ALL NIGHTMARE LONG

'All Nightmare Long' - Metallica (Single)

The good Metallica is finally back in action! 'Death Magnetic' is obviously a huge step up from their last three disaster-pieces, and should be even to those that might not like it too much. Despite having never been big into Metallica, I am finding myself really getting into Metallica's latest musical offerings. This particular track is arguably my favourite off of 'Magnetic,' and it builds up the way a really epic track should. Starting out dark and soft, it's not long before some real power and energy comes on and blows the lid off.

While the song is fairly long, it does revolve around a chorus which can get pretty catchy despite the speed and ferocity of everything around it. One of the best things about this track in fact, is the music video that accompanies it. While most music videos just film the band standing around and syncing their fake-playing along to the recording, the video for 'All Nightmare Long' plays almost like a short film, with a storyline and everything. To summarize, the video elaborates on the mystery surrounding the Tunguska, Russia meteorite impact, and an extra-terrestrial spore that can be used to re-animate dead tissue. Before you know it, the Soviets are out bringing dead Commie zombies back to life, and all hell breaks loose. Throw in a ton of Soviet propoganda charm for good measure, and you have one of the most memorable music videos I've ever seen. The song is awesome without the visual media to go with it, but it only helps to make it a more vibrant experience.

One of the highlights from 'Death Magnetic' and a sign that Metallica are back in form!

One of the best tracks from 2008's 'Death Magnetic', an album brimming with great songs, 'All Nightmare Long' rightfully received a single release and a promotional video, and as is always the case with Metallica, there's multiple versions and discs.

This one, disc one of a three-disc set, features the titular track, as well as live versions of 'Wherever I May Roam' and 'Master of Puppets'. Two exceptional tracks in themselves, overall, this single release doesn't really offer anything new, however.

It's not that there's anything wrong with the two live tracks, just that we've heard countless different live versions of them by now, that as great as the compositions are, there's nothing remotely notable about these two recordings in particular. Still, they're great songs, so whatever. And the title track is amazing, full of twists and turns, with some breakneck speed guitar riffs and Hetfield's voice sounding the best it has sounded in years. If nothing else, 'All Nightmare Long' is a great little nugget for fans and collectors.