Hardwired... to Self-Destruct is the tenth studio album by the American thrash/heavy metal band, Metallica. The album lasts a duration of 77:26. It was released on November 18, 2016 by the music label Blackened.

Lineup:

James Hetfield – guitar, vocals

Kirk Hammett – guitar

Robert Trujillo – bass guitar, backing vocals

Lars Ulrich – drums

Production:

Greg Fidelman – production, mixing, recording

Mike Gillies – additional recording

Sara Lyn Killion – additional recording

Dan Monti – digital editing

Jim Monti – digital editing

Jason Gossman – digital editing

Ken Matcke – assistant engineering

Dave Collins – mastering

Turner Duckworth – cover design

Herring & Herring – photography, creative direction

Background:

Hardwired... to Self-Destruct is without a doubt, the best Metallica album in twenty five years, but how does it stack up to those earlier classic releases. Metallica definitely fixed some major problems they had on their previous couple of releases. The production of this album sounds fantastic and really helps this album's song writing shine unlike Death Magnetic, which suffers from its terrible production value.

This album has a ton of groove and melody that this band has not utilized since The Black Album came out in 1991. This is a huge plus that instantly makes this album far more memorable and an absolute joy to listen to. James Hetfield's vocals did not sound very good on Metallica's last few releases, but on this album his vocals are delivered well and he falls into a very comfortable vocal range that does not strain his voice. The song writing on this album includes elements of heavy metal and thrash metal combined on one disc.

Hardwired... to Self-Destruct debuted at 1 on the Billboard 200. The album has since gone Platinum in the United States for selling one million copies and counting. Each track will be rated as follows: I Hate It, I Dislike It, It's Okay, I Like It, I Love It. Here are my thoughts on each track:

Track Listing:

Disc 1:

1. "Hardwired" 3:09

This is a very basic track that also happens to be perfectly placed as the opener to this record. It begins with some fast hitting guitar riffs that are backed by some fast paced drumming. This song is one that was probably extremely fun for the band to perform and really contains that thrash metal sound that made this band famous.

Grade: I Like It

2. "Atlas, Rise!" 6:28

This is definitely one of my favorites from the album. The guitar riffs, vocals, and chorus are extremely catchy. I never get bored when I listen to this song thanks to the addictive verses and chorus that make this an immediate classic from this record. The guitar solo is simply fantastic to make this track that much better.

Grade: I Love It

3. "Now That We're Dead" 6:59

Metallica continues to show promise with this track. "Now That We're Dead" may just be the catchiest song on the entire album. The chugging guitar riff and memorable verses may be extremely simple, but they are also extremely effective. The chorus is killer. The guitar solo is fantastic as well.

Grade: I Like It

4. "Moth into Flame" 5:50

I love the opening to this song as it really builds up to the first verse well. I love the guitar riffs and Hetfield's vocals are probably the best during this track as far as this album is concerned. The chorus is another brilliant one that I always sing along to. The guitar solo is another impressive one that sounds fantastic as so many Hammett solos do. This is one of my favorite tracks from the entire record.

Grade: I Love It

5. "Dream No More" 6:29

I love the dark atmosphere that this track begins with because of the mood it sets for the entire song. This song really reminds me somewhat of "Devil's Dance" off of the album Reload. The slow groove driven guitar riffs really fit the lyrical content and help create that unsettling atmosphere this track employs. The guitar solo is also terrific.

Grade: I Like It

6. "Halo on Fire" 8:15

Do not let the 8:15 length keep you from listening to this fantastic track. It has a very strong chorus, terrific vocals, and some awesome buildup throughout. The guitar riffs are really great because of how well they compliment the other instruments. Hammett delivers guitar solos that fit the track well and are not too flashy, but compliment the other elements of the song.

Grade: I Like It

Disc 2:

1. "Confusion" 6:41

The opening to this track is excellent and is definitely the most memorable part of the song. I do enjoy the guitar riffs because of their faster pace and overall unique sound. The song is very simple, but really catchy. The track does run a bit too long, but I enjoy the lyrics and groove of the entire track.

Grade: It's Okay

2. "ManUNkind" 6:55

I like the bass opening of the song and the intro to the song, but whenever I listen to this track, the song really does not command my attention like many of the other songs on this album. The lyrics are pretty cheesy and the song really lasts too long. It is not a bad song, but it is simply too repetitive and too long.

Grade: It's Okay

3. "Here Comes Revenge" 7:17

This song suffers from the exact thing that the last two tracks also suffer from. This song is simply too long and lacks originality that helps it stand out when compared to the rest of the album. The chorus is a monster one that is memorable, but the rest of the song is simply not memorable in the slightest. Another decent track that is neither bad or good.

Grade: It's Okay

4. "Am I Savage?" 6:29

I really enjoy this track and it picks this album back up at a much needed time. This is a grower though because the more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it. There are some really groovy guitar riffs and that chorus is really infectious. The guitar solo is also a big time addition to this track.

Grade: I Like It

5. "Murder One" 5:45

Now comes the worst song from the entire album. This is a tribute to Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister and it could not be any more cheesy lyrically and it is somewhat boring musically. This track still sounds decent, but it drags for its near six minute run time. The guitar solo is the one part of the song that I really enjoy. Despite its negatives, this song is okay.

Grade: It's Okay

6. "Spit Out the Bone" 7:09

Metallica brings the thrash metal elements for this outstanding closer. I love the speed and ferocity that this song contains as well as some of its terrific guitar riffs. The chorus is fantastic and instantly memorable. The guitar solos are also really great and are some of Hammett's finest from the entire record.This album could not have closed on any higher of a note.

Grade: I Love It

My Verdict:

Production:

Metallica definitely got the sound of this album exactly how it needs to be. The instruments all sound powerful and really cut through the mix. I love how big this album sounds and it really proved that Metallica was not only back to playing quality music, but music that stacks up to some of their best work.

Score: 19 / 20

Album Flow:

The first disc of the record flows perfectly as each song seems to build off the other and really keeps the listener guessing. The second half of the album is a bit underwhelming when compared to the first half. None of the tracks are particularly bad, but there are not as many tracks that stand out. The album does end on an extremely high note though.

Score: 15 / 20

Song Writing:

This is without a doubt the most enjoyable songwriting from the band since The Black Album came out in 1991. Death Magnetic had some impressive songwriting as well but did not have nearly as many high-quality tracks as this album has. From start to finish this release has some solid songwriting throughout thanks to monster riffs and catchy choruses that are very memorable.

Score: 48 / 60

Overall Scoring Scale:

0-20: Garbage

21-40: Poor

41-49: Below Average

50-60: Average

61-74: Above Average

75-89: Good

90-100: Must Own

Overall Score: 82 / 100