Death Magnetic & Recyled Riffs: Good? Bad? Ugly?

As you've probably figured out by now, we're loving "Death Magnetic" here at MFA headquarters. The reviews I've read have been mostly positive as well, but there's some talk of the riffs on "Death Magnetic" being recycled from other albums. Well, "recycled" is how it's put by the folks out there who don't like the album. Those who do say they're "reminiscent" of the old stuff. What a difference a word makes, eh?

Here's my take, and I'm interested in hearing yours. For starters, as someone who loves "Death Magnetic" already, I can definitely hear lots of riffs throughout the album that are very similar to riffs from older albums. I distinctly hear traces of "Hit The Lights," "Damage Inc.," "Battery," "Orion," "Through the Never," and more in the new stuff. To me, though, it's usually an isolated few seconds where the new song sounds like the old one, and I have to think back for a sec about what Metallica song I'm reminded of. No songs on DM are flat-out clones of any old songs -- not by a mile.

I'm also not bothered by the fact that I can hear traces of old stuff in the new stuff. I am, admittedly, an easy-to-please fan in that, if I hear something and I like it, then it's good enough for me. I don't delve too much into demanding brand-new groundbreaking musical genius from any band, or thinking they owe me something absolutely new and different every time. More than anything, I'm just happy to hear some hardcore, fast, thrashy, angry, fuck-all Metallica that makes a good soundtrack for me driving down the road while I visualize myself driving a steamroller and running over all the cars that piss me off.

I think that, due to moves they've made in the past (from cutting their hair to suing Napster to doing non-thrash albums to...well, there are lots) Metallica just isn't going to please some people, and that's fine. But it seems like this whole "recycled riffs" complaining is a new level of unfairness, mainly because it seems to come from the same people who were really hacked off about Metallica's style change in the Load/Reload/S&M and, of course, St. Anger records. It seems to go like this:

1) I don't like Metallica's later stuff because it's not as hard and fast the old stuff.
But...
2) I don't like Death Magnetic because it's too much like the old hard and fast stuff.

I don't know...maybe I'm oversimplifying it, but that seems a little unfair.

Just wondering what you all think. \m/ Joe

Tags: death magnetic, metallica

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by SweetWilliam13 on September 22, 2008 at 7:27pm: So I guess it's ok for others to comment back in anger! I don't need to chill out...just wanna here some reasons to back up the opinions I'm hearing.

Danny you changed your tune real quick here...you came on the other post about this subject and more or less attacked me over asking why? Yup I'm the trouble maker and bad guy of course I am...my opinion differs from the masses and I stand up for myself and I'm the bad guy.

Tatia don't ya think that is a bit one sided what you had to say?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by BadAssMetalMaiden on September 22, 2008 at 7:30pm: lol no i dont think its one sided cos i am only one person and only have one opinion on a topic thats generally how it goes. And it also not one sided because at no stage have i said others arent entitled to have another opinion. So i dont see my comments as one sided at all.......As for.... 'just wanna here some reasons to back up the opinions I'm hearing'... it is simple i like what i like and i dont like what i dont like. And personally i like it alot. Thats all .. End of story; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SweetWilliam13 on September 22, 2008 at 7:36pm: that says.... alot. Not one sided....the fact that you, amanda and danny are friends has nothing to do with this??? You came to their side in their moment of need....I'm touched.

Again wonder why b/c I don't see it. But you like what you like b/c that's what you like and that's how it is. Ok.....then why pick on my opinion if we can all voice our opinion here??? You're contradicting yourself.

This diccussion is way more than I have ever wanted from MFA....you're right Tatia...end of story.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by danny dorraine on September 22, 2008 at 7:46pm: Hey Will i didn't like load and re-load but the more i listen to them, the more i liked them. Personally Death Magnetic is MORE than i expected and i think Rick Rubin is a genius. Maybe with time you'll love Death Magnetic as much as i do?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by SweetWilliam13 on September 22, 2008 at 7:52pm: I listen to it everytime I hear a song on the radio (which is everynight for hours at work) and give it more chances. It could grow more on me you're right...other albums have done so. BTW even tho I don't think DM is all that....I do think they will still kick ass in concert!!! I've seen them a few times and been blown away!!!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by BadAssMetalMaiden on September 22, 2008 at 7:58pm: lol you dont know me very well if you think that anything i have said to you is in defence of other people. Its my own opinion and when i wrote you in response to you. I hadnt even seen any of the other comments. I dont need others to think for me :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by danny dorraine on September 22, 2008 at 8:08pm: Whatever ppl think of this album doesn't really matter. This album has just brought metallica back almost from the dead. Metallica are STILL the best metal band on the planet!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by danny dorraine on September 22, 2008 at 8:20pm: Cheers Amanda see you at a gig next year, sexy???; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by danny dorraine on September 22, 2008 at 8:34pm: Me and you at a Metallica concert it would be THE DAY THAT NEVER ENDS , sexy!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by danny dorraine on September 22, 2008 at 8:53pm: Sweet, imagine me covered in chocolate, wanna lick???; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by BadAssMetalMaiden on September 22, 2008 at 10:22pm: dude if you guys wanna cyber can do it where we dont have to see it :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by danny dorraine on September 22, 2008 at 10:37pm: you can join in Tash, let's get the mfa orgy going again!!!; ▶ Reply to This

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