The Lowdown: The Kings of Metal return with a brutal and uncompromising new album.

Five tough years since Metallica's last collection of new studio songs and "St Anger" has finally been released for the fans to dig their teeth into. Expectation was huge with the spotlight focused solely on the new album. And, of course, without doubt Metallica have again delivered the goods and with James "the riff master" Hetfield at the helm, the new album looks set to be a killer.

Hetfield said that in making the new album "we really wanted to get down to the bones of Metallica". This turned out to be difficult. Unfortunately without the aid of a new bass guitarist, old friend and long time producer, Bob Rock, was forced to fill in until a new member could be found to replace the sadly departed Jason Newsted.

With a heavier sound "St Anger" hits its listener like a freight train from the outset. "St Anger" takes an intoxicating grip on you, dragging you along as it crushes everything in its path with frantic and destructive guitar riffs. The record never loosens its grip as you enjoy its utter genius. This album is different, and rightly so. Metallica have chosen not to shower us with great rock ballads or the instrumentals that we have almost grown to expect from the Gods of Rock. Instead, Metallica quench their disciple's bloodthirsty needs by intensifying their sound as their ever evolving saga continues.

Some people have come to the conclusion that Metallica have just gone back to the old days of thrash metal. Is this the case? In my opinion Metallica never have and never will go backwards. They will always look ahead as the pioneers of Heavy Metal, leaving their footsteps for the rest to follow. "St Anger", like all Metallica albums, sets the standard for other bands to compete with.

As has been said many times before, Black Sabbath invented Heavy Metal, Metallica have perfected it, and "St Anger" proves it.

Further listening: Metallica "Kill 'Em All".

Written by Neil McCullough.

Track by track rundown:

Frantic: the opening number jumps out of the speakers in a ferocious maelstrom of riffage and bombastic drumming and the new Metallica sound is born. "My lifestyle determines my death style" is repeated like a mantra by Hetfield. Did Load/Reload ever really happen?

St Anger: the single, not because it's commercial, just because. Intense, unrelenting and almost painfully heavy in places. "Nothing Else Matters" this is not.

Some kind of Monster: starts off with over two minutes of hypnotic, laid back (by this albums standards) riffing before Hetfield utters a word. A detailed eight-minute plus mix of riffs, complex drum patterns and differing vocal passages.

Dirty Window: A snarling punky song with a sound not dissimilar to the opening track on Garage Inc. Features one of Hetfield's trademark vocal "lists", you know "protector, rejector, infector … etc". Probably the catchiest song on the album.

Invisible Kid: another song which showcases a new much punkier sound to Metallica. Lyrically the song deals with Hetfields childhood alienation. A rollicking pace is keep up throughout until the song reaches the chorus where a catchy crunching metallic riff comes in behind the vocal line.

My World: mesmerising, a myriad of time changes and snarling vocals. The songs highlight is when the band fall back to a whisper before exploding in ferocious unison while the Lord Hetfield intones "not only do I not know the answer… I don't even know what the question is". This is a moment of pure metal mastery.

Shoot Me Again: another long track with loads of time changes and some excellent stop start riffing, the bridge track between the first and second halves of the album.

Sweet Amber: there is a subtle change in the recording from this song on. In the first half of the album you can hear Metallica have made a point of coming up with unusual and contemporary ideas and sounds. This track however is pure old school Metallica' metal. Excellent.

The Unnamed Feeling: a truly epic track in the best traditions of such, clocking in at over eight minutes, it features a brutal riff and verse section, with a sweetly sung chorus that could have come straight off the black album. Probably the albums best track.

Purify: this is my personal fave. Great singing and riffing. Fast, clean and lean. This is a classic Metallica track. It sounds so natural and unforced and could easily have come from any of their albums from Puppets on.

All Within My Hands: another epic to finish off and a definite grower. The signature riff and vocal melody repeat over and over, building in intensity, until Hetfield finally goes over the top screaming "Kill, Kill, Kill" as the song reaches an over adrenalized, frightening end. Phew! I'm exhausted.

The free DVD: Always mindful of giving their fans value for money, the band decided to include a free DVD showing the new line-up in rehearsal running through the entire album. This served a double purpose. Firstly, it allowed the band to learn the songs for themselves as most of the tracks on the album had been pieced together from different jam sessions. Secondly it was a great way to integrate the new bass man. Its brilliant footage and Robert Trujillo puts everything into it. He is quite simply a bass monster. The sound is raw and in your face, there are no gimmicks, just one of the world's greatest bands peeling off a blistering set of new numbers in a small room. And for those who have complained about the albums strange drum sound and production, then just stick this through your speakers and whack it up.

The free Internet Concert Footage: Not content with a 70-minute album and a free DVD? Well, each album comes with a slip containing a password enabling you to go on-line and view two entire Metallica concerts, as well as other St Anger related clips and goodies. These boys know how to give the fans what they want - Metallica overload.

The New Bass player: Robert Trujillo. A metal mutha who was born for this role. Trujillo made his name in legendary 80s Hardcore act Suicidal Tendencies, who toured with Metallica on two separate occasions in the early days. He has more recently spent 7 years as the Dark Lord Ozzy Osbourne's bassist, playing on 2001s Down to Earth album. But his greatest recorded work can be found on Jerry Cantrell's excellent "Degradation Trip" album. Here he was one corner of a three piece, completed by ex Faith No More man Mike Bordin on drums, and lays down some of the grooviest and heaviest 5 string bass lines imaginable. He will bring a new musicality and groove to Metallica.

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MUYA - FOAD