The loudness war has been raging for years, and today it's on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (along with a picture of Rick Rubin, who did not comment for the article). Ethan Smith has an article on today's made-for-iPods sound -- called peak limiting or dynamic reduction -- that focuses on the current debate over Metallica's latest album, Death Magnetic.

Before Metallica, the anti-loudness album of the year was the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium (here's a CD vs. LP mastering comparison). Bruce Springsteen's Magic didn't go over too well in some quarters (it really is loud). And now Metallica has revived the debate. An article in such a prominent publication as the WSJ is, I hope, an indication there is an awareness that problems await the industry if this arms race continues unabated.

Smith did not mention that the "Guitar Hero" version of the album presents an alternate version by which to judge the CD/download version. The existence of a second version helps bolster the case made by critics of Death Magnetic's loudness. (Check out Listening Post's analysis of the two versions of Death Magnetic.)

Some labels have actually released two versions of the same album. Warner Bros' release of Mudcrutch, Tom Petty's old band that recently reunited, was offered in two versions. The CD and download was the standard version. The LP came with a CD with the LP's more quiet, more dynamic mastering.

For a good article on the sound war, read this one at the Times Online. In it,

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