47 Things to See, Hear, and Do This Fall

One of the cheerier titles in Metallica's discography also contains some of the band's fastest and loudest music. For many people this is not a selling point. But as produced by Rick Rubin (and really, what isn't?), Death Magnetic is more than just a phalanx of audio Black Hawks sent to attack your ears. There's true virtuosity in the playing — few bands are as maniacal about precision — and plenty of songs where the momentum coheres into surprisingly emotional codas. If that's not appealing enough, there's also a collector's edition packaged in a white coffin-shaped box. You know, for the kids.

— Josh Tyrangiel