This album is not as bad as people say in their reviews. While it is true that the album sounds horrible, the songs are good. Frantic and St. Anger are both great songs, and so is "The unnamed feeling", just to name a few. The drums are very loud, but don't sound as bad as some people say. It's really the guitar-sounds that really(...). The guitars sound way too muddy, so at times it's hard to hear what is actually being played. This album is not the melodic Metallica of the Black album and (Re)Load, and it is also not the pre 1991 Metallica. This album is something completely new. I just wish the album sounded better. If you can get over the sound of this record you'll be able to appreciate this effort. Just don't expect any ballads.