Swedish Journalist: METALLICA's 'St. Anger' Is 'Brutal As Hell!'

Writer Martin Carlsson from Sweden's premier rock/metal publication Close-Up has filed an exclusive report on five songs from METALLICA's upcoming album "St. Anger" (due out on June 10) on the magazine's web site, www.closeupmagazine.net. He told BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "The songs are brutal as hell, quite possibly the most aggressive material the band has ever penned. They go all over the place — the attack is non-stop and shockingly ferocious. Musically, it's twisted, intricate, progressive, fucked-up and, more often than not, ultra-fast metal with industrial tinges. Lars Ulrich's trademark thick drum sound is nowhere to be found. Instead, the snare drum sounds like an oil barrel being smashed into pieces. At times the double-bass drumming reaches supersonic levels of speed and there are even parts that border on blast beats! James sings, screams and makes noises that could be straight out of a gory zombie flick. Traditional guitar solos? Forget it! It sounds as if SLAYER's Kerry King and AUDIOSLAVE's Tom Morello have had a big sit-down to decide on how to present the next chapter of the equilibristic side of the Devil's music. Melodies and catchy choruses? Forget it! It's all riffs, riffs, riffs… It's truly fucking sick stuff. As hard as it might to believe, METALLICA have made a musical U-turn that is nothing but sensational. Judging from these five, as-yet-untitled, songs, 'St. Anger' will, hands down, be the most brutal album ever to be released by a multi-million selling act."

As a final note, BLABBERMOUTH.NET wishes to confirm that Carlsson was neither intoxicated nor under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs when he listened to the album and filed the above report.