Hardwired...To Self-Destruct
by Metallica
  • Record Label: Rhino
  • Release Date: Nov 18, 2016
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 399 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 332 out of 399
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 399
  3. Negative: 34 out of 399
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  1. Cokecan
    Nov 19, 2016
    4
    Inspired in places, tired in others. How people can rate this 10/10 is beyond me, Have they never heard Kill'em all, Master of Puppets, Ride the Lighting etc.

    Don't get me wrong it does have a couple of very good songs on there and if you have the 3 disc special addition the cover songs on that are "quite nice" But all in all it's more torture than pleasure, songs outstay there    Inspired in places, tired in others. How people can rate this 10/10 is beyond me, Have they never heard Kill'em all, Master of Puppets, Ride the Lighting etc.

    Don't get me wrong it does have a couple of very good songs on there and if you have the 3 disc special addition the cover songs on that are "quite nice"

    But all in all it's more torture than pleasure, songs outstay there welcome, and drag on needlessly..
    It's a shame, Moth into flame and the Hard Wired songs they released to tease you is exactly what they did as they are probably the best two on there..

    Time to face the fact that the Metallica of old is well and truly gone....    … Expand
  2. agalloch
    Nov 18, 2016
    4
    Extremely disappointing. Keep hoping they'll return to form but it's long gone. Nothing noteworthy is on this album and I've listened to it twice in a row.
  3. zeus80
    Nov 18, 2016
    6
    Not great by any stretch, but surprisingly heavy at times and easily their best work in 20 years. They still seem to have issues with the drum sound, and too many of the tracks seem to have extra long intros.
  4. ptea
    Nov 18, 2016
    4
    They have done lots and lots of work to sound like Metallica. Good job guys you sound like Metallica, because you are Metallica, or should I say you once were Metallica. Overproduced, simple. Trainlike, boring, music that anyone who knows how to play metal can do in five minutes. I still remember that you were the ones that developed this kind of sound from trash-metal, I am quite thankfulThey have done lots and lots of work to sound like Metallica. Good job guys you sound like Metallica, because you are Metallica, or should I say you once were Metallica. Overproduced, simple. Trainlike, boring, music that anyone who knows how to play metal can do in five minutes. I still remember that you were the ones that developed this kind of sound from trash-metal, I am quite thankful for it.You just lost your touch. Calling you the Kings of metal is awful. There is and there always has been better metal bands even before your band was founded.… Expand
  5. REAPER007
    Nov 19, 2016
    5
    After this s**t my brother died in agony. This is all your fault. Its really far from Death Magnetic. They are just old and can't make smthing normal again. METALLICA IS DEAD!
  6. TheRyanFlaherty
    Nov 29, 2016
    6
    Many have called "Hardwired...To self Destruct" a return to form for Metallica, but one has to wonder if they live in an alternate universe where "Death Magnetic" doesn't exist.
    "HWTSD" ultimately suffers from it's inconsistencies. If you've been aware of the pre-release promotion, than you've already heard the best the album has to offer. Songs such as the Title Track, Moth into Flame,    Many have called "Hardwired...To self Destruct" a return to form for Metallica, but one has to wonder if they live in an alternate universe where "Death Magnetic" doesn't exist.
    "HWTSD" ultimately suffers from it's inconsistencies. If you've been aware of the pre-release promotion, than you've already heard the best the album has to offer. Songs such as the Title Track, Moth into Flame, Spit out the Bone and Atlas,Rise! are worthy additions to the Metallica catalogue, but for every standout there is a dud. Songs such as Now That We're Dead and ManUNkind, lack the creativity and sense of progression necessary to justify their track lengths. This leaves much of "HWTSD" feeling bloated. There isn't necessarily anything offensive to the senses, but it comes off as ambiance while working out at your local gym, and is easily forgettable.
    It is worth noting that there is a 3-Disc Limited Edition which adds at least a point to the score (if purchased) and is really a 10/10 if looking at sheer value.
    The Bonus disc is an album onto itself, featuring rarities and 10 Live tracks. It is a great companion piece, but it also illuminates the deficiencies of "HWTSD". . Remember Tomorrow is as good as anything on the actual album and Live renditions of songs like Creeping Death serve as a reminder of the heights the band obtained earlier in their career.
    "Hardwired...To Self-Destruct" is worth owning if you're a Metallica fan, especially if you can get the Limited release, but, while it's better than "St. Anger", it's also the type of album that will make you want to go listen to your past favorite Metallica albums rather than continually listening through "HWTSD" on repeat.    … Expand
  7. JudgeShredd
    Dec 12, 2016
    6
    I've been a fan of Metallica since Ride the Lightning was released. The last great album for me was AJFA, i really didn't care much for the Black album and hated everything that came after. Death Magnetic was interesting but ultimately uninspiring. It was great to see the return of some aggression to their songs without the blatantly radio friendly hooks but the song writing was a bitI've been a fan of Metallica since Ride the Lightning was released. The last great album for me was AJFA, i really didn't care much for the Black album and hated everything that came after. Death Magnetic was interesting but ultimately uninspiring. It was great to see the return of some aggression to their songs without the blatantly radio friendly hooks but the song writing was a bit bland for my liking.
    I was pretty excited to hear this new album and have to say it is the best work they have done since AJFA. That said, it's far from perfect. One of the key things that made early Metallica shine was virtuosity. They rose the bar on every track and every consecutive album. The riffs on Hardwired are good but there is nothing groundbreaking, nothing that screams the Metallica of yore. The production is excellent but it lacks personality/colour - if you listen to the first four albums you will hear very distinctive sound palettes that are immediately recognisable. Hardwired just sounds like a highly produced metal album, like the engineers just wanted heavy crunchy guitars and perfect sounding drums rather than an album with a distinctively unique sound. The mix is excellent, everything sits amazingly and there is a nice sound of space I just think they should have tried something new in terms of guitar tones etc.
    The best element of the album is James' vocals - he managed to capture the aggression of AJFA and MOP and perfectly blended in the rock elements that he has now perfected over the past few albums. For me the vocal on Hardwired could be the best of any Metallica album.
    The most disappointing thing for me is the lack of musicality, the groove is there and the syncopated rhythms but the magic of the old days is gone. Metallica used to be the band that brought the listener on a musical journey. Guitar solos had direction and almost told a story. They were surrounded by melodic structures that stood alone like a tangental guitar symphony within each track and the solos themselves were technically brilliant and varied. The solos on this album sound like they were jammed out over a few takes, the over reliance on the wah pedal and limited pentatonic blues scale is a step backwards. I wouldn't mind of blistering speed was replaced with a higher level of feel and never heard before note arrangements but almost all of the lead guitar on this album sounds sloppy and devoid of any substance. It sounds like a not so great guitarist doing an impression of Kirk.
    Like many other listeners, I also think the album could definitely have been trimmed down, there are a few unnecessary filler tracks that should have never made the cut. An instrumental track would have been nice too but given the direction that Kirk's guitar playing and style has taken I think it might have exposed too much.
    All in all it's a mixed bag - bottom line is the vocals on this album make it worth while.    … Expand
  8. Kadirov
    Jul 5, 2019
    5
    I ll be honest. Garage bands whose members are 7th grade students make better music.
    What I considered to be too banal and overused in my own songs, Metallica used in this album.
    The album is weak, boring and has no listenable songs, in my opinion.
    There are much better albums that don't get even 1% of this albums exposure.
  9. Dekielek112
    Feb 20, 2023
    6
    The first disc is modern Metallica, blending commercial sounds with thrash metal. The songs on disc 1 are so good, so beautiful it's unbelievable. However, as soon as we switch discs the quality of songwriting plummets down. On disc 2, the songs are too long, overdone, and lack any hook that could hold the listener to the chair. The biggest issue with instrument work - Hammett "overwahs"The first disc is modern Metallica, blending commercial sounds with thrash metal. The songs on disc 1 are so good, so beautiful it's unbelievable. However, as soon as we switch discs the quality of songwriting plummets down. On disc 2, the songs are too long, overdone, and lack any hook that could hold the listener to the chair. The biggest issue with instrument work - Hammett "overwahs" and it is hearable - is the solos are muddy at some points and lack any cool techniques except the whammy bar.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Most Discussed Album of 2016
38
#38 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 29
  3. Negative: 1 out of 29
  1. Record Collector
    Jan 26, 2017
    60
    Hardwired is a slightly less gripping version of the same, as is Moth Into Flame. There’s some sweet doom in the form of Dream No More, an obvious Sabbath homage, and a nod to their late mentor Lemmy with Murder One. In between, we’re treated to a lot of mid-tempo plodding.
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  2. The Wire
    Dec 21, 2016
    80
    This is the adult Metallica at last, monolithic, grandiose and grizzled. Maturity suits the band, makes them a weightier proposition than the pursuit of former glories ever could. [Dec 2016, p.62]
  3. No Ripcord
    Nov 30, 2016
    60
    It's too long, with too many tracks that go nowhere. But those songs that do work are some of their best in the last couple of decades.
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