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Death Magnetic (by Metallica, Rock)

common sense media says

Rock vets deliver dark images, big guitar riffs.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this album -- which made its debut as the first full downloadable album for the video game Guitar Hero III -- has all the trademark heavy metal staples: lyrics about death, dying, and pain accompanied by driving guitars and furious beats. Younger teens might not be ready for some songs' haunting images (references to annihilation, spilling blood, poison, and stalkers, to name a few) and intense vocals. Discussions of suicide and retribution are also briefly mentioned.

Positive messages: Lyrics from "Cyanide" demonstrate the album's dark tone: "Suicide, I've already died, you're just the funeral I've been waiting for, cyanide, living dead inside, break this empty shell forevermore." Overall the album's mood is introspective, dealing with feelings of shame, depression, anger, and fear.
Violence: Intense lyrics include "Choke, asphyxia, snuff reality" (from "The End of the Line") and "'Cause we hunt you down without mercy, Hunt you down all nightmare long" (from "All Nightmare Long"). The vocals and general musical style are also aggressive.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Death Magnetic

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why Metallica would decide to pair their music with a video game like Guitar Hero III. Why would that appeal to them? How are games like Guitar Hero influencing the music industry? Also, how has the band's sound changed? After many years of trying to fit into the alternative rock sound, Metallica has come back to heavy metal. Do you think that decision was influenced by today's popular music, or do you think the band generally wanted to try something else? How influential do you think current music trends are on the direction that an established band takes?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Even though Metallica has been around for nearly 30 years, the heavy metal rockers aren't done rocking quite yet. This is their ninth studio album, and the first with new bassist Robert Trujillo and mega-producer Rick Rubin. The album also marks a milestone in gaming, as the band allowed music from the CD to be downloaded for use in the Guitar Hero III video game before the album's actual release.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Thunderous and imposing, heavy metal is enjoying a resurgence of late (at least partly thanks to the popularity of games like Guitar Hero). Metallica was there at the beginning of metal's move into pop culture, and, with this album, the band has gone back to its intense roots, embracing extended guitar-fueled riffs and the dark, brooding images of their past. "The Day That Never Comes" is similar in theme to "Unforgiven," and "All Nightmare Long" has the same terror-inspiring imagery as "Enter Sandman."

But this time around, the band is a lot louder, with powerful guitars charging through every track. James Hetfield's vocals are also more aggressive and muscular than recent albums -- almost harmonic screaming, if you will. Even the once-melodic "Unforgiven" is given a super-charged reinvention in its third interpretation.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: September 12, 2008
Label: Warner Brothers
Genre: Rock

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8

Most useful reviews by all members

PYEsinc
teen, 14 years old
 
THE SCARIEST BUT BEST METALLICA ALBUM EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the songs: it's just that the messages are of scary, violent imagery, and the use of the word "hell" frequently could grant many people lifelong nightmares!

kidsshoulddowa ...
teen, 17 years old
 
Cool
It is a great for kids who like rock and roll.

Cimerax
teen, 16 years old
 
Hi.
I like this album, but it's not near as good as their older stuff. I have absolutely no concerns about the album, so yeah.

poisondeath123
teen, 14 years old
 
It's Metallica, of course it's good!
Of course it's good! Tons better than Reload, St. Anger and Load, and whoever doesn't let their kids listen to Metallica due to violence needs to inject themselves with growth hormones!

Mr. Tostados
teen, 13 years old
 
Great music
REEAALY GOOD BAND!!! Yes, some of their songs are a little too violent. I prefer their older thrash-metal songs i.e. For Whom The Bell Tolls, King Nothing, Enter Sandman. Nobody's really sure if anyone in the band has done drugs, so I can't say much about the role models, although Kirk did say something about James and Lars doing cocaine...

bigc2293
teen, 18 years old
 
this review sucks
this is nothing my little 8 year old brother can't handle the people who run this site are a bunch of prudes

iblue57
parent of 14 year old
 
Tiny too violent for pre teens, fine for teens
Awesome album, but a tad violent at some parts.

ParamoreFan09
teen, 15 years old
 
Well I don't listen to them much...
My grandmother likes this band.

 
Great CD by a legendary metal band

newdeath1701
teen, 16 years old
 
AWSOME!!!!!
I have heard more disburbing songs as a baby. METALLICA ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!

n10_2
teen, 17 years old
 
Amazing CD But...
they shouldn't really compare this to Metallica( the Black Album). Honestly, this album is much easier to compar to Ride the Lightning or Master of Puppets. It is hard but it is not moreso than either of those CD's.

 
great album great band

dantt21599115
kid, 12 years old
 
Not their worst.... Not quite their best..... but great recovery from St. Anger
I'm not sure why aggressive music style is an issue.... This is a great album! Don't worry about the lyrics, a little violent, but no cussing or anything like that, this is a great album, but Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning are greater

A Dandelion
teen, 18 years old
 
Good for older tweens, all teens. Has some violent imagery and descriptions of negativ efeelings.
Metallica is arguable the biggest metal band in history, and it's easy to see why; in Death Magnetic, front-man Hetfield delivers intense, emotionally-releasing lyrics with blistering intensity and perfect execution, the guitar and bass riffs are some of the most complicated and well-executed ever written by any rocker, while Ulrich dishes out some pretty stunning drumming even after 30 years in the band. Metallica is still king, and have paired their perfect technical proficiency with some very sophisticated song-writing and energy that many 20-year-olds can't muster to deliver another jewel in their crown. The music is heavy, so be sure your kid is into that kind of thing (chances are, if they're asking you for this album, they are). The lyrics are clean, but deal with some alienation, grief and thoughts of suicide. Provided your child has his head in the right place, that shouldn't be an issue; Hetfield isn't encouraging violence. rather, he uses poetry to deal with the issues that we all face and presents them in subtle, meaningful ways.

ZurkonTheDestroyer
teen, 15 years old
 
12, 13 and up
Great album featuring great songs, such as All Nightmare Long, The End Of The Line, The Unforgiving 3, but some times the lyrics can get pretty violent.

Plague
parent
 
Death Magnetic
Its pretty ok, but its nowhere NEAR as great as the older albums of Metallicas golden years.

MetallicaFan93
teen, 18 years old
 
Great Metal Album By A Legendary Band
I loved this album the second I picked it up. The songs are a bit long but they're full of great riffs and messages. I don't understand why it says that this album is Iffy for people around my age. It's not like the songs are telling you to go kill yourself or anything along those lines. Overall, this is a great comeback after 2003's St. Anger wasn't exactly a crowd-pleaser. I believe this is an excellent return to form and hope to see more of it in the future!

residentevilfa ...
teen, 13 years old
 
Metallica ROCKS!
Metallica rocks! if you love metallica buy this CD. They have some songs of course that has the F word etc..etc...so i dont know if this music is for kids. its really a band for adults/teens But im a kid and i love metallica! WOOOT

JETSfan19
teen, 15 years old
 
METALLICA IS AWSOME
I am a kid and I think that Metallica is the best band EVER! I don't think they are voilent to where people can't listen to it

metallicaman12345
teen, 14 years old
 
METALLICA IS AWESOME!!!
YEAH ROCK ON METALLICA!!!!

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