I will echo a couple of other reviews, this is not a review of the music itself. I bought this on vinyl because it's my favorite Metallica album and the first Metallica album I bought back in the day. This was the second vinyl copy I have purchased and am returning it because the record is terrible. It is so poppy and....almost unlistenable, particularly at the beginning of songs, which on this album have fade-in beginnings on most of them. After the music starts blaring it sounds ok to my ears. I thought it was a needle issue but my other albums play perfectly. It is not what I expected for new vinyl from such a huge band.



Like I said, I have another copy that was not good and couldn't return it because of driving distance so I got this one from Amazon hoping for something better....it turned out to be worse than my other copy. Luckily Amazon has great customer service and return policies. To contrast it I recently bought Dylan's Tempest album through Amazon and it was perfect, thick, quiet new vinyl. So, there must be an issue with the pressing quality or something. I'm really disappointed Metallica would release such an inferior product of an awesome album. I'm getting a replacement from Amazon for my third and last try with this album. I may have to wait for the remastered box set of this that will come out at some point with the record included (hopefully fixed) or bite the bullet and track down an original copy. I may update after I get the replacement.....



Update 9/17/16: I received the replacement album and it's more of the same, that's three that I've tried and it has been the same issues with each one that I wrote about in my original review. I've officially given up on this one and may track down an original copy or wait for the deluxe box set that will come out at some point.