Metallica did everything right in the build up to the release of their new album. They used the internet to the best of it's abilities, and I'm sure it has paid off. I couldn't have recommended they do it better.

They started a fan site specifically for leaking out little tidbits of info and audio snippets for the album, building up buzz.

The site also allowed fans to pre-order the album.

Pre-ordering included the option to buy the physical album (sent on release day) and download the MP3s as soon as they were available (midnight on release day).

In the weeks and days building up the album release, they released four single tracks on iTunes. Fans who couldn't wait could buy almost half the album early.

When they played new tracks live, video was posted on YouTube. Or you could go buy the live recordings at their official website selling recordings of every gig they do.

On their home website they let fans stream one, then two, then six then all of the tracks from their album.

When released, the album was only AUS$19. More expensive versions with extras galore are available for those that still love "collectable" CDs. Or you could go buy it in MP3 at BigPond music, or iTunes DRMness at iTunes. Or I presume Amazon MP3, or on the official Metallica website.

Suing their fans over Napster was probably the stupidest thing Metallica have ever done, and despite their apology and explanation (they were mostly irritated at early versions of their single leaking, not so much at piracy), it's still the number one cause of Metallica-hate on the net.

They've moved on. They've said sorry. They've grabbed the net with both hands and embraced it like a lost love-one.

They can't do anything more.

Pitchfork's Death Magnetic review is basically spot on, with the harshness level turned up to 11.

My opinions are not as negative or dismissive, but I know exactly where the reviewer is coming from, and to be fair, even with the harshness level turned up so high, they at least try to find some positive points.

I was going to do two posts. A fan's negative review and a fan's positive review.

Pitchfork has done the negative better than I ever could.

Undercover.com.au reports on Metallica's charting efforts after just one day of Death Magnetic sales:

The new Metallica album `Death Magnetic` has debuted at number 6 in Australia with just one day on sale.

[...]

`Death Magnetic` sold 4849 units nationally. There were no digital sales.

[...]

Elsewhere in the chart, the 17-year old `Black` album was at number 43; `Master of Puppets` is at 66, `Ride The Lightning` is at 73 and `And Justice For All` is at 77.

All of Metallica's previous albums are selling at JB HiFi for $12. The new album is $19, or $28 for the awesome-o "die-cut" digipak.

Someone called "Death Magnetic" the "best Metallica album in 20 years". As such, they're saying "...And Justice For All" was the last "good" album. TWENTY YEARS AGO.

This is what it's like to get old?

Update: Meanwhile, "Death Magnetic" has the dubious honour of being named in a list of examples in the "Loudness War" Wikipedia article. Not a good thing at all. I certainly noticed the crackles on my MP3 player.