Even if they wanted to make an album like the Early 80's and Rick Rubin holds a gun to their heads. James Hetfield can't sing/scream like he used to and they don't have Cliff Burton. Fuck Metallica anyway, the led zepplin of metal aka token band that everybody makes for a safe metal choice.
I think working with Rubin on this album is only a positive thing...it's not often something sucky comes out that he's part of...and that goes for his metal albums as well.
As for not having Cliff, well not much they can do about that...it was a mistake though letting Jason go. I know a lot of people like to bitch about Jason, as if he's not up to snuff. But come on, most of what Metallica does/did was/is with Jason...not Cliff.
A little Metallica news. This past fall it was reported that the band asked Jason Newsted to come back to the band. His response...absolutely not. Kind of sucks, I'd like to see him back...the band was better with him IMO.
BTW, Metallica is the greatest Metal band of all time. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm not supposed to say that because that must mean I don't know my metal bands, lol!