Metallica's Hardwired Album Review
As a young proto-metalhead living in the hard streets of Riverside, Rhode Island we would all gather at whoever had the latest vinyl release and rock out for hours. Discussing techniques, listening to lyrics, guitar solos. The best albums offered up energy at its purest form. It transmitted from the vinyl grooves right into our little teenage brains. You could literally feel what the band or artist was trying to convey.
Metallica's latest release, Hardwired to self destruct offers up a modern day version of that same energy and spirit from days gone by. It is a powerful statement from a band that many had written off. One song...Now were all dead...that is the only song you need to listen to. But there are many, many more. This is grade a material from a group of artists who managed to capture their energy and channel it through this disc. This is real, this is power, this is the definition of a classic metal album.
Another great sign of a good, solid album is that you can listen to it over again. This album does that. Another sign is when you discover that moving beyond the title track you still find perfect gems of songs. Like Iron Maiden, and AC/DC before them, on this album there is not one weak or throwaway song. Yes we waited but damn it was worth it.
10/10 Wolf Howls
Track listing
All lyrics written by James Hetfield.Disc one
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hardwired" |
| 3:09 |
2. | "Atlas, Rise!" |
| 6:31 |
3. | "Now That We're Dead" |
| 6:59 |
4. | "Moth into Flame" |
| 5:50 |
5. | "Dream No More" |
| 6:29 |
6. | "Halo on Fire" |
| 8:15 |
Total length: | 37:13 |
Disc two
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Confusion" |
| 6:41 |
2. | "ManUNkind" |
| 6:55 |
3. | "Here Comes Revenge" |
| 7:17 |
4. | "Am I Savage?" |
| 6:29 |
5. | "Murder One" |
| 5:45 |
6. | "Spit Out the Bone" |
| 7:09 |
Total length: | 40:16 |
Disc three
Tracks 5–13 were recorded live at Rasputin Music in Berkeley, California on April 16, 2016, for Record Store Day. Track 14 was recorded live at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 20, 2016.Deluxe edition | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
1. | "Lords of Summer" |
| 7:10 |
2. | "Ronnie Rising Medley ("A Light in the Black" / "Tarot Woman" / "Stargazer" / "Kill the King")" (medley of Rainbow covers) | 9:03 | |
3. | "When a Blind Man Cries" (Deep Purple cover) | 4:35 | |
4. | "Remember Tomorrow" (Iron Maiden cover) | 5:50 | |
5. | "Helpless" (Diamond Head cover, live) |
| 3:08 |
6. | "Hit the Lights" (live) |
| 4:06 |
7. | "The Four Horsemen" (live) |
| 5:19 |
8. | "Ride the Lightning" (live) |
| 6:56 |
9. | "Fade to Black" (live) |
| 7:24 |
10. | "Jump in the Fire" (live) |
| 5:13 |
11. | "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (live) |
| 4:32 |
12. | "Creeping Death" (live) |
| 6:43 |
13. | "Metal Militia" (live) |
| 6:07 |
14. | "Hardwired" (live) |
| 3:30 |
Total length: | 79:37 |
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[48]Metallica
- James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
- Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals[49]
- Lars Ulrich – drums
Production
- Greg Fidelman – production, mixing, recording
- Mike Gillies, Sara Lyn Killion – additional recording
- Dan Monti, Jim Monti, Jason Gossman – digital editing
- Ken Matcke – assistant engineering
- Dave Collins – mastering
- Turner Duckworth – cover design
- Herring & Herring – photography, creative direction
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