Reinventing or following the new leaders?

As Metallica gets ready to release their new opus Death Magnetic, a release that finds the band not only recharging their batteries but also searching in their back catalog for inspiration, one wonders if the new or familiar direction will fair well among fans and listeners alike. The band released several singles through iTunes and internet leaks like the anthemic “The Day That Never Comes” and the roaring “My Apocalypse,” and on first listen the dramatic change in musical styles from 2003’s St. Anger to Death Magnetic is obvious that Metallica have retooled their equal parts and left their blues-influenced hard rock of the late 90s/early 2000s period wherever they left producer Bob Rock in exchange for a heavier outlook to seven and eight minute songs of thrash-inspired metal reminiscent of the Ride the Lightning era. The new songs are overflowing with guitar solos and well-recorded snare drums. Have the twenty-five year veterans of heavy metal also found inspiration from the “new kids on the block.” Hopefully not the New Kids on the Block but of course the newer generation of bands that have obviously been influenced by James Hetfield’s former growling singing style and Kirk Hammett’s rapid-fire solos screaming through wah-wah pedals.

The resurgence of thrash metal, speed metal, guitar-solo metal, or whatever media and fans are calling heavy music that radio station programmers have reservations about playing is making a serious impression on just about every heavy band, today. With recent success stories like Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, and perhaps the greatest comeback story of the last year being Machine Head releasing their version of And Justice For All with the release of 2007’s The Blackening, heavy metal jam-packed with aggressive vocals that aren’t “screamo” and arpeggios going 100 miles an hour are back. Did Metallica feel as if they needed to climb aboard the train or reclaim their rightful throne a top the heavy music heap? Anyone who took a brief listen to St. Anger surely saw that the inevitable end might have been near as that album appeared neither inspiring nor cohesive in any direction they were going for. Although the album was certified platinum, the selections are far more forgettable than anything being requested on a local radio station from Metallica’s vast catalog. Something can also be said to the company of bands Metallica will be keeping on their upcoming tour such as Down, Machine Head and The Sword. A definite contrast to the nu-metal tinged Summer Sanitarium tour of 2003 with Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park supporting ‘Tallica.

As September 12^th approaches, observers will see if Death Magnetic will append to their monstrous legacy as the world’s greatest metal band or just continue to tear down the monster and possibly make room for another leader of the forefront. Best of luck to the masters who have “metal” as part of their name surely there is a lot riding on this release. Many notions such as “Can Metallica still play as heavy as they did 20 years ago” or “Does Rick Rubin salvage the lives of bands/artists” will be prevalent. We all shall see, friends…