This is what it’s all about, folks. It’s time to put down the pad and pen, get a lighter handy for the quieter moments and steel myself for riff-tastic headbanging as I go on a magical run-through of Metallica’s new Death Magnetic album on Guitar Hero 3. I’m no Kirk Hammett, sure, but here’s an UltraNinjas guide to how things panned out as I took to the virtual stage and let the fingers fly across the fret.

Expert level, you say? Nooo. I am competent at Hard level and still fail songs on it, so we’ll stick to that thank you very much. Let’s give it a go!

1: That Was Just Your Life

Heartbeat to start… and then… ah, this is okay actually. Quite a slow run up for the first bit, and then BANG! Quick riffs, quick solos, chords… yikes. This is quite the introduction to the album. Still, once you learn the up-and-down progression of the verse it works nicely and the lead up to the chorus is a restful bit of chord chugging, so it’s manageable.

Difficulty: 4/5

2: The End Of The Line

I wasn’t really looking forward to this tune for two reasons: it’s not one of my favourites off the album, and I knew it was going to be a riffing nightmare.

Yeah, this song hurt. A lot. Relentless from start to the end minus a quieter run around two-thirds of the way through, this throws chords and notes at you left, right and centre until your arms are practically breaking off. The main riffing is knackering, the solos knackering and insane… good luck with this one, folks.

Difficulty: 5/5

3: Broken, Beat and Scarred

This one’s got some tricky finger work right the way through, with the main riff through the verse being somewhat uneven and challenging. Still, it’s great fun to play and the middle solos are really tricky, hence it being somewhat rewarding when you drag yourself through to the end.

Difficulty: 4/5

4: The Day That Never Comes

See, I am boxing clever here. I know from repeated listening to this song that it starts relatively simple and ends up in a blizzard of mashed solos, so I am keeping my star power saved throughout the first (really quite easy) runs of notes.

When the solos hit they are actually quite manageable – very quick hammering of a couple of notes and then a few meaty power chords chucked in. Not half as bad as I was expecting, although the song itself isn’t one of my favourites from the record.

Difficulty: 3/5

5: All Nightmare Long

Wayhey, this one’s my favourite off the album! Initial bits are quite easy… here comes the riff…. Actually, it’s alright! Not doing too bad – bit of chord shifting, but it’s okay.

Hang on…

SOLO!!! Argh, this is quite tricky with a load of runs and hammer-ons. Must. Get. Through. Without. Dying….

Phew. Back to the heavy riff part, and I am just-and-just okay. Pretty tricky in the middle part, but the bits either side are rather satisfying and crunchy.

Difficulty: 4/5

6: Cyanide

This one is probably the easiest on the whole album, with some pretty easy chord progression and note runs. Even the solos are alright once you’re into the runs and how they are working, and with them not lasting too long you’re quickly back into the chugging riff that makes up the rest of the tune. Not bad, but not the best song to play.

Difficulty: 2/5

7: The Unforgiven III

Another favourite of mine, this one starts with… er, nothing. About a minute or so of no fret action due to the piano/violin intro, but when it does kick in it’s a pretty simple (if quick) run up and down.

The proper verse bits are also relatively simple to do as well, leading me to think the solos are going to be a bugger…

… actually, they’re okay too. Probably one of the easier songs to play all told, but still rather satisfying nonetheless.

Difficulty: 3/5

8: The Judas Kiss

This song ROCKS. BOW DOWN!!!! RAH RAH RAH RAH RAH!!!!! RAAAAAHHH!!!!

… excuse me. Anyhow, it’s also brilliant fun to play, but features some intense riffery and a real bugger of an extended solo that’ll kill you pretty sharp if you lose your place. One of the more difficult tunes on there, and there’s a 9-minute instrumental up next! Argh!

Difficulty: 5/5

9: Suicide And Redemption

Righto, this one comes in two fretty flavours: James Hetfield’s riffs or Kirk Hammett’s. I plump for the former initially and find the song a really pleasant 9-minute chord-a-thon with a devilishly difficult middle solo that I come bloody close to failing. Still, stomping rock gives way to one of those ‘lighter in the air’ moments and it’s one of the best bits of the album so far.

I then try Hammett’s part and despite scoring much less in terms of points, find it slightly easier when the middle part kicks in. The majority of the song is still the same, but the solos are swapped as well as a few incidental riffs and the like. Whichever one you choose, this song’s a winner. A WINNER!

Difficulty: 4/5

10: My Apocalypse

Probably my least favourite song on the record if I am honest, and probably my least favourite tune to play due to it being five or so minutes of continual painful riff slaughter. It’s a mighty tricky note to end the album on with another killer solo, so it’s a minor moment of salvation when the chorus bit kicks in and slows it down a little. Not bad, but not great.

Difficulty: 5/5

In general, then, the pack is a really good extension to the album and very enjoyable to play through for the most part. The charts are tricky in places but seem fair on the whole (although Expert level is insane at points and will kick your arse if you’re not very, very good) and all are remarkably satisfying to rock your way through. The price – 1,440 MS Points – might seem a little high, but divide by the 11 tunes you’re getting and it works out at just over a quid a tune, which is more than comparable with Rock Band. Any fan owes it to themselves to dust off the little plastic guitar and give it some proper hell, Metallica style.