Bought RTL as a new release. Was as big a Metallica fan in the '80s as they came. The self-titled, while a heavy heavy metal album, failed to my ears. Great "songs" and great production, but it and me didn't connect. I bought Load, listened through once, and I broke it in half and chucked it into the garbage can.
I agree with the poster a couple up. James now has zero metal fire in his being.
The fellas are playing a role. It's no longer real. It is forced. The new music is metal by guys who lost their metal hearts a long time ago.
My CD collection is nearing five thousand. I buy between five and 15 discs each week. Essentially all hard rock and metal.
For me, Metallica has been over for 25 years. This new record is, as I say, too little too late. And to make matters worse, its oldschool thrash peers are recording some of their finest work these past few years.
Over four albums they were untouchable.
Then it was over.