Metallica album Death Magnetic has been named the loudest-ever by a mastering expert.

But he says the advantages of the approach are all-but cancelled out in the modern era.

Engineer Ian Shepherd compared a number of albums for dynamic range, the key element in the “loudness war.” Death Magnetic topped his list – but lost significant amounts of sonic detail in the process.

http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news...doesn-t-matter

Rock Loudness list
1. Metallica: Death Magnetic – DR3
2. Red Hot Chilli Peppers: Californication – DR5
3. Jack White: Lazaretto – DR10
4. Radiohead: OK Computer – DR10
5. Pink Floyd: The Dark Side Of The Moon – DR10
6. Steven Wilson: Hand. Cannot. Erase. – DR11
7. Metallica: The Black Album – DR11
8. Motorhead: The Ace Of Spades – DR11
9. The Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks – DR11
10. AC/DC: Back In Black – DR12
11. Bruce Springsteen: Born In The USA – DR14
12. Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms – DR16