Metallica's Lars Ulrich on working with Rick Rubin VS Bob Rock

Lars Ulrich of Metallica, talks about the making of the band's album "Death Magnetic" and working with Rick Rubin and Bob Rock
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[@buckwrestling]

Very telling how after one record, they never worked with Rubin again, but they kept Greg Fidelman around to this day.

[@ALEJANDROG1080]

I believe Greg Fidelman was the engineer of that album and played a producer type of role for the album since Rick Rubin is known for not always being in the studio with the band. The same can be said with Slipknot. When they worked on Volume 3 (The subliminal Voices), Rick Rubin was the producer for that album and Greg Fildelman was the engineer. Band members have said that during the production, Rick Rubin barely attended the sessions, so Gred Fildelman was basically in charge when Rick wasn't in the studio. After that, slipknot would end up working with Gred Fildelman again but as a producer.

[@sethcashman1011]

Agreed.

[@tun-tunninc.6492]

They need a yes man. And they have that in fidelman. 🤣🤣

[@fatimapalacios2292]

Bob Rock is better but he had a flaw: He stayed with themm too long and thus their interactions became too comfy. Also if you watch SKOM he was just trying to help them emotionally and never said "Guys this sounds like crap". Maybe that's what they needed back then, but the band is a business and maybe letting go was the wisest thing to do. I have read in other websites and stuff that Lars and James are still friends with Bob and he Mixed the Kirk Hammet's Solo EP, so the producing stuff ended not because of bad blood but favoring new experiences.

[@kapteeniratto]

You are right. There is clip of Kirk Hammett recording The Unforgiven solo for the black album, and Bob Rock actually gives Hammett sh*t for not preparing and taking it seriously. He made them sound better. They got too comfy or Metallica became the multi-millionaires who everybody around them have a hard time telling the truth.

[@fatimapalacios2292]

@@kapteeniratto yeah, Kirk could benefit from a little push like that

[@patriciolopez6836]

bob its not better, just they are differents... but yes, bob era was amazing

[@likestoospooge]

Rick wanted it so loud he thought blowing the album out with digital distortion was a good idea.

[@mattwatts33]

Imagine death magnetic with hardwired production

[@MrParkerman6]

Would literally be the same album it already is.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Death Magnetic with the Black Album's production would have been a sonic punch in the mouth.

[@JasonEllingsworth]

@MrParkerman6 no. Hardwired production was way better. Death magnetic was raw sound just like st. Anger, but it was just done better

[@finediningandbreathing07]

​@@swampcrypt it definitely isn't. Listen to Sabbath's 13, which was produced by Rubin. It's their worst sounding album by far.

[@finediningandbreathing07]

@@swampcrypt nah, I'm good. I've heard Rubin's production on AC/DC's Ballbreaker and Sabbath's 13, and they were both by far the worst sounding and produced album that each band released. A stripped back sound maybe worked for grunge, but it definitely doesn't for metal.

[@wolfgangfrost8043]

I think Rick Rubin is obviously very talented, but I just don't know that his style of "hands-off" production was the best fit for Metallica. Magnetic was them kind of trying to force themselves back into a Black Album meets Justice mindset with mixed results. Bob Rock would push them into new territory & even it was sometimes off the mark, at least it was nothing like we'd ever heard from them before. Metallica have played it pretty safe since then.

[@MrParkerman6]

Watch the making of Death Magnetic video which is on KZbin. Rick is literally only in the whole video for like two minutes and just sits on the couch and barely does anything at all. He is only given production credit cuz he put money into it.

[@andreaslandgren1681]

The blk album is great cuz Bob had some demands on the band he pushed them and that is what a producer does. And it became their most played album alongside justice and master. Death magnetic has qlalities as well. If you listen with an open heart and let them stand on their own as albums you can get a good experience.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

I think Metallica had matured so much musically since AJFA that they wouldn't even be consciously capable of repeating it, let alone wanting to. That being said, It would be cool listening to a record Rubin produces and Rock mixes and masters. It would be both raw and sonic.

[@Toadspring]

I don’t know that I can agree, considering Death Magnetic is their best album since AJFA imo I don’t even mind the mix, I like the production a lot more than some people. The album itself was fantastic. I’m glad they went with a producer that had a hands off approach since those songs were the result

[@badcabbage66]

Death Magnetic is their best album since Justice. Black Album the only decent thing in-between

[@ozzie9809]

They need the producer they had for Lightning and Puppets

[@S7phirothGaming]

His name is Flemming Rassmusen

[@kennytesta9312]

Those albums are perfect the way they are

[@martanoconghaile]

@PSvGi wut?

[@bobwreck3775]

Name was Cliff

[@MetalPersonJ]

Flemming Rassmusen and Sweet Silent Studios lose a lot of their lore and magic when you learn and realize those albums were only made there because it was Denmark and Lars wanted to sleep at friend's houses instead of the studio attic like the other three did. Lars is kind of a sociopath, really.

[@MetaITurtle]

The Death Magnetic album was a good comeback for Metallica. Maybe not everyone saw it that way but now I can see the transformation more clearly looking back

[@Scorned405]

I thought it was the best record they did in a long time

[@terrell9457]

I can only think of two tracks on Death Magnetic that were a glimpse of the old Metallica.. All Nightmare Long is an absolute Masterpiece.

[@aitorayala]

@@terrell9457 Suicide & Redemption, too.

[@barra6709]

I like the songs. The production wasn't good on it in my opinion.

[@Csetnikke]

For me Death Magnetic is the album that followed the path of AJFA,MoP,RL,KEA. Not saying that the Black,Load/Reload,Saint Anger were bad albums but put Metallica on a different but highly successful path.

[@curtis8966]

It’s like he’s trying to describe how much better Rick Rubin is, while inadvertently describing why Bob rock was so much better..

[@Ak-Bal]

NAH

[@curtis8966]

@@Ak-Bal yeah

[@Juventinos]

I think the fact that they never worked with him again speaks volumes for what they think of Rick

[@fatimapalacios2292]

Yep. I think Corey Taylor spoke about his approach a long time ago.

[@tun-tunninc.6492]

Thats still nuts that they worked with Rubin. Very interesting.

[@TheDrCork]

The difference being: Bob Rock mixes the album a gives advice, and Rick Rubin is never around and does nothing except getting paid.

[@BenBenSings]

It’s impossible to truly tell how much of a snake oil salesman he is, but I think it’s full snake oil

[@ricardodelacrvz1400]

I dont even know how people pay this dude, he gets paid and gets producer credits @@BenBenSings

[@FreeTheJambon]

I truly wonder why Rubin is so highly regarded.

[@metaphoria3]

His productions

[@FreeTheJambon]

@@metaphoria3 By being barely there ?

[@metaphoria3]

@@FreeTheJambon whatev works all about the final product

[@metaphoria3]

@@FreeTheJambon i get it tho you’d think he’d ‘work’ more

[@barra6709]

It just seems like he's been incredibly disinterested the past twenty years

[@JasonEllingsworth]

I think they needed Rick Rubin mixed with someone that was a little more interested in adding some effects and production value. The reality is they always sounded best in the 80's when reverb was plastered all over everything, especially James's voice.

[@TomTomTom87]

yep

[@cpeduardo21]

For some reason, James sounds way stronger and more agressive in those making of videos than in the record.

[@MrParkerman6]

Uh, Rick was barely even in the studio during the making of Death Magnetic, Lars and another guy with James basically did all the producing while Rick sat on the couch for like a couple minutes. That is why Lars said he isn't a musician guy. Cuz he only got production credit on any of their albums cuz he put money in which is why he was given "producer" credit. That is why Lars was Vague and avoided coming right out and saying this.

[@Nexcroo]

This comment great

[@Nexcroo]

@@MrParkerman6 no

[@Angelo.Sebastian]

Great video pana Miguel ImI greetings to you.

[@frogsco]

Don Angelo! Saludo grande bro!

[@jacobstravail]

Bob produced amazing motley crue albums and stryper's against the law. Go listen it's amazing

[@aaronmontgomery4000]

According to everything that I’ve read that I’ve heard, Rick Rubin did not have much to do with the recording process. Greg Fidelman is the one who did most of the work, and is the reason he is still their producer

[@ShadowEl]

Lars literally almost calls Greg a producer at 1:27 then stops and corrects himself.

[@metaphoria3]

Tbf how a song feels is the most important aspect of producing a song

[@xodiaq]

But what did Fleming do that got us all those fucking amazing early records?

[@Jamie-ln1ui]

Death Magnetic kicked ass.....

[@beatmet2355]

Agreed, but sounds like shit.

[@Jamie-ln1ui]

@@beatmet2355 yes, Fleming should have helped with it. In my opinion i feel Death Magnetic tour was thier last cool stage show. With them giant coffins etc.

[@Jamie-ln1ui]

Absolutely true. Last bad ass stage show for sure.

[@waynejohnson3214]

The best LP was Justice For All, produced by Flemming Rasmussen.

[@Jamie-ln1ui]

Absolute Truth...

[@Nmdixon-cu7vm]

@PSvGi besides the missing bass argument, it was a production of ultimate talent. The constant changes in time signature and tempo throughout the album were epic.

[@imaouima]

If you're going with Flemming, it has to be Master of Puppets (especially with the whole no bass thing on Justice).

[@sethcashman1011]

Puppets, all things considered.

[@spaceman_sz]

Surely AJFA is their best album, imho

[@TransDrummer1312]

Go listen to American Head Charge’s “The War Of Art” if you want a fantastic example of Rick Rubin’s production capabilities.

[@sporsemusic]

Well. Facts are that Black album sounds awesome, put on headphones and listen to all the small genious details put into it. Death Magnetic on the other hand - soundwise - is crap.

[@mattm7798]

Very true...the Rock produced albums, save Anger, all sound very well produced. Very rich and full and multilayered. Imagine Puppets or Justice with better production lol...especially Justice!

[@motorhead4446]

Bob Rock all the way! Metallica should bring him back

[@Catman580]

Fuck yeah! It would be cool if Bob produced one more album with Metallica before they all call it quits.

[@Catman580]

@@swampcrypt I respectfully disagree with your comment and here’s why. The Black Album, Load, ReLoad & St. Anger all went number one on the US Billboard Charts while Garage Inc and S&M both went number 2. All of Bob Rock’s albums with Metallica combined have outsold all of the non Bob Rock albums. The first 4 albums along with Death Magnetic and Hardwired combined in the US has sold 32,520,000 units. Bob’s albums combines in the US has sold 35,030,000 units. If Metallica’s albums and ticket sales dropped after And Justice For All, then I would 100% agree with you. You may not be a big fan of Bob’s era (I’m not a huge fan of St. Anger but I can’t deny the success that album did have, numbers are numbers and they show how well it did). James and Lars had a vision and Bob helped them achieved what they wanted to do. In my opinion it was successful and their most successful time period in their career.

[@Catman580]

@@swampcrypt Aight my bad, I misread your comment. I thought you meant in general. My favourite Bob Rock album would be ReLoad, sometimes I change my answer to Load. Anger would be your favourite eh? Interesting, why’s that if you don’t mind me asking?

[@Catman580]

@@swampcrypt I may not be the biggest fan of the record but it has elements and songs I like. However as a drummer, I do enjoy the songs Frantic, St. Anger, Dirty Window, Invisible Kid and Sweet Amber.

[@KnoxCarbon]

Bob Rock: "Okay, I want you to try again. This time, do it more like this. Try singing at a lower octave, you won't blow your voice out. Try having the bass follow the drums a bit more so it doesn't get drowned out by the guitars. Hey, don't throw that riff out, I think you can do something with that." Rick Rubin: "L O U D"

[@80s_kid]

Rick is obviously good at what he does, but just for fun: for good money, I'll tell anyone with my eyes closed, barefoot, in a zen state, how I feel and how to record his songs.😉

[@AFrames763]

Me too. It's a thing, an LA thing a Hollywood thing, it's basically bullshit

[@futureskeletons66669]

Rubin has people to do the technical stuff. Rubin is about concepts.

[@carpenoctem775]

Rick Rubin sounds like a glorified listener. Bob Rock sounds like a professional producer.

[@Orphenia_]

If the songs on Death Magnetic had the production value of Bob Rock it would be ten times better. The songs are amazing but the audio quality and sound of the album is a bit too underdone so to speak.

[@patrickmiller4987]

Realise that Rock was a part of the "production value" of St. Banger.....

[@johnp82]

I whole heartedly disagree. There are good riffs and parts of songs here and there, but it sounds too forced, like they were trying to sound like they might have back in the day but just weren't trying hard enough.

[@MG________]

I really miss Bob Rock working with Metallica. Hope they do one more at least, in any of their 90s styles.

[@3lefty3]

Если это и будет, то это произойдет в лучшем случае через лет 6-8. И это так шатко, что может ни когда уже не произойти.

[@MetalPersonJ]

no

[@MarksMindBox]

Rick Rubin is more like a film producer than a director.

[@mattm7798]

As a first 4 album Metallica fan, it's no coincidence the albums die hard fans like the least tend to come from the Bob Rock era. Now Rock didn't change Metallica's sound by himself, but he did suggest and support them expanding well beyond thrash metal. And you can't deny the commercial success the band achieved under Rock. And no coincidence the albums after Rock(except Lulu) are more thrashy. The thing is, Load and Reload are great albums...they're just not great Metallica albums IMO. One thing Rubin apparently like was compression tho lol

[@johnp82]

The Black Album is an amazing Metallica album

[@Ramo_Baramia]

They need Andy Sneap.

[@jigoujitoku7193]

Should get Rubin to produce and Rock to engineer. Rubin gets the feel, Rock gets the sound.

[@janaka4333]

Well said

[@travispalmer9884]

Flemming!

[@sinanbeyreli7538]

Bob made you world star. That is the difference. If you sell tickets even in your 60's thanks to Bob.

[@the64Kquestion]

Rick Rubin is so talented that Death Magnetic ended up sounding like crap.

[@Zorisx]

DM is one of their incredible latest albums. I was very surprised by it.

[@RaaZVan99]

@@Zorisx It's a great album, but the production (the mix and the master) is terrible, this is what he was referring to

[@chickenbeek]

it was more in the final mastering. it sounded brick walled. other than that it shoulda sounded awesome. still sounds ok enough. i wouldn't say crap. it certainly isn't St Anger level crap, and that was Bob Rock.

[@MrParkerman6]

Talent? He barely appears in the making of. He is producer in money only! Tale a shot every minute Rick appears and you will be sober as hell! m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaKkYYluitSCjNE

[@the64Kquestion]

@@RaaZVan99 That's right. The songs are killer, but the mix didn't do them justice at all. Or maybe it's only the mastering stage that wasted it all. Either way the final result is a disaster, which is a shame for such an established band. St Anger on the other hand was an uninspired album, with a questionable sound approach on the recording side (snare and voice mainly) but the final mastering is clean, it doesn't sound as it if were done by an amateur.

[@jeremytalbott4323]

So Rick is a hippie basically 😂

[@stevew6910]

People always wants to capture that lightning in a bottle of the first two or 4 Metallica records, You cannot, wont ever happen, They have grown from the days of a garage, They have became more professional, and I doubt Metallica's kids could even come close to a garage sound, They have been influenced by the parents, Metallica was a diffrent time and diffrent world, Kids partied , Had a rebel attitude, Was full of piss and vinegar, They didnt learn a song by computer, They learned by ear, Friends would say, You suck , Not sugar coat it, A random friend might say hey check this out, And a group of 6 or more would listen , So either grow with Metallica or stop listening to new and hoping it will be like the old, Will never happen

[@stevepugh211]

Right on point. Their 4 albums will never be copied. Black album was for sure their new journey into music. I agree we have the best stuff early and people need to just grow with the new stuff. Reason tgey still around is they didn't want to bring out the same sound. They always looking to be better

[@Nexcroo]

They can. Just needs old production.

[@dannycrotch5188]

The point is older fans who have been on the journey are always going to play the 1st 4 albums, above any thing that followed.

[@mattm7798]

I think you can return to form...plenty of bands have had a career renaissance later in their career...but there is only so many great songs in a group of people, and unfortunately it seems like Metallica exhausted that supply a while back. Can still wirte good songs, but instant classics...not so much.

[@mattm7798]

@@swampcrypt Agreed...still not sure which Rubin compressed the heck out of DM but that's another discussion

[@patrickmiller4987]

Was a bit better than what was before and came after IMO.

[@lukasstanulevicius8599]

Rob rock is the best producer Metallica ever had. Now rick’s production on death magnetic is absolutely horrible: it’s loud and compressed with tiny soundstage, the instruments doesn’t breath, because everything is so squeezed. Same thing he fucked it up on black sabbath 13 album, by not letting instruments to breath. Maybe he is better producing rap and pop music.

[@winylowaryba]

You forgot what happened, when he meet Slayer for the first time?

[@jiatao7687]

Bob rock still the best by far

[@WineSippingCowboy]

The Cult hired Rick Rubin for 1 album. The Cult disliked 👎 him. Then, they hired Bob Rock. He was the right ✅ producer according to The Cult. Total opposite for Lars Ulrich.

[@MrPeresvit]

Metallica knows better, who need them, but the most needed - it’s Cliff…

[@silly8395]

....and then of all the organic and feel stuff rubin didn't get that he overcooked whole album in the mastering

[@breakdancinfool]

Rick only cares about the music. Bob only cares about sales. Lars only cares about sales.

[@ROOKTABULA]

And then they brick walled the album, making it a pain to listen to and then _lied_ to us that they didn't have an 'un-pinned' master they could use to compensate everyone that bought the distorted (amazingly for the vinyl) release. But there is a great sounding version: Get your hands on the Guitar Hero tracks as I did. SO much better and natural sounding.

[@johnp82]

Songs still kinda suck

[@mattvdh]

AJFA sounded organic? it was missing the bass entirely, the mix is interesting but hardly warm or organic sounding, very cold and sterile compared to bob rocks stuff. It's too bad that bob rock didn't produced AJFA and gave it a massive polish

[@malemanjulpax2155]

Andy Sneap

[@psychedelicfright85]

Rick tends to strip things a little too bare IMO.

[@beatmet2355]

Watch “A Year and a Halfin the Life…” and then watch the Death Magnetic making of videos. Rick Rubin had no presence in the studio. Rick got credit for pretty much doing nothing from what I can tell. Bob Rock was there the whole time. I like Death Magnetic better, but the Black Album is a better produced album. It sure as hell sounds better than DM. RR is overrated as far as his involvement with Metallica. Bob Rock was an actual producer.

[@martanoconghaile]

In an alternate reality world, Death Magnetic produced by Scott Burns in Morrissound Studios, Florida. Just imagine. The hands of God himself.

[@MetalPersonJ]

Except Scott was retired for over 10 years at that point. Colin Richardson what have been better.

[@ozkurede]

Bob Rock sounds much better. Raw or "organic" does not mean good.

[@bassinblue]

Modern day con artist, who just hops on to albums from people who either his intel has informed him are up and coming, or are already established bands and he gets the big credit. No one can change my mind.

[@elguitarTom]

In other words; nobody needs Rick Rubin

[@lanemeyer9350]

Rick’s production nowadays has NO air in it, hate it! Sooooooo compressed and no space in between the instruments…

[@breakdancinfool]

Rick produced Metallicas BEST. Bob produced Metallicas WORST. To fans, thats all that matters.

[@MoreAwsomeMetal]

Rick Rubian was a fraud. Ulrich was just trying in this interview to please the little warner bros universe, but they would never again work with this guy. The production on Death Magnetic wasn't good and Rubin (a Rap music producer) didn't have anything to propose them for assistance during the recording like Bob Rock did. I'm pretty convinced that it's due to the Rubin experience that they decided to found their own label...

[@timharbert7145]

99 problems and the Metallica mix is one.

[@Streetstraystx]

rick is uselss..

[@metaphoria3]

Tbf how a song feels is the most important part of producing a song

[@elevenAD]

Rubin's production on DM is very good and extremely organic sounding, To my ears Bob's stuff sounds too poppish or just plain awful at times, i dont like one thing he ever produced with the band, i hate the sound of everything he had his hands on.

[@metaphoria3]

The Holier than thou demo illustrates this but I still like Rocks production even tho I generally like a rawrr grungy Jack Endino esque sound but the Black album might be the best sonically sounding metal album of all time

[@ianbradley2262]

Rick is by far way better then Bob rock

[@awareaustralia2623]

Rick Rubin the most over rated producer ever

[@mr.thekidd498]

.....Bob Rock RUINED "THE BADDEST BAND IN THE LAND".

[@mr.thekidd498]

.... the good old' FLEMING days.

[@mr.thekidd498]

@PSvGi .....the Danish disaster is LARS.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Metallica had many of their demos for the Black Album long before Rock rolled up. Same with Death Magnetic's demos before Rick rolled up.

[@martanoconghaile]

@PSvGi WTAF are you talking about? The Rasmussen albums are the top three best?! Are you Bob Rock, or something?

[@jamespatterson2002]

@@martanoconghaile not according to the scoreboard. the black album alone sold more than the first the first 4 combined.

[@nordimejia5790]

DM sounds weird

[@Duarki]

what’s so redundant about the whole music industry in this aspect , these days. is, a person even a kid, with interest in music production, can take a piece of pirated software and literally produce or remaster an album better then these “master/iconic/professional” music producers. It’s a joke of a profession, 1 because what they do is nothing special, 2 because any fan who’s interested and knows how to use the software is capable of doing a better job then these Uber professionals getting hired to do this crap. It’s so dumb.

[@Duarki]

@@latentsea so u object to the notion that all the remastered versions (by KZbin channels) of DM and HTSD aren’t better then the album versions? what role does someone like Rick Rubin play in reality, when everything lars just explained about bob and Rick can be replaced by clicking an icon on an interface? music producers (for this genre) r as dead as checkout clerks appose to self serve. a perfect example is the dance/house/ trance industry. all the biggest acts in the world aren’t just the “musicians” they r the producers. deadmouse, avvci, sweedish house mafia, fuck even pull it back to “metal” (modern) n say poliphiya. these songs that all sky rocket to number 1 across 100+ countries r “produced” by the artist on a laptop. if bands like Metallica adapted to modern technology, maybe there album production wouldn’t be a joke. u can KZbin search anything from DM n HTSD n you’ll find 10 different copies mastered way better by a 20 year old on his laptop in his room, then what such legends like Rick Rubin came up with in a prehistoric studio that doesn’t even need to exist anymore.

[@Duarki]

@@latentsea pretty amazing that all that is replaced with a laptop now days isn’t it. u missed the point. u just reinforced it.

[@NPC-30]

One produced clean sounding records, the other overcompressed the songs into a turd.

[@diversionesconvenuslausinr8791]

Por eso sonáis mucho peor ahora Lars

[@bonscott6353]

It was too dry

[@robertmorrison107]

I can't listen to this guy without seeing his face as Scrooge McDuck sitting on a pile of cash. Pay Lars isn't dead.

[@MM-ig1iv]

I don't know but I think the black album was James's peak vocals.. and justice for all.. that was the James I miss. "His sound" it's totally different these days and after them albums. He did sound better in E. But who in the hell plays in E anymore .. ? Lol. I miss the older style of music all the way around.. it sucks anymore in my opinion, I don't know where it's going. But isn't looking good. And I'm talking about your normal old typical rock and metal sound. It's all getting too digital and computerized. Soulless or heartless maybe? I don't know what it is.. but I don't like it. Complete garbage to me.

[@johnp82]

The qualities of James' classic voice that made it great started to disappear around Reload.

[@MAGA4EVA1986]

Rick Rubin completely F’d Metallica up IMO!! The DM album is HOT GARBAGE!! It sounds like HORSES*IT. Which pains me to say as someone who’s been in love with Metallica for almost 30 years!! Just on sound quality alone, St. Anger is LIGHT YEARS BETTER THEN DM!!

[@donkarnage6032]

I feel the Metallica/Rubin albums are 💩

[@MrParkerman6]

What Rick? m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaKkYYluitSCjNE

[@MrParkerman6]

"worked with" Rick Ruben. Watch the making of Death Magnetic On KZbin, he is barely in it.

[@superballs3225]

Bob Rock destroyed metallica

[@slaxxxer]

Death Magnetic is great, Ibfindvitvgard to believe people prefer it to the snooze-a-thon that is 75% of hard wired......