Fresh off the release of their first single, "The Day That Never Comes" off of their upcoming studio album Death Magnetic, Metallica has released another song to the internet public.  This song is entitled "My Apocalypse".   Thanks to a timely text message from Lars Wettner, we are able to get this review up before most of the internet even realizes the song has been released.

Keeping with the trend that they started with The Day That Never Comes, this song has shades of older Metallica, with a few things that we haven't heard from them in the past.  The track starts out with a series of building guitar riffs reminiscent of some of Dave Mustaine's Megadeth material (specifically off of the last two albums).  The second riff sounds like it made it off of the St. Anger chopping block.  When the lyrics start, there is no doubt that this is a Metallica song.  I can't tell if Robert or Kirk are singing backup during the chorus.

There are quick changes that remind us of some of the material off of ...And Justice for All.  For a second I thought I was listening to an alternate version of Damage Inc.  Right before Kirk's first solo we get what may or may not be described as a divebomb.  The solo is followed by some nice harmonized axe work by James and Kirk, trademark Metallica.

James sounds much better on this than he did on any track on St. Anger.  Kirk is better, but that goes without saying.  I'm sure he is elated to play guitar solos again.  Taking the guitar solo away from a virtuoso (yes, that is up for debate) like Hammett is like taking loud dialog away from Al Pacino.  Robert sounds great on the first two songs that we've heard.  Metallica is known for a great rhythm section, but oftentimes they don't allow bass players to show off their stuff (with the exception of Cliff Burton, of course).  On the last tour, Robert got his shot.  I am looking for some good basswork on this album.  As for Lars, I will withhold judgment for the time being.  Not because I have any comments, but because my speakers are shot and I don't want to say anything out of place.

At this point I still can't shake the feeling that this is an evolved version of Damage Inc.  Some of our readers may be cool with that, while others will complain.  I personally don't care.  We are fans of good music, plain and simple.  This is an enjoyable track.  It probably isn't single material, but some of Metallica's best songs were never singles.  The band has gone back and forth over the past decade and a half (and to some extent their entire career) pleasing and angering critics.  I don't know if this album is going to be a media darling or panned from the release date, but tracks like this are likely to please a lot of the core fans. 

Click Here to listen to My Apocalypse
Click Here to view our review of The Day That Never Comes