that with 80% of the bands I listen to. Yeah, I hate Lars, too, and the pic of them shopping still cracks me up. But for me, when it comes to music the music is the bottom line, not the personalities behind it (I listen to Burzum, so there ya go), and for the most part this is good music. As good as any other thrash band from the Bay Area these days (Exodus, Death Angel, Testament, etc).

I'd give it a solid 7 out of 10 (that's a good score for me...I'm a stingy prick). :)