Metallica’s New Album: A Classical Music Masterpiece?
Contents
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from Metallica, but their new album is finally here. And it’s a classical music masterpiece! We’ll take a look at how the band has reinvented themselves and why this album is so special.
Introduction
It’s been eight years since Metallica last released an album, and in that time, the band has undergone some major changes. First, they hired a new bassist, Robert Trujillo, who replaced the legendary Jason Newsted. Then, in 2001, they embraced the digital age by allowing their fans to download their music for free. And now, with their new album, “Death Magnetic,” they’re making a bid for classical music respectability.
The album, which was released on September 12, 2007, is a double CD set that features fourteen tracks of classic Metallica thrash metal. But what sets this album apart from the band’s previous work is the addition of a forty-minute “symphony” composed by lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and conducted by Michael Kamen. The result is an ambitious work that is sure to please both hardcore Metallica fans and classical music aficionados alike.
The Making of the Album
Metallica’s new album, “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct”, is a return to their thrash metal roots. But this time, they’ve infused it with classical music sensibilities. The result is an album that is both heavy and melodic, with a touch of aggression.
Recording
It took Metallica a little over a year to write and record their fourth album …And Justice For All. Hammett has said of the process, “In the past, it would take us maybe two or three months to write an album and maybe another month or two to record it. This time we took our time, we wrote more songs – I think we had about 30 songs when we went in to do the album – and just picked the best 12 or 13.”
Hetfield concurred, “This is the first album where we took our time writing – not just jamming something out and saying ‘yeah, that sounds good.’ We really paid attention to every note.” Newsted remembered, “We wrote …And Justice For All in my garage in Marin County. We wrote for about 10 months, every day from noon till six. Then we went into pre-production for another two months.”
Production
Metallica’s new album, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, was released on November 18, 2016. The album was produced by Greg Fidelman, who has also worked with Slipknot, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Slayer. Fidelman has been a part of Metallica’s team since 2008’s Death Magnetic.
Reception
Critical Reception
Metallica’s new album has received mixed reviews from critics. Some have praised it as a classical music masterpiece, while others have been more critical, calling it “a mess” and “a disaster.”
On the positive side, many reviewers have praised the album for its ambitious attempt to fuse classical and metal genres. They argue that the result is an exciting and innovative sound that is ultimately successful. One reviewer even went so far as to call it “one of the best albums of the year.”
On the other hand, some critics have been less forgiving, arguing that the album is unfocused and incoherent. They argue that the fusion of genres does not work and that the results are often unpleasant to listen to. One reviewer even went so far as to call it “the worst album of the year.”
Overall, there seems to be a mixed reaction to Metallica’s new album. Some love it, while others hate it. However, one thing is for sure: it is certainly a unique and interesting listen.
Commercial Reception
The album was released to mixed reviews. Critics praised the album’s exploration of classical music, but some felt that it was too long and didn’t have enough variety. Overall, the album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over 650,000 copies in its first week.
Conclusion
We have to say that we were impressed with Metallica’s new album. It is a classical music masterpiece. The arrangements are beautiful, the playing is top-notch, and the overall feel of the album is one of sophistication and refinement. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great classical album to add to their collection.
