I was fine with the black album. And, there are some good songs on Load and Re-Load.
However, when St. Anger hit, I was both pissed and disappointed in the band. I thought they were done. I was still pissed when I Death Magnetic came out, and barely gave it a listen.
But, Hardwired is a great album. Give it another shot.
When I last saw them a few years ago, they played NOTHING from Death Magnetic or St. Anger. Tells you all you need to know about those two albums.
I've seen Metallica many times. I'm 50. They ALWAYS deliver live and never phone it in.
That is what put them on the map in the beginning (with no radio play), and the quality of their live shows is what kept has them as the biggest act in metal.