Metallica: Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2LP) [BLACKENED]

Why you'll love it

This 180g 2LP set comes in a gatefold jacket with printed inserts and a download card. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the band's sixth straight chart-topping debut, and topped the charts in 57 countries.

This edition

• 2LP set
• 180g vinyl
• Gatefold jacket
• Download card included

About the album

Eight years is a long wait between Metallica albums, the longest of their career, and fans spent it collecting hints: a demo of "Lords of Summer" here, a "Metallica By Request" tour there. When the band finally delivered, they did it as a double album on their own Blackened label.

Greg Fidelman, who engineered and mixed Death Magnetic, produced alongside James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. "Hardwired" is a three-minute thrash sprint, "Atlas, Rise!" gallops with twin-guitar harmonies, and "Moth Into Flame" burns with a monster riff. Robert Trujillo gets a writing credit on the slinky, heavy "ManUNkind," "Halo on Fire" builds slowly over eight minutes, and "Spit Out the Bone" closes the set at full speed. Chris Bellman cut the lacquers at Bernie Grundman Mastering, and the album runs nearly 80 minutes, which is why it needs four sides. Kirk Hammett's solos are everywhere, wailing over Ulrich's relentless double-kick.

The first week brought in 291,000 units in the US. Thirty-five years into their career, they were still writing songs this fast, which makes the rest of us feel rather sheepish about taking the stairs.

Also at Kops: more Metallica on vinyl · browse Metal

Tracklist

Listen

On Blackened (cat# BLCKND031-1), the 2016 album.