New Metallica album came out on Friday. I was highly uninterested when they released the first single, "Hardwired..." about a month ago. I'm very glad to say that that song is the low point on the album, and they haven't sounded this good as a band since the mid-90's. I love the "Load/ReLoad" albums and era, and the new disc has a lot of that vibe to it. Hetfield's voice is amazing again, he production and mastering is lightyears beyond Death Magnetic, and even Kirk has his shining moments. For instance, I don't know where he pulled the solo for Dream No More from, because it could possibly be his best solo of the last 15+ years.
I'm really digging the album. I am not a fan of 50 year old men still trying to play thrash music (and act like they still have that angst inside), so I'm greatly relieved that there are only two or three songs on there that follow that vein. Most is very heavy, driving music with good melodies and excellent composition. It's thankfully NOT trying to be Master of Puppets or Ride The Lightning... Those are amazing albums, but they need to stay 30 years in the past, where they belong.
If you like that kind of music, give it a listen.