"Death Magnetic" is the ninth studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released on September 12, 2008, through Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Vertigo Records internationally. The album was produced by Rick Rubin, marking the band’s first release since "...And Justice for All" (1988) not produced by longtime collaborator Bob Rock, with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich serving as co-producers. It is the first Metallica album to feature bassist Robert Trujillo and the second in which all band members shared songwriting credits. Writing for the album began in 2006, with recording taking place at multiple studios across Los Angeles County, California, from March 2007 to May 2008. "Death Magnetic" represents a stylistic shift from the band’s previous release, "St. Anger" (2003), and is generally considered a return to Metallica’s thrash metal roots. The album features complex song structures, standard guitar tuning on most tracks, and extended guitar solos by Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield. It also includes the band’s first instrumental track since "...And Justice for All," titled "Suicide & Redemption." "Death Magnetic" made Metallica the first band to achieve five consecutive number-one studio albums on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album received positive critical reception, with many reviewers considering it a return to form, although its production was criticized for overcompression and its association with the loudness war. The album and its trac