On Nov.18, Metallica released their 10th studio album, “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct.”
The record opens with the title track “Hardwired” which starts off fast with the frantic pace and James Hetfield’s distinct vocals reminiscent of 1980s Metallica.
The whole album reflects many of the best aspects of the band’s first four albums, which is exactly what listeners were hoping for. Metallica had lost a lot of their core fans during the “Load,” “Reload” and “St. Anger” years.
“Hardwired” is a step in the right direction in bringing back the old Metallica, who were one of the premier bands in bringing metal into the foreground of music world in the ‘80s. A big part of the revitalization of Metallica is the addition of bassist Robert Trujillo who previously played with artists such as Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society. Trujillo was added to the band in 2003 to replace former bassist Jason Newsted. His playing style brings a spark back to the band that has not been seen since the days of Cliff Burton. Singer and Rhythm Guitarist, James Hetfield even said that Trujillo “makes the band sound better.”
The new energy provided by Trujillo and the fact that the band features what is described by drummer Lars Ulrich as “simpler songs,” where they “introduce a mood and stick to it,” rather than having several change of pace and tempo, as the band has done on several albums since “…And Justice for All.” This method shows through on songs like “Atlas, Rise” which has a non-stop old-style Metallica pace from start to finish.
The songs on this record explore many different themes. The title track “Hardwired” sounds as if it is describing the current state of the world and where it may be heading. “Moth into Flame” is about the dangers of fame, reminiscent of celebrities like Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton. The track “Confusion,” which is about the all too real feeling that soldiers have when they are unable to separate the battlefield from home, has lyrics such as “Leave the battlefield, yet its horrors never heal, coming home from war, pieces don’t fit anymore.” Then there is “Murder One,” which is a tribute song for Lemmy Kilmister, the legendary singer and bassist for the band Motörhead.
There are also several bonuses on the deluxe edition such as the “Ronnie Rising Medley” which is a tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio, as well as covers of Deep Purple’s “When a Blind Man Cries” and Iron Maidens “Remember Tomorrow.” The bonus material also features several live tracks that were recorded at Rasputin Music in Berkeley, California in April to celebrate Record Store Day.
Overall this is a very good record which will bring listeners back to the old days of Metallica or at the very least help them forget the “Load,” “Reload” and “St. Anger” years. It may not be “Ride the Lightning” or “Master of Puppets,” but true Metallica fans will enjoy this record, any who disagree will be fair-weather fans, the ones who jumped on the bandwagon years ago.
