I have been the BIGGEST Metallica fan for years...and by all means I STILL AM! This album, however, was a HUGE Disappointment. If I didn't know better, I would have assumed it was some mediocre metal band trying to sound LIKE Metallica (Godsmack...cough, cough) There are NO LEADS!? NONE!!! Was Kirk ON the album? Also, the drums...in all seriousness...sound like tin cans. Very POOR production as well. Bob Rock? NO WAY! The music also has NO STRUCTURE...it's really weird. I seriously hope a rebound album is in the works or this truely could be...The END of GREAT era in music history.