Metallica - Death Magnetic

I have no idea if this was a mixing issue or mastering but the album is very distorted, it's a disgrace to professionals in the music industry in my opinion. I have no idea how it got past quality control into release.

There was a release of the Guitar hero raw files for the album and there's a few fan mixes of the album around that are much better.

Check it out if you haven't already heard it, it's odd it was released like that.

Hi Steve,

Yeah I remember at the time it was released some fans complained that it was too loud. That in itself was funny - Metallica fans complaining about volume.
I know what you mean though it does sound a little rough in places. The mastering dude must have got a little excited :-)

Cheers,

Paul.

Yeah,

This album is now considered by many as a prime example of the bad in the loudness war. This is a mastering issue as the sound on the Guitar Hero version is known to be much better (unless they remixed the whole album for Guitar Hero, which I fail to believe they did).

I just reckon that Metallica (in a way that some would consider is typical to their general attitudes - since the black album anyway) asked to produce the loudest master ever, and by doing so have led to a sonically poor record and one that is highly criticized for that aspect exactly.

Will be interesting to see what Metallica has in mind for their next album. It'd be ironic if they get a Turn Me Up! certificate.
Cheers,