I give Activision credit for scooping up this exclusive, but releasing a brand new album on a music game doesn't seem to be as smart as releasing a classic album. When I play these games, especially with friends, especially when there are vocals involved, and especially when there is beer involved. I'd much rather play the songs that I already know and just concentrate on singing balls to the wall.

PollockRoc

Terrible album.

sadbad

Exclusivity contracts blow. Unlike this album.

That is all.

BrywalkerX

this use to be a great band they just decided walk on the same path of NINTENDO >Lets appeal the masses and we'll become cheap and crap<

mpar

@PollockRoc: Good Point

Pancho_Villasan

"We're proud to be setting a new precedent for our two industries, making an entire new album available in two different mediums simultaneously."

Really? Simultaneously? Oh I'm so impressed.... Pfft. Look, Rock band Did albums first, and they sure picked better ones too (The Cars, and Judas Priest are both better in my opinion.)

Not gonna say GH shouldn't do it, I guess it makes sense if you want to keep up with the good games... but they way they always make it seem like they're some god and the first to do anything and everything gets annoying.

KaemonKei

The new album is great. I wasn't expecting anything after St Anger but it really is fucking good. Look foward to this.

Sam Smith

@Pancho_Villasan: Yeah, but maybe she's still a good lay. That seems to be the case here.

PollockRoc

Ah, Metallica. Just like Megadeath but without the talent.

Morpork

Too bad the album leaked last week. I listened and I think its pretty terrible, and totally sounds like them trying to go through the motions of the old records. Its about as essential as a new Rolling Stones album. The next one will be the Santana format: guests on every track. Metallica is done.

zacshipley

@RuttedStar: Activision and Guitar Hero: Metallica happened.

TRT-X

I have no interest in Metallic anymore and I'm not into GH or RB, but I must say that things like this bring a smile to my face. A true sign that the future is here.

Teamwork Takedown

The new album is actually pretty damn good. This will be my first DLC purchase for GH3, so freaking happy that it will work with GHWT.

Would have rather had it in Rock Band, but what can you do? I just want to have fun with the songs.

Struct09

It's a great album, been listening to it in my car everyday since it "came out".

I'll get it when World Tour comes out. I didn't even touch GH3, but WT looks like fun (it likely won't replace Rock Band, but I feel its worth at least grabbing for some of the different tracks) and I look forward to belting out some of the lyrics.

CyN1caL

I'm sorry but Metallica is like that chick in High School that was hot, and you see her again later in life and find out she got fuck-ugly...I'm just sayin.

Pancho_Villasan

@mxmarks: More importantly, it sets the dangerous precedent that they will NOT be offering individual singles.

Even for full albums.

@el_rezzo: In theory it may be $1.79 per track. But when you consider that you either buy the whole album, or nothing...it fails.

I was able to stomach the 3-pack mentality (though I only bought the Foo Pack), but a full album with the same stipulation?

Forget it.

TRT-X

Metallica in decent album shocker! Wow nice to see them back on track (hopefully, I've only heard one track and it is pretty good) after the disappointing Bob Rock years. Rubin is a genius imo, nice to see them get a much needed kick up the backside.

Guitar Hero and its kin has been a godsend for the major record labels panicking about the failure of DRM and the accessibility of illegal peer to peer downloads. Now they have a new avenue to exploit. No wonder Lars is happy! ;p

ZombieAlmeida

@0bsessions: I've just heard parts, but a friend of mine has heard the album in its entirety, and yeah, it seems as though its going to be a pretty damn good album. I'm with you though, I'm committing my MS points to Rock Band and it's going to take Activision more than one killer album to get me back. Especially with the forthcoming Rock Band albums.

PollockRoc

@RuttedStar: I'm pretty sure it's been exclusive for a while now.

The new album is amazing, and will be even for amazing to try to play once World Tour hits in November. Luckily I have a few mates who also like the new album so I won't have any problems getting people around to play though the album. The price seems right, $1.79 per track for a brand new album (interested to see the exclusive version of the instrumental). Will probably get a price cut a month or two after it has come out.

el_rezzo

I am sorely tempted. This is easily their best effort since ...And Justice For All, but that price is absolutely abysmal, even that Best Buy deal is pretty crap as you could probably get the album for $10 on release day at some retailers.

If this were for Rock Band, I'd buy it in an instant, but I was pretty horribly burned by GH III. Maybe if they release a demo of one of the songs, I'll give it a shot.

0bsessions

Bleh. Let em have a concert in Guantanamo Bay. They just LOVE playing their part in torturing limousine drivers.

[motherjones.com]

lumpi

@Sodders: Was it? You could be right :D But it sucks both ways. Anyways they promised real DLC for GHIV so I'm waiting for that.

jandeeg

...but it hit the intertubes last week.

nonpareil

@eddienoteddy: It doesn't specify the special edition only, you sure? Either way, people will buy it

yourenzyme

What happened to this being available for Rock Band? Was that cancelled?

RuttedStar

@Benjamin Linus: Interesting. I was just telling some of my friends that it sounds like it should have been between And Justice For All and the Black album. I've really enjoyed it so far. Definately sounds more like the Metallica of old.

Hamsnibit

$17.99!?!

Fuck that. If this is the price point for future GH:WT albums, forget it.

mxmarks

@jandeeg: You sure it wasn't Harmonix that said they were gonna do that? Since they already did just that back in July.

Sodders

@yourenzyme: yeah for 30$

[www.bestbuy.com]

eddienoteddy

Hmm, now how am I going to download this to my Wii again?

Speaking of which: where is that "DLC-on-a-Disc"-version of GHIII that Activision promised us?

jandeeg

Oh God NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Torgo

@svenhoek: see for yourself

+ Watch video

eddienoteddy

I've never liked metal... isn't it all just noise? XD

arkracer

The whole album is great IMO - and this is coming from a very bitter and disenchanted Metallica fan. I mean honestly, before I listened to the whole thing, I was sure it was gonna suck.

Much to my surprise, it was damn good. A very solid album. Is it Metallica's best? No. Metallica will never be as good as they used to be, but thems the breaks. People get old. 'Altho I will say, Kirk gives one of his best peformances ever on this album (he is just incredible).

I think one critic said it best, this is like the missing link between "..and Justice" and the "black album".

4/5

Benjamin Linus

its free when you buy the cd from best buy. For the 360 at least.

yourenzyme

I havent heard any of the new stuff yet. Is it any good?

svenhoek

yesssssssssssssss

the new single "the day that never comes" is so classic

I love this!

Metallica FTW

eddienoteddy

i know this has been said before. but for the younger kids and those who've forgotten. metallica f'd us all and killed napster and lars ulrich is a whiney little b. they had a couple good albums back in the day... back, back in the day. but you gotta take the high road and boycott 'em. stop sucking down whatever crap music is shoved in your face.

elurstoidi

@TRT-X:

But this was also said...

[kotaku.com]

I hope it still comes to Rock Band :(

RuttedStar

Wow, there are some people here really itching to love Metallica no matter what they've thrown at the wall here.

This album is really bad. Is it as bad as St. Anger? No, but few albums by ANY band are as bad as St. Anger.

It's really tired and cliched, but that doesn't mean it isn't true - this band stopped being relevant after the black album. The last acceptable release they put out was Garage Inc, and it doesn't say much for your reputation when your last good album was 10 years ago and made up entirely of covers.

They just don't have it anymore. Period. The shoddy production on this album (surprising considering Rubin is behind it) and the last one didn't help either.

If you want Bay Area metal, it's all about Testament and Megadeth at this point. And it's not like I WANT to dislike Metallica, I don't! I wish they were good. But it's not happening.

KaneRobot

For the record:

Death Magnetic: 11 Songs for 1440 = 130 pts/song

Doolittle: 14 Songs for 1520 = 108 pts/song
The Cars: 9 Songs for 1200 = 133 pts/song
Screaming for Vegeance 9 songs for 1200 = 133 pts/song
Moving Pictures 7 songs for 880 = 125 pts/song (when it was annouced)

Setting aside musical opinion, which is the better deal? Especially considering that if you don't want ALL of Death Magnetic you have no choice, vs. RB where you could spend 160 pts and grab one song.

I'm sorry, but if they're going to force us to go album or bust on this, they need to provide a bigger discount than they currently are.

TRT-X

@Pancho_Villasan: no, shes that hot girl from highschool who turned in to a bonafide MILF

eddienoteddy

@Morpork: wait you ment Megadeath, like MetallicA but without talent

EVIL_V2

it would be great if you could buy a copy of the cd for say £17.99 which included a code for the GH download rather than 1440 (£12 ish) points for the DLC plus another £10 for the cd = £22 in total which is a bit pricey

exprohound

Damn. I may have to give this album a listen. I won't be buying this for GHWT though.

def PD

@arkracer:

Is not all music noise? Albeit, melodic noise?

Also, I'm surprised to hear more positive than negative comments about this new album. Guess hating Metallica isn't as contagious as I thought.

Troubadour

That's some crappy pricing scheme.

Adding a reworked track just to drive up the price is nefarious, plus no single track purchase option makes Activision more evil than Satan herself.

Hugoku

Ugh, just release some of their good stuff before they started hiring lawyers and shrinks, the new stuff is crap and sounds like a Metallica Dr. Seuss book.

daschupa

@KaneRobot:

I have to disagree that Metallica "just doesn't have it." Their latest material has been less than great but Death Magnetic has certainly taken very, very small steps in the right direction.

Now, they'll actually have to put a lot of effort into it, but they're definitely capable of producing music much closer to old material.

If you youtube Metallica you'll eventually find videos of them playing live, within the last couple years, also playing old material from Ride The Lightning, Kill Em All and Master Of Puppets; It doesn't sound bad at all, just a little different.

They can play old Metallica, they just need to get back into the old Metallica's mindset. Possibly grow their hair back or get wigs.

Hey_guy

@KaneRobot:

Disagree strongly. And to say people that like this album are only liking it because they want to love Mettallicas new stuff is not true.

Just because you don't like it...ah screw it, not worth my time arguing.

Benjamin Linus

Please people, separate your hate for the band from the music they make.

People who say they have no talent? You are sadly mistaken. Even if you don't like metal or their music, they have talent. Such a ridiculous statement.

I know people are still butt hurt over Lars being a douche, hell I even hate him. But it still doesn't change the fact that they have made good music in the past (unless you don't like metal) - and the new album is actually solid.

Benjamin Linus

@ahmybrain: Guess you did read the news. But you fired first, read later :P

Struct09

@ahmybrain: Did you actually bother reading the news?

Struct09

Wait.

Nevermind.

I fucked up.

Kudos to Activision (can you use those words that way) for making this compatible with WT.

ahmybrain

And, if you're lucky, in a month or so, Activision will let you buy it for GH:WT for the same price! Again! Awesome!!

ahmybrain

@KaneRobot: Take into account that they have been thoroughly surpassed by many bands in terms of composition, execution and technicality.

I've never liked Metallica, the closest I got to liking them was Master Of Puppets (An excellent if overrated album) back in '86, just not my cup of tea, much rather listen to Forbidden if I want a fix of classic Bay Area Thrash.

zoesch

@Struct09: same here.

already heard the album. Metallica is definitely back. a quantum leap over St. Anger, for sure. its a combo of pre-black album days, and the black album, minus the alternaive offerings that came after the black album. as a long time Metallica fan, i enjoyed the album.

first GH related stuff i am buying that is for sure.

zanzibarlegend

screw metallica lets listen to some meshuggah

FlapDangerous

It's too bad this album is plain ol' awful. It's a bit of a step up from the abortion known as St. Anger, but it still stinks.

HaydenTenno

About damn time they released the info for this. The price isn't that great, but hey, I love the album, I've been listening to NOTHING but the new album since, and it kicks ass. All Nightmare Long FTW :). Figured there'd be a few "Metallica isn't relevant blah blah blah sellouts blah blah St Anger blah blah black album." people though. Oh well, don't enjoy good music then, I'll be furiously headbanging even more this Friday :). I imagine I'll get a "Metallica FANBOY!" response to this too. Awesome.

TheUBERspectre

The new cd is good, does anyone else see Goatse on the Cd cover? Just Imagine a set of hands ripping open that coffin. 'shudder'

See what I mean? [i33.tinypic.com]

Sixdust

@108: unless they also put up the entire KYUSS discography!

108

remind me, uhhh, not to buy guitar hero before (or after) this friday!

108

The album cover looks a bit vaginal... and unshaven. Screw Metallica, let's listen to Death Breath. Or Behold the Arctopus. Or Scorch Trio.

scrapeape

I thought this album was great, I mean nothing great like Master of Puppets or Kill 'Em All, but I like other thrash bands more than them now.

For example, Nuclear Assault,Annihilator,Megadeth(Their older stuff),Death(Even though their not together anymore, it's still a great thrash band),Death Angel,Testament,Overkill,Sepultura,Anthrax,Exodus, And of course, FUCKING SLAYER.

Slayer is awesome. Anyway, as you can see I love thrash XD

Wizxon

Too bad it's been torrented for about 2 weeks now.

nyaz

@KaneRobot: to each their own i guess. i enjoyed the album, fo rthe reasons i stated above.

@FlapDangerous: LOL Meshuggah? go listen to Opeth. they will eat Meshuggah for dinner and spit them out for breakfast. seriously don't go there.

zanzibarlegend

And the award for the most covertly phallic album art ever goes tooooo…

-EDGE-

@108: Well, want to join my sludge pack request for Baroness, Kyuss and Torche?

zoesch

I liked the first 3 songs + Cyanide and Suicide and Redemption. Overall the worst songs are Unforgiven III and Judas priest because, well they suck. It's a decent CD, but not in my top 50. Iced Earth's new CD on the other hand.. they should make that into DLC.

pcgecko85

@RuttedStar: I'm holding out hope, but the recent news that Enter Sandman doesn't carry over with the RB1 export is leaving me wondering if Activision wasn't able to wrap their grubby claws around Metallica.

TRT-X

@Morpork:
"Ah Metallica. Just like Megadeth without the constantly-changing lineup/right-wing overtones"
Ahem.
It's all good. I do like both Megadeth and Metallica, it's just that Megadeth can't top Rust in Peace, whereas Metallica is close to topping....damn I can't even choose a favorite album. I guess everything except Load/Reload/St. Anger.

And lol@ death metal lovers. Go mock bad bands in your own genre. Metallica isn't even close to Opeth/Meshuggah musically.

Benjammn

@zanzibarlegend: Technically Meshuggah will eat Opeth for breakfast, bones included... I like both a lot, you might like Opeth more, but a spade is a spade, in terms of composition and technicality Meshuggah wipes the floor with Opeth, not that Opeth was ever or intends to be a technical band.

@scrapeape: Yeah it's like a magnetic vagina... and why not Decapitated or Psycroptic too in your list?

zoesch

New album is ok, James sounds like crap though. Sorry buddy, your voice was good 10 years ago, its just not as good anymore.

Massiah

@lightweaponx: I went from having that exact attitude to most every band I listen to having harsh vocals. It just takes that one band to break that barrier.

Madeira

@zoesch: I would have to agree with you on that, master of puppets was the only song I like from metallica. Is it just me or does anyone else think that metallica fans are a bit like FFVII fans, even one bad comment about subject and get you the wrath of the fanboys. IMO, both (metallica and FFVII) are good in their own right, but just a bit overrated. And here comes the wrath...

cin1122

@Madeira: 'is a greatness'... lol

It's pretty damn awesome is what I'm trying to say there.

Madeira

Most of the bands people keep listing off here that are "better" than Metallica have cookie monster fucking vocals. I say screw that shit. I'd rather be able to understand what the fuck they are singing then a bunch of loud noise. Death Magnetic is a really good step away from St. Anger in the right direction. With their next album they may even be able to approach the epicness of their 80's stuff.

lightweaponx

@zanzibarlegend: Morningrise is a greatness. MAYH is near perfection. But Opeth has lost it, they are a caricature of themselves now while Meshuggah is still potent. In no way does Opeth have anything on that band. And I own every Opeth album and barely listen to Meshuggah.

Opeth is the perfect gateway band into bigger and better things, much like Metallica was back when they were getting popular.

Madeira

@elurstoidi: So...metallica (more specifically, Lars) screwed you because they wanted you to pay for their music? For shame!

kwicherbichin

seems like Rock Band and Guitar Hero are becoming something of the Hollywood Squares for the aging rock band community. first Motley Crue's single on Rock Band does better than it did in any other market and now Metallica's got their new album premiering on launch day in GH? is everyone ready for Amy Grant's comeback with Guitar Praise??

ultra_balexbot

@Madeira

There is one band I like that has harsh vocals, All That Remains that is unless you also consider Lordi to be in the same vein as those other bands but I consider them more hard rock than any type of Metal. I still don't care for basically every other band that sings like that.

lightweaponx

Awesome, I'm glad the new album is good, now I have to get it myself!

excel_excel

Oh and the album.... well, I'll be blunt:

METALLICA! WHOOOOOO!

They are back.

Amsterdaam

I've gotta say, 17.99 is not a bad price point. A new CD at best buy is what 12 or 13.99, right? Now, think of all the extra work that goes into programming all 4 difficulties for multiple instruments, character movement, lighting, etc. I'd say that is worth 5 extra bucks.

Amsterdaam

@Amsterdaam:
In comparison, Screaming for Vengeance on Rock Band was $14.99, so $17.99 is not bad for a brand-new album.
@Amsterdaam:
And why yes, they are.

Benjammn

I cant wait to play All Nightmare Long!!!

ClutchWarrior

I'm actually excited for this one, I might buy this because it is forward compatible with GH:WT which I'll probably buy game only and use the Rock Band 2 bundle for instruments.

Couple that with RB being compatible with the GH3 PS3 Les Paul guitar and now I'll have 2 working guitars with either game as well, yay!

Ashura

Metallica? I thought those guys had died a long long time ago.

sixonedoesitall

It's a decent album. I don't think it's as good as their first three or the Load albums, but I like it a lot more than AJFA, TBA and St. Anger.

Unforgiven III is one of the worst songs they've ever written, though.

Combichristoffersen

@Benjamin Linus: People get old? That excuse sucks. Mustaine is as old, has had surgery and can still play like he did in the 80's. Too bad Metallica can't. I'll still give this cd a 3/5 because it's a helluva lot better than St. Anger which was just total crap.

Lachoy

People made a stink when Braid was 15$, but when songs come out at a price only slightly higher, it's ooooookay?

Talleh

@Combichristoffersen: i think AJFA deserves a little more credit than you give it. but yeah i agree its a decent album not as good as the first three but decent.

Milkzhakes

HELL YEAH! MetallicA!

AokiShinya

@Pancho_Villasan:

You mean that hot chick in HS you were never able to get with, so it left you bitter later in life?

EnigmaNemesis

@Hey_guy: Two words: Alka. Hall. X-D

I love the new album though. It almost makes up for St. Anger.

Almost.

edb87

@Milkzhakes:
I just don't like AJFA at all (actually I think it's their second worst album, only beaten by St. Anger). I don't like the production (it sounds flat and dry, and the bass is nowhere to be found) and the songs just bore me (they suffer from the same syndrome as Iron Maidens A Matter of Life and Death album do; the songs are unnecessarily long, and just seems to plod along without really going anywhere.. I do like Dyer's Eve, though).

Combichristoffersen

I just hope the "Metal Militia" guys go back to the heavy crunch crunch days of Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and And Justice for all. I tuned out once they started going all Bob Seager Rock, With the Load and Re-Load crap

JASONSPAZ1

I just don't see why they can't do this for the actual Guitar Hero: Metallica.

NESSter

I think a combo at a nice price point would have netted more $$$ for all involved...say $20? This smacks of Metalligreed's money grubbing. Good artists or not (it's universal St. Anger was awful) they are greedy fucks.

And they'll never reach the old days. Lars can't bang the drums nearly as fast anymore. Maybe in studio, with digital help, but watch live and he's slowed down a lot.

Mal-Content

like the song I do

holybarbie

Contrary to the prevalent tall-poppy syndrome peddling idiots, Death Magnetic is really fucking good.

Metallica's back baby.

Moggo

SHIT! I have GH3 on PS3 but I'm getting GHWT on 360! SHIT!

icegoat

Mhh... the song sounds... good???!!?? What the hell.

artofwar420

That album cover art is as creative and original as the music inside it.

LatinMessiah

@elurstoidi:
If Metallica hadn't shut down Napster, someone else would have. It was illegal, after all...Ulrich was just a face of prosecution, not the only one standing against Napster.

TuxBobble