Y'see, I'm really liking Death Magnetic at the moment as well. It kinda sounds like I remember Metallica sounding, whereas what Metallica sounded like doesn't sound like what I'm sure Metallica sounded like when I first got into the Metallica sound.
I think maybe Metallica have invented a time machine and there's a Metallica paradox where now Metallica have gone back to mellow then Metallica's sound but later Metallica have sent the JH2000 back to try and stop now Metallica meddling with then Metallica whilst simultaneously bringing then Metallica forward into now to make sure that later Metallica can still build the JH2000 then.
Regardless, it's a pretty strong album.