"New" Metallica starts with the Black Album, easy. It was when they started changing their sound and becoming more mainstream, although i consider many songs on the Black Album metal.
Old for sure, but I'm not burning their new stuff either. It's still good (Fuel isa good song) but I prefer their old stuff like Blackened, Welcome Home, and Master of Puppets.
I don't see why you're comparing the old stuff to the new stuff.. 8 albums VS. 1?? Not really fair man, gotta say the new stuff is different, but still can tell it's Metallica! still, gotta love the solos especially in the new album But overall I can't choose ha, Metallica's Metallica baby!