I haven't given it a full listen yet, but I was just listening some of the tracks with my flatmate who loves Metallica.
After hearing The Day That Never Comes a couple of weeks ago, I didn't have particularly high hopes. Especially after that embarrassing section starting at 5 mins with the gimmicky riffs.
After listening to a few more tracks, they seem ok and definitely superior to St Anger, but nothing great. My problem is that a lot of it seems predictable and pedestrian. Especially the parts where they take one riff, repeat it and then add a variation for the third and fourth rounds... and that variation seems to be either switching 2 notes around, moving it down/up a bit, adding a second guitar playing the same riff, or playing it with two and taking one away. And I won't even start on the production... coupled with Lars' drumming, it makes it sound like a workout session.
I'll give it a full listen sometime - maybe it'll grow on me. I look forward to hearing the Unforgiven III.
|