Your Review
Sign In to rate and review
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.
There definitely are some really good songs on here, but same goes for the opposite. Everything on here aside from Moth Into a Flame and Hardwired, has this sometimes very annoying alt metal tinge that can be god awful. Especially on Dream No More, I really appreciate what they were trying, but it didn't go over well. And it still definitely has some very boring songs just like Death Magnetic did. But it still has some fantastic metal songs that you can not deny.
Surprisingly, this album has some of Metallica's best riffs. The production is far better than the previous album 'Death Magnetic' and some of the songs really remind me of the 80's era... well most of the songs except one or two. I love the closing track, it is the best riff and the bass is pretty nice.
There are some really good moments on here, but there is way too far between them. This album did not have to be this long.
"Moth Into flame and especially "Spit Out The Bone" are genuinely really good songs in my book. The rest mostly varies from decent to boring.
Production is a bit too polished for my metal taste.
"Moth Into flame and especially "Spit Out The Bone" are genuinely really good songs in my book. The rest mostly varies from decent to boring.
Production is a bit too polished for my metal taste.
Eight years after the release of their previous studio effort, thrash-metal titans Mettalica are back with another obnoxious and tiresome album. Hardwired...To Self-Destruct shows the band once again indulging into their self-imposed bubble of riffs, themes and musical ideas, replicating yet again everything they've done after the Black Album, for better and for worse. Still, it's not a shameful record as St. Anger, for example, was. The production here sounds somehow a bit more organic and ... read more
Purchasing Hardwired...To Self-Destruct from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?
Become a Donor
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Donor badge, no ads + more benefits.
Year End Lists
| #1 | / | Revolver |
| #18 | / | Gigwise |
| #35 | / | Billboard |
| #36 | / | Rolling Stone |
| #36 | / | Rolling Stone (Australia) |
Decade Lists
| #85 | / | Rolling Stone (2010s) |
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 (45)
Added on: August 18, 2016
