Metallica's co-manager Cliff Burnstein has defended the sound quality of the band's new album, 'Death Magnetic', after it was criticised by fans.

The album, which has sold over a million copies worldwide in less than two weeks, has been described as too loud on some Metallica forums.

Fans criticisms of the Rick Rubin produced effort have focussed mainly on the CD version, which they claim doesn't sound as clean as the edition that's available via the video game Guitar Hero.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Burnstein tried to dampen the criticism, claiming that 98% of listeners have voiced a an "overwhelmingly positive” response.

"There's something exciting about the sound of this record that people are responding to,” he added.

But Ted Jensen, who mastered the 'Death Magnetic', has already distanced himself from the album.

In a message to fans, he wrote: “I'm not proud to be associated with this one.”

(by Jason Gregory)