04 HARDWIRED... TO SELF-DESTRUCT METALLICA

(2016)

If Metallica’s 2008 album Deathmagnetic was a somewhat laboured attempt at getting back to their thrash metal roots, Hardwired...to Self-destruct, the long-awaited follow-up, was the record Metallica fans needed. While its title evoked the internal tensions that had once threatened to end the band, the aggression in this album was directed outwards with highoctane thrashers like Spitout Thebone and Atlasrise! James Hetfield took charge of songwriting duties, while Kirk Hammett provided some of the wildest improvised solos he’s ever committed to record. Sticking to favourite Gibson and ESP axes, the pair proved they didn’t need 7-strings or low tunings to deliver an output as heavy or as relevant as any modern metal outfit.