Released in late-November, I feel like I’m still
digesting Metallica’s first record
in 8 years. As I write, I think this is
probably my least favourite Metallica
album ever (NB: I still love 2003’s St.
Anger and don’t care what anyone – i.e., everyone – else says). Despite that damning sounding verdict, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct has still
made a healthy 8th place on this list, which probably says a lot
about how much I love this band. Plus I
get the sense that it may grow in my estimation given more time. Terribly named (self-conscious ellipses, much?),
Hardwired…To Self-Destruct definitely
has its moments. The opener ‘Hardwired’
is galloping late-80s Metallica
thrash (though the profanity doesn’t distract anyone from the fact that you’re
in your 50s, guys), ‘Atlas Rise’ is a real wallop, and album best ‘Moth into
the Flame’ is flawless stuff. But we’ve
got through these 3 tracks by song 4. Of
course, there’s still much more to enjoy amongst the remaining 7 tracks: ‘Am I
Savage?’ belongs on one of the unfairly maligned Load/Reload records from
the 90s, and ‘ManUNkind’ has a great groove.
However, there are some duds here too (see ‘Murder One’ – sigh). They’re still better than the vast majority
of their metal counterparts, but compared to Metallica’s first 20-odd years, this feels a little rote at times. Having said that, in its good moments, it still
destroys all challengers.
sample track: Moth into the Flame