Lars Ulrich finally responded to fans complaining about the sound quality on the new Metallica album “Death Magnetic”. In fan reviews of the album, some complained that they can’t hear Rob’s bass, some say that the CD is too distorted and so on. Lars spoke with Blender magazine when asked about it.
Lars defended “Death Magnetic” sound by saying it’s no different when fans complained about the sound quality on “And Justice For All”. He goes on saying that the internet gives music listeners a voice and to be honest about bands. He then goes on saying “he can’t keep up with this shit”, clearly meaning that he doesn’t care about fan negativity toward Metallica.
He then says how he is so happy and proud that this new album “Death Magnetic” has got mostly positive feedback from the listeners. He explains that Metallica was so committed in getting the direction of the music of what Rick Rubin wanted. Rick Rubin was like a coach for the band and Metallica was doing everything Rick says. He also says that the band wanted “Death Magnetic” to be a live recording.
More on it here:
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=105822
I’ve said before and I’ll say it again.
Fans are always looking for something new and different to complain about Metallica. Just negative people that do nothing but talk negative trash about Metallica.
But they can keep talking, the haters are part of the reason the band is so huge right now.
I find nothing wrong with the sound quality on “Death Magnetic”, it sounds great to me.
Kev
K'Brocking 
There can be no honest denial of Death Magnetic being compressed beyond the point of ridiculous.
there can be no honest denial that lars and james completely buried rob’s bass parts, just like they did on jason’s first album. they never care about the bass since cliff burton. its all about lars and james be in the middle of the mix. and then they let the other mexican guy play a solo sometime.
I don’t know if we’re listening to the same record or not, but I can hear Rob Trujillo’s bass perfectly fine. I think the reason people think they can’t hear it because Rob is a fast bass player, people not hearing Rob’s bass just shows how much of a good bass player he is.
If you listen to the song “Cyanide” Rob’s bass playing is all over that song. Metallica wanted to play the songs “live” in the studio, and that’s why you can’t hear certain instruments.
I don’t hear any compression at all. Compression means making the music sound louder, meaning it’s an attack at the band thinking they can’t play at all.
If you’ve been watching the “Mission: Metallica” where the band had videos up recording the album, that is enough proof right there that the band recorded the album “live” in the studio. It is why Metallica videotapes their recording sessions on all of their albums so they can show people they don’t fake it when recording.
Get your facts straight before slandering the band.
Kev
I don’t know if we’re listening to the same record or not, but I can hear Rob Trujillo’s bass perfectly fine. I think the reason people think they can’t hear it because Rob is a fast bass player, people not hearing Rob’s bass just shows how much of a good bass player he is.
If you listen to the song “Cyanide” Rob’s bass playing is all over that song. Metallica wanted to play the songs “live” in the studio, and that’s why you can’t hear certain instruments.
I don’t hear any compression at all. Compression means making the music sound louder, meaning it’s an attack at the band thinking they can’t play at all.
If you’ve been watching the “Mission: Metallica” where the band had videos up recording the album, that is enough proof right there that the band recorded the album “live” in the studio. It is why Metallica videotapes their recording sessions on all of their albums so they can show people they don’t fake it when recording.
Get your facts straight before slandering the band.
Kev
its not slander. everyone says it. the only person who ever could make metallica sound great is bob rock. without him lars and james just turn themselfs up too loud and tell their hired mexicans to turn down. this is factually true.
its not slander. everyone says it. the only person who ever could make metallica sound great is bob rock. without him lars and james just turn themselfs up too loud and tell their hired mexicans to turn down. this is factually true.
its not slander. everyone says it. the only person who ever could make metallica sound great is bob rock. without him lars and james just turn themselfs up too loud and tell their hired mexicans to turn down. this is factually true.
I think there is a reason that Rob’s bass playing is not all the way up front, I totally agree that you can’t hear Rob’s bass playing upfront but there’s a reason for it. It what makes the song fits in my opinion. It had nothing to do with James, Lars, and Kirk’s ego trying to get more of their sound over Rob’s. It’s all about the sound that fits the song.
Just because everyone says the sound quality is bad, it’s not true, it is only an opinion. To me, I think the record sounds great. Nothing wrong with the production at all. Don’t people have better things to complain and whine about?
Kev
I think there is a reason that Rob’s bass playing is not all the way up front, I totally agree that you can’t hear Rob’s bass playing upfront but there’s a reason for it. It what makes the song fits in my opinion. It had nothing to do with James, Lars, and Kirk’s ego trying to get more of their sound over Rob’s. It’s all about the sound that fits the song.
Just because everyone says the sound quality is bad, it’s not true, it is only an opinion. To me, I think the record sounds great. Nothing wrong with the production at all. Don’t people have better things to complain and whine about?
Kev
I think there is a reason that Rob’s bass playing is not all the way up front, I totally agree that you can’t hear Rob’s bass playing upfront but there’s a reason for it. It what makes the song fits in my opinion. It had nothing to do with James, Lars, and Kirk’s ego trying to get more of their sound over Rob’s. It’s all about the sound that fits the song.
Just because everyone says the sound quality is bad, it’s not true, it is only an opinion. To me, I think the record sounds great. Nothing wrong with the production at all. Don’t people have better things to complain and whine about?
Kev
james and lars hate their bass players. thats why they are suing rob and why they drove james out. srsly.
james and lars hate their bass players. thats why they are suing rob and why they drove james out. srsly.
that should have said ‘drove jason out’. but you knew that i am sure.
that should have said ‘drove jason out’. but you knew that i am sure.
YOU HEARD THE MAN!!!!
STOP SLANDERING METALLICA, PEOPLESES!!!!!!
YOU HEARD THE MAN!!!!
STOP SLANDERING METALLICA, PEOPLESES!!!!!!
Point of fact, compression does not mean making the sound louder, it means making it less dynamic. This means that the softer sounds and louder sounds are squished towards the middle. Audiophiles usually find this undesirable because it reduces the clarity (or worse, makes it a wash of noise) however a producer may intentionally do it to get a certain sound or effect that he’s looking for. Metallica records are always heavily compressed, it’s their trademark and one of the reasons I don’t like them. Compare their cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Whiskey in the Jar” to the original. One sounds delicate and poignant and still rocks…the other just sounds brutal and dumb. In fact it sounds good to you because you’re not educated enough in the technology to know what to look for re: good vs shite.
I think I understand where you get the confusion with the loudness thing, though. Many digital recordings today are “hot mastered,” meaning the dynamics are compressed towards the middle and THEN pushed up to the limits. Television advertisers have been intentionally doing this for years to get your attention, it’s why TV commercials are ten times louder than the program you’re watching….and yet another reason I can’t watch TV anymore.
Point of fact, compression does not mean making the sound louder, it means making it less dynamic. This means that the softer sounds and louder sounds are squished towards the middle. Audiophiles usually find this undesirable because it reduces the clarity (or worse, makes it a wash of noise) however a producer may intentionally do it to get a certain sound or effect that he’s looking for. Metallica records are always heavily compressed, it’s their trademark and one of the reasons I don’t like them. Compare their cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Whiskey in the Jar” to the original. One sounds delicate and poignant and still rocks…the other just sounds brutal and dumb. In fact it sounds good to you because you’re not educated enough in the technology to know what to look for re: good vs shite.
I think I understand where you get the confusion with the loudness thing, though. Many digital recordings today are “hot mastered,” meaning the dynamics are compressed towards the middle and THEN pushed up to the limits. Television advertisers have been intentionally doing this for years to get your attention, it’s why TV commercials are ten times louder than the program you’re watching….and yet another reason I can’t watch TV anymore.
I think it’s also funny to note that in the picture you provided he’s doing the British version of the finger. They use two fingers. Don’t know why, maybe to look more like a vagina? I wonder who he’s flipping off?
I think it’s also funny to note that in the picture you provided he’s doing the British version of the finger. They use two fingers. Don’t know why, maybe to look more like a vagina? I wonder who he’s flipping off?
I think it’s also funny to note that in the picture you provided he’s doing the British version of the finger. They use two fingers. Don’t know why, maybe to look more like a vagina? I wonder who he’s flipping off?
These are interesting repllies.
To tell you the truth, I don’t really care how good or bad the sound quality is on an album or a demo tape. I just want to hear music. I don’t care if the guitar is up front or far in the back or if you can’t hear the bass, I want to hear good songs and good music.
Fuck, music can just even be recorded on a regular 4 track, 8 track or an old school reel to reel machine, and I’ll still like the music if it’s good.
I could give a rats ass about sound quality in music. I care about the songwriting. That’s what most important to me.
I mean, you gotta look at the sound quality on the Metallica albums “Kill ‘Em All” and “Ride the Lightning”, the sound quality on those records aren’t the greatest, the sound quality is not the greatest on “Master of Puppets” and “And Justice for All” as well. I think that could be another reason why “Death Magnetic” is not in the best quality because they were trying to capture the sound in the 80’s. I think that’s what they were going for.
But it’s understandable why fans would complain about “Death Magnetic” quality since it isn’t the 80’s anymore.
I just got back home from a long day of work at my day job, worked a full 9 hour shift today. I’ll be blogging today’s news right now.
Kev
These are interesting repllies.
To tell you the truth, I don’t really care how good or bad the sound quality is on an album or a demo tape. I just want to hear music. I don’t care if the guitar is up front or far in the back or if you can’t hear the bass, I want to hear good songs and good music.
Fuck, music can just even be recorded on a regular 4 track, 8 track or an old school reel to reel machine, and I’ll still like the music if it’s good.
I could give a rats ass about sound quality in music. I care about the songwriting. That’s what most important to me.
I mean, you gotta look at the sound quality on the Metallica albums “Kill ‘Em All” and “Ride the Lightning”, the sound quality on those records aren’t the greatest, the sound quality is not the greatest on “Master of Puppets” and “And Justice for All” as well. I think that could be another reason why “Death Magnetic” is not in the best quality because they were trying to capture the sound in the 80’s. I think that’s what they were going for.
But it’s understandable why fans would complain about “Death Magnetic” quality since it isn’t the 80’s anymore.
I just got back home from a long day of work at my day job, worked a full 9 hour shift today. I’ll be blogging today’s news right now.
Kev
Rob’s bass is buried as shit…you CANNOT deny that….if you say you can hear it, you’ve got some fucked up ear drums…I’m in a band that has made several recordings and the first sign of a sitty mix is the lack of the bass guitar in the mix. The overall recording is OK, better tahn St. Anger but nowhere near as good as the Black Album, Justice, or Load. Listen to Bullet For My Valentine’s new CD and you will hear what a metal record SHOULD sound like.
Rob’s bass is buried as shit…you CANNOT deny that….if you say you can hear it, you’ve got some fucked up ear drums…I’m in a band that has made several recordings and the first sign of a sitty mix is the lack of the bass guitar in the mix. The overall recording is OK, better tahn St. Anger but nowhere near as good as the Black Album, Justice, or Load. Listen to Bullet For My Valentine’s new CD and you will hear what a metal record SHOULD sound like.
According to my analysis based on my reference monitors in the studio, my ears and above all, my experience in recording, this is one of the worst records I’ve ever heard if we’re talking about “hi budget” recording. I was dissapointed when I first heard this record. Yes, there are producers who like to experiment with some things and it’s OK as far as they don’t ruin the record all over. You know… experiments are wellcome but there are certain DOs and DON’Ts in the world of music production and on this record, unfortunately, there is a plenty of DON’Ts. Total misuse of quality studio gear. Unfortunately, I know what gear they basicaly used in this record and only thing I can think of as a problem is producer. If I was in Metallica’s shoes, I’d probably sue him since any wacko could make a record like this.
Sad. The songs are great but ruined by the constant clipping of snare, guitars and sometimes even the voice.
Really, really sad.
According to my analysis based on my reference monitors in the studio, my ears and above all, my experience in recording, this is one of the worst records I’ve ever heard if we’re talking about “hi budget” recording. I was dissapointed when I first heard this record. Yes, there are producers who like to experiment with some things and it’s OK as far as they don’t ruin the record all over. You know… experiments are wellcome but there are certain DOs and DON’Ts in the world of music production and on this record, unfortunately, there is a plenty of DON’Ts. Total misuse of quality studio gear. Unfortunately, I know what gear they basicaly used in this record and only thing I can think of as a problem is producer. If I was in Metallica’s shoes, I’d probably sue him since any wacko could make a record like this.
Sad. The songs are great but ruined by the constant clipping of snare, guitars and sometimes even the voice.
Really, really sad.
Do you, guys re-read what you wrote? Do you really believe that someone who is in the business for so long, could just fuck up a record by a chance? Guys who recoded Black Album, could not hear that voice and snare are clipping? Are you out of you fucking mind?
As mach as you want them to look like bunch of idiots, its not gonna work. Not with such arguments. You can talk of song musical quality and discuss playing style. There’s the area where you can start to dig, but not in the sound quality zone. The sound has been made deliberately just like it is. End of discussion.
Wanna sue somebody? Sue the label, who sell the record, ask your money back because you are not satisfied with purchased product quality. But stop moaning and stating that those guys are amateurs.
BTW, congrats to Metallica’s PR department.
Do you, guys re-read what you wrote? Do you really believe that someone who is in the business for so long, could just fuck up a record by a chance? Guys who recoded Black Album, could not hear that voice and snare are clipping? Are you out of you fucking mind?
As mach as you want them to look like bunch of idiots, its not gonna work. Not with such arguments. You can talk of song musical quality and discuss playing style. There’s the area where you can start to dig, but not in the sound quality zone. The sound has been made deliberately just like it is. End of discussion.
Wanna sue somebody? Sue the label, who sell the record, ask your money back because you are not satisfied with purchased product quality. But stop moaning and stating that those guys are amateurs.
BTW, congrats to Metallica’s PR department.