I was totally unprepared for this album. The record was announced in August of 2016 just moments before its first single “Hardwired” was released… and it rocks.
If you’re not a huge Metallica fan – or even just a casual fan of the heavy metal genre – this album has something for you. While both James Hetfield’s vocals and Kirk Hammett’s guitar range have not expanded in the eight years since Death Magnetic, they still punch you with raw power, great riffs, and tremendous tone.
You can feel producer Greg Fidelman’s influence on nearly every minute of Hardwired – the depth and warmth of the band were finally captured in an adequate fashion as the brutality of both St. Anger and Death Magnetic were lost in the ‘brick wall.’ The album flows seamlessly from track to track – as I listened, I genuinely appreciated the delineation of each song as opposed to guessing whether or not a breakdown had ended or a new song began. Moreover, Kirk’s solos (while still somewhat muddled) are crisp, sharp, and multi-tonal.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Metallica is the way they treat their fans, both live and through their merch offerings. I ordered the deluxe vinyl edition (pictured below) and couldn’t be happier with the package – at $70 with shipping, it’s by far the most expensive new release I’ve seen in some time, but undoubtedly worth it.
Favorites:
-Hardwired
-Now That We’re Dead
-Moth Into Flame
-Spit Out the Bone
-Ronnie Rising Medley (Kill the King! \m/\m/)
