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CRITIC REVIEWS
80
While ‘Hardwired… To Self-Destruct’ isn’t dissimilar in delivery to their last record, 2008’s ‘Death Magnetic’, Metallica still – in their fifties – remain both vital and innovative.
80
Metallica have just made their finest record in 25 years. Hardwired … to Self Destruct is by no means perfect: at 88 minutes it’s far too long and sags dreadfully during its second half, but when it’s good, it’s almost startling in its efficacy.
80
The mostly epic-length tracks – almost entirely written by drummer Lars Ulrich and singer-guitarist James Hetfield – are melodically assured furies of serial riffing and tempo shocks.
80
Hardwired… to Self Destruct shows audiences a side of Metallica that’s been sorely missing for the last 29 years: fiery, focused, aggressive, disciplined.
80
If the riffs don't always sink in deeply -- and if the entire production feels slightly monochromatic -- what impresses here is the thought and musicality within the compositions and the performances, elements that have always been at the band's core and shine brightly on Hardwired...To Self-Destruct.
80
There’s plenty of returning to old ground, but this is not a derivative record, and neither is it a return to form. It finds Metallica rediscovering what makes them tick.
80
Beginning and ending on a high note, ‘Hardwired…’ miraculously leaves the listener hungry for more, following an all-out binge on some of Metallica’s strongest work since 1991.
70
Throughout Hardwired… To Self-Destruct’s extended runtime is the sound of band that finally seems to be playing whatever they want without any outside pressure.
70
Instantly more enjoyable than the laborious drag of Death Magnetic, by returning to their roots, the quartet have finally crafted a record that sounds like they’re having some fun.
65
Like Death Magnetic, the record attempts a self-conscious return to form; the only difference is that this time the band sound like they’re actually trying, and–dare I say it–maybe even having a bit of fun.
60
Though it will undoubtedly exceed listener expectations, Hardwired… still shows Metallica are at their best when they're loud, fast and mean.
60
This is essentially the same stuff they released in 2008, and since there are 77 minutes of it, it's entirely too much of the same stuff.
60
Thrash legends Metallica prove they've still got it in 2016.
58
At nearly 80 minutes, it’s understandable for an album like Hardwired… to Self-Destruct to have lulls, but the band gets way too comfortable way too early.
50
Hardwired is never embarrassing in the way of St. Anger or Lulu, but it’s rarely revelatory either. It’s not so much that Metallica is incapable of writing a good song in 2016; it’s just a little too complacent to write a truly great one.
30
There’s no evolutionary musical slipstream, or zeitgeist, for Metallica to fall into now. Metal has moved on, the world has moved on.
A worthy comeback album with heavy guitars, throttling drums, and above all else, an honest effort in at least 20 something years.
Favorite tracks: Hardwired, Now That We're Dead, Dream No More, Spit Out the Bone
Favorite tracks: Hardwired, Now That We're Dead, Dream No More, Spit Out the Bone
While far from the group's best work, Hardwired...To Self-Destruct is a largely solid collection of thrash metal tracks, which includes several of the best tracks Metallica has put out since the 90s. "Atlas, Rise!", "Halo On Fire", and "Spit Out The Bone" in particular rank among some of the best metal songs of 2016!
However for as excellent as this record is in moments, it unfortunately does not contain enough solid material to warrant its cumbersome double-album ... read more
However for as excellent as this record is in moments, it unfortunately does not contain enough solid material to warrant its cumbersome double-album ... read more
Some of the most bland metal I've heard in a while, Metallica decide to play it incredibly safe and deliver well over an hour of repetitive riffs and mundane lyrics, damn near every track is 1-2 minutes too long. If you can make it through this whole thing without getting bored once, i'll be very impressed.
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END OF YEAR LISTS
| #1 | / | Revolver |
| #18 | / | Gigwise |
| #35 | / | Billboard |
| #36 | / | Rolling Stone |
| #36 | / | Rolling Stone (Australia) |
MISC LISTS
| #1 | / | PopMatters (Metal) |
| #1 | / | Rolling Stone (Metal) |
Track List
- Hardwired
- Atlas, Rise!
- Now That We’re Dead
- Moth Into Flame
- Am I Savage?
- Halo on Fire
- Confusion
- Dream No More
- ManUnkind
- Here Comes Revenge
- Murder One
- Spit Out the Bone
In Library (39)
Added on: August 18, 2016
