Wednesday, December 6, 2006
New studio photos available
Friday, November 3, 2006
Lars Ulrich Presents 'Future Sounds' Award At MTV EMA: Photos Available
GettyImages#1
GettyImages#2
GettyImages#3
GettyImages#4
GettyImages#5
GettyImages#6
Wire Image
Film Magic
According to Billboard, MTV this year extended the coverage of its flagship European awards gala across its new media platforms. The network streamed three concurrent feeds on its dedicated MTV EMA web site, and delivered a mobile TV simulcast which was accessible, it boasts, to more than 20 million European 3G users.
As previously reported, Spanish METALLICA fan site CyberMETALLICA has uploaded several new photos taken during METALLICA's songwriting sessions for their upcoming album, tentatively due next summer/fall. Check them out at this location.
METALLICA's follow-up to 2003's "St. Anger" is being produced by Rick Rubin, who has previously worked with AUDIOSLAVE, SLAYER, SLIPKNOT, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.
Blabbermouth.net
Saturday, October 14, 2006
'The Videos 1989-2004' DVD Details Revealed
Commented the band in a posting on its web site: "We've been getting requests for many years to release all the promotional videos on DVD and it's finally happening! In addition to every video we've ever made, for the first time ever, the '2 of One' release (which up until now has only been available on VHS) will be available on DVD. Also included is 'Mama Said', which never aired in North America, maybe not even anywhere in the world, and a few little extras such as 'The Unforgiven' theatrical version and the 'Some Kind Of Monster' film trailer. Plus, all the audio has been re-mixed in 5.1 surround sound.
Read more...
Monday, September 25, 2006
Cliff Burton 'Memorial Day' To Be Held In Sweden
Read more...
Thursday, September 14, 2006
LARS ULRICH With IAN GILLAN in San Francisco
A photo of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich on stage with Ian Gillan during the DEEP PURPLE frontman's solo gig Monday night (September 11) at Slim's in San Francisco has been posted online (courtesy of Nadir/asterothe). According to one eyewitness report at the Metclub.com forum, "Ian invited Lars to the stage and said Lars kept him drinking untill 4:00 a.m. in the morning the night before... Lars sat behind the drums and they played 'Smoke On The Water' just before the encore. It was a great treat! We all know what kind of an impact DEEP PURPLE had in Lars' life. I feel very lucky to witness him playing a DEEP PURPLE song with Ian Gillan. And I think Lars did a great job. Well done, Lars!"
Friday, August 25, 2006
MetallicA orchestral tribute due in october
Vitamin Records has set an October 10 release date for "Scorched Earth Orchestra Plays Metallica's Master of Puppets", an orchestral tribute to METALLICA's classic 1986 album.
"Master of Puppets" came out in the spring of 1986 and was METALLICA's first gold album and mainstream success. It featured staples of the band's live set such as "Battery", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" and the title track.
Read more at SanitariuM
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Kirk Jams With Tool In Hawaii
Read more...
Saturday, August 19, 2006
'Booming Good Time'
Heavy metal fans came out in full force for METALLICA's concert Tuesday night (August 15), at the Olympic Main Stadium, southern Seoul. Thousands of Korean and foreign fans braved the scorching summer heat for a chance to rock the night away with METALLICA.
"Did you miss METALLICA?" James Hetfield asked the crowd, who responded with a resounding cheer. "It's good to be back," he said. METALLICA last came to Seoul for a concert in 1998.
More at SanitariuM
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Video Of Second New Song
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
MetallicA On 'The Simpsons'
The four members of MetallicA recorded their voices for the program last September.
MetallicA joins a long list of artists who have been featured on the show, including BLINK-182, Mick Jagger, 'N SYNC, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, AEROSMITH, Elvis Costello, SONIC YOUTH, CYPRESS HILL, SMASHING PUMPKINS and Bette Midler.
More at SanitariuM
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Another New Song At Japan's SUMMER SONIC Festival
As was the case with all the concerts on the band's recent European tour, METALLICA played their entire 1986 album, "Master of Puppets", during the Tokyo show, including rarely performed tracks such as "Orion" and "Disposable Heroes".
More>>>
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Return To Korea To Perform For Old-School Fans
Formed in 1981, the American hard-rock band has sold more than 90 million albums. During their first live concert in the country, which was eight years ago, some 35,000 fans filled Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Hall — even though Korea's economy was struggling.
"It was shocking to see Korean fans sing with us throughout the concert," said James Hetfield, lead singer of the band, in an interview. "I thought here are true METALLICA fans."
The upcoming concert is being planned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of "Master of Puppets".
The band's third album came out in the same year that bassist Cliff Burton died in a tragic bus accident. The album is now considered essential for any heavy-metal fan.
"It is true that our musical style has changed over time, but the essentials that characterize our music remain unchanged," Hetfield said.
More at SanitariuM
Friday, August 4, 2006
Jason Newsted: 'METALLICA Still Remains The Biggest Ambassadors To Heavy Metal'
FHM: How much electricity does Tommy Lee produce?
Jason: "I am so psyched about playing with Tommy and it hasn't been like that since I joined VOIVOD. And now that I know I'm gonna have this big, powerful dude behind me going, 'woo da do do da do da.' Man, holy God, it's like the whole sky is opening up! It's some kind of feeling that hasn't been churned up in me in a long time."
FHM: Not since METALLICA?
Jason: "METALLICA was the thing I put most of my energy into, but it didn't mean I didn't want to do other stuff. When I left METALLICA, I stopped for about three hours to have a sandwich, and maybe too many beers that night, and that was about it, dude."
FHM: Do you miss playing with them?
Jason: "I miss the people. That was a big part of me — the connection with the people. I prided myself in meeting 500 people a day for however many years. That ambassadorship was fuckin' giant and METALLICA still remains the biggest ambassadors to heavy metal. Period."
FHM: Not many people would argue with that.
Jason: "The gods are BLACK SABBATH. METALLICA did a different thing than them, though. We were always approachable. People could easily come up to me. Yes, METALLICA was with the people, but I was really with the people! Now I have an opportunity to reach out to more fans with SUPERNOVA. 'Rock Star' is gonna go around 70 or so countries, including places where people have never heard of fuckin' METALLICA or GUNS N' ROSES before. We're going to take this music to them!"
Read more...
How many sleepless nights have new parents spent trying to soothe a restless newborn? With the August 29 release of "Lullaby Renditions of Metallica", a solution is on the way. Enter Sandman.
That's right, the music that set the standard for aggressive, concussion-inducing rock will soon be lulling infants to sleep through dreamy re-workings of their head-banging fury. Classics like "Battery" and "Master of Puppets" feature glockenspiel, vibraphone, melotron, harps, bells and more. The music is arranged and performed by Michael Armstrong.
Read more...
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Metallica catalog hits iTunes
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich was once the poster child for the record industry's opposition to digital music technologies, particularly those that allowed users to download free music from the likes of the former Napster.
Read more...
Monday, July 24, 2006
Metallica Among Biggest Wusses Says Blender
by Vayne Theories of Metal Underground
Friday, July 14, 2006
On Producer Change: 'We Want To Work With The Guy Who's Got Finger On The Pulse'
M. Shadows: Why did you decide not to work with Bob Rock on your new album? And how is it working with Rick Rubin?
Lars Ulrich: "We're just getting started, really. 'St. Anger' was kind of an isolated experiment, where we wrote and recorded everything at the same time in the studio. But we're kind of back to the way we use to do it before 'St. Anger', which is kind of a writing phase and then a recording phase. Contrary to general belief, we're not actually in the recording phase yet — we're just writing. We've had half a dozen meetings with Rick, and he just comes up and listens. We're just kind of feeling each other out, kind of getting to know each other. Once we start the recording phase of it, which should hopefully be this fall, that's when his big input will come. In 1990, when we started using Bob, it was because Bob made all the best rock records that were going on at that time — MÖTLEY CRÜE, DAVID LEE ROTH, THE CULT — and he was involved in the engineering of all the BON JOVI records. Everything that was going on in the late Eighties was all about Bob Rock. And now, everything that's great about rock — from SLIPKNOT to SYSTEM OF A DOWN to the CHILI PEPPERS to MARS VOLTA, and even the JOHNNY CASH and NEIL DIAMOND records — it's all Rick Rubin. The same thing that brought us to Bob 15 years ago is now kind of bringing us to Rick. We want to work with the guy who's got the total finger on the pulse. And Bob was the first one to bless it, to say, 'Look, I don't know what else I can offer you 15 years later.' We finish each other's sentences. We know what he's going to say, and he knows what we're going to say. We made, what, like, five records with him? And he really had been the fifth member of our band for the last 15 years. As painful as it is, getting his blessing first was really important to us. So, so far, every side of it has been great."
M. Shadows: Music has changed a lot since you began, and I'm sure your influences have changed, as well. What drives you to continue playing, and what are your current influences in music and in life in general?
Read more Here
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
New Song Video/Audio From Berlin Posted Online
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Video Of 'Orion' From ROCK AM RING Festival Posted Online
Read more...
'Master Of Puppets' Album Again At Germany's ROCK IM PARK
Read more...
Thursday, June 1, 2006
METALLICA's ROCK AM RING Performance To be Broadcast On MTV EUROPE
More
2004's Download Festival Clips With Lombardo, Jordison Online
More
James Hetfield Saved By 'Monster' Documentary
Hetfield says, "(The film) took the black veil away, it took the mystique and the mystery out of the rock myth of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Music is the best drug in the whole f**king world and moves me like no other. I thank God that I discovered that gift early on."
Read more here
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Autographed METALLICA Guitar To Be Raffled Off To Help Family
According to SonomaNews.com, Sonoma Valley High School seniors Andrew Presler and Kenny Walter are raffling off a guitar signed by all the members of METALLICA (photo) at a concert they're holding this weekend to help a friend's family pay medical bills. The concert will take place in Andrews Hall at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 27 with a wide range of music — from rock to hip-hop, metal, blues, rock.All proceeds will go to the Haskell family to help out with medical costs. The pair became good friends with Nefera Haskell at Sonoma Valley High School. She has been flying back east where her mother Kimberly was having surgery for a brain tumor.
More...
METALLICA Begin Rehearsing For 'Escape From The Studio '06' Tour
More...
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Kirk: 'We Have Fifteen Songs' Written For Next Album
"It's pretty early in the process," Hammett told the Artisan News Service. "We have about fifteen songs or so and we're just going to keep on writing songs until we feel we have the best dozen songs and get those into the studio. That's when I think Rick (Rubin) comes in and does his thing. But it's really really early still, we're just writing the music and that's going along really well. Sometimes we're writing two or three songs per week, which is great. It's just us four in the studio, which is really different now." [Watch a Windows Media video clip of Hammett talking about working on the new METALLICA album at this location.]
James Hetfield also stopped by to talk to the Artisan News Service about working with the legendary producer Rick Rubin on the new CD — the group's first album to be helmed by someone other than Bob Rock since 1988's "…And Justice for All".
"We have Rick Rubin working on the next project and Rick's reputation is true," Hetfield said. "He's not showing up every day at the studio. He's there when needed and we are there flying on our own. It's very different from the last record. 'St. Anger' was hours and hours of talking, talking about what was going on, what's going to happen, what will happen — all of that and going in and having coaches here and there. This one we're pretty much on our own and it does it feels really free and really nice. There's no pressure. It feels good. Sometimes it's a little unfocused so we kind of have to crack the whip every once in a while to get everybody in there." [Watch a Windows Media video clip of Hetfield talking about working on the new METALLICA album at this location.]
source: Blabbermouth.net
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Kirk Hammett's vehicle is close to being finished
Kirk Hammett's custom-built '36 Ford vehicle is close to being finished and will make its public debut at the Paso Robles Custom Car show in California. One of the most hotly anticipated hot-rods, the vehicle was built by the Salinas Boys (owned by Cole Foster, renowed custom made hot-rod builder) over a three-year period and features a unique sound system with a guitar amplifier built into the trunk. Additional information can be found at SalinasBoys.com.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
James Fights Back Tears As He Recounts Battle With Addiction
METALLICA frontman James Hetfield fought back tears on Friday as he recounted his public battle with addiction, and labeled the sex, drugs and rock' n' roll ethos as a "horrible myth."
The 42-year-old singer/guitarist was being honored at a Hollywood fundraiser for the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides access to addiction recovery for members of the music community.
The event, which also honored concert promoter Bill Silva, culminated in a three-song set by Hetfield and METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo, along with ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney. They dusted off the ALICE IN CHAINS songs "Would?" and "Them Bones", and finished with the METALLICA ballad "Nothing Else Matters".
Other performers included TOM WAITS, VELVET REVOLVER, JASON MRAZ and BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB.
Guests included Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Hammett, and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS singer Anthony Kiedis.
Read more at Reuters.com.
Check out pictures from the event at Wire Image, Metallica.com.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Hetfield: 'Charity award means more than a Grammy'
"It's very different. I guess I never thought of inviting family to other stuff. But this is obviously something I'm more proud of.
"It's more of a lifestyle instead of an accolade of what you've accomplished. This is more internal for me."
Read more here...
Friday, May 5, 2006
METALLICA Avoiding Battles On New Album
On May 12, Hetfield will receive an honor he says he is more proud of than any career achievement. The MusiCares MAP Fund, a non-profit organization aimed at helping music industry professionals with addiction recovery treatment, will present Hetfield with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his "devotion to helping other addicts with the recovery process" during its second annual benefit concert at the Music Box/Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood.
"I don't believe that you have to walk straight into the fire to know how hot it is," Hetfield told Billboard.com. "That was my path. The biggest awareness is that you're not alone and that there is some help. When people get so far into it, where they feel their life isn't worth anything, that's too far. But, you can survive it. That's important to know."
Hetfield admits the process of making an album while sober is "very different because there is a lot more awareness of what we are doing and sometimes over-thinking it. Now we are very present for it all and I'm not afraid to do or try anything musically."
source: Blabbermouth.net
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Metallica, Alice in Chains join forces for LA gig
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Members of hard rock bands Metallica and Alice in Chains will play together at a Hollywood benefit concert next month honoring Metallica singer James Hetfield, organizers said on Wednesday.
Hetfield and Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo will share the stage at Music Box at Henry Fonda on May 12 with Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney.
The concert/dinner is a fund-raiser for the MusiCares MAP Fund, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.
Both bands have struggled with addiction issues. Hetfield's personal battle was chronicled in the documentary "Some Kind of Monster," while Alice in Chains lost singer Layne Staley to a fatal drug overdose four years ago.
Their paths have also intersected musically. Alice in Chains bass player Mike Inez was one of many high-profile musicians to try out for the slot that opened up when Jason Newsted left Metallica in 2001. Alice in Chains was also supposed to open some dates for Metallica in 1994, but pulled out at the last minute because of internal tensions.
Metallica are recording a new album, having kept a relatively low profile in the past year. Alice in Chains will launch their first tour in a decade in Los Angeles on May 18.
Hetfield's bandmates, drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Hammett, will attend the Hollywood event, as will their friend and idol, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. Other scheduled guests include Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, and Sully Erna of Boston hard rock band Godsmack.
Also scheduled to perform are rock band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and singer/songwriters Jason Mraz and Tom Waits. Besides Hetfield, veteran concert promoter Bill Silva will also be honored. Balcony tickets are priced at $250 each.
The Songs That Drove METALLICA: 'Full Metal Garage' CD Due In June
Originally conceived by Rockdetector.com's Garry Sharpe-Young, all of these original tracks are available together, at last, on one double CD, "Full Metal Garage – The Songs That Drove Metallica". This album — fully approved by METALLICA — features artists such as BLACK SABBATH, MOTÖRHEAD, MISFITS, DIAMOND HEAD and THIN LIZZY. It's a genuinely inspirational collection of music and when you listen it's easy to see how this group of talented bands has influenced the lives and music of METALLICA.
Says Garry Sharpe-Young: "It's well known that METALLICA drew their inspiration from many of the NWoBHM bands, classic '70s rockers and British punk, and they themselves have been quick to honour these acts with their infamous 'Garage Days' sets and a swathe of B-sides over the years. It suddenly dawned on me one day, whilst working on album projects for the likes of SAVAGE and HOLOCAUST, that although fans knew of these tracks, most had never heard the originals. I then set wheels in motion to compile all of them into one collection. I can remember talking to DIAMOND HEAD's Sean Harris who told me that when they supported METALLICA at the Milton Keynes festival they got booed when they opened with 'Am I Evil' because the METALLICA fans thought they were doing a cover version! Also, perhaps the most direct inspiration for the band, Mansfield's SAVAGE, never got their justice by way of an official METALLICA cover but the band included a track on their first demos and used to play 'Let It Loose' live, neglecting to tell the audience it was a cover! Somehow, history got a bit skewed simply because METALLICA got so big. Here, you can hear all the originals, such as BUDGIE's 'Breadfan', which METALLICA used as a set opener for a huge number of shows, or Scotland's highly influential HOLOCAUST, SWEET SAVAGE's 'Killing Time' and JAGUAR from Bristol. Being a well-known obsessor over historical detail, it was a fun job putting these tracks together and, most importantly, getting some of these lesser known bands some well-overdue recognition."
METALLICA have dominated, changed and inspired the musical landscape since they burst onto the metal scene with the release of their debut album "Kill 'Em All" in 1983. The truly innovative and fresh approach from the San Francisco four-piece has materially changed the music we listen to today. Credited with creating thrash metal, METALLICA have always celebrated the music that has influenced them and have made previous homilies to the bands and musicians on the albums "Garage Days" revisited EP and the double album "Garage Inc."
"Full Metal Garage – The Songs That Drove Metallica" track listing:
Disc One:
01. DISCHARGE – "Free Speech For The Dumb"
02. DIAMOND HEAD – "It's Electric"
03. BLACK SABBATH – "Sabbra Cadabra"
04. MISFITS – "Die Die My Darling"
05. NICK CAVE – "Loverman"
06. MERCYFUL FATE – "Curse Of The Pharaohs"
07. MERCYFUL FATE – "Evil"
08. BLUE ÖYSTER CULT – "Astronomy"
09. THIN LIZZY – "Whiskey In The Jar"
10. LYNYRD SKYNYRD – "Tuesday's Gone"
11. DISCHARGE – "The More I See"
Disc Two:
01. DIAMOND HEAD – "Helpless"
02. HOLOCAUST – "The Small Hours"
03. KILLING JOKE – "The Wait"
04. BUDGIE – "Crash Course In Brain Surgery"
05. DIAMOND HEAD – "Am I Evil"
06. BLITZKRIEG – "Blitzkrieg"
07. BUDGIE – "Breadfan"
08. DIAMOND HEAD – "The Prince"
09. ANTI NOWHERE LEAGUE – "So What"
10. SWEET SAVAGE – "Killing Time" ('96 version)
11. MOTÖRHEAD – "Overkill"
12. MOTÖRHEAD – "Too Late Too Late"
13. SAVAGE – "Let It Loose"
14. DIAMOND HEAD – "Sucking My Love"
15. SAVAGE – "Dirty Money"
16. JAGUAR – "Stormchild"
source: Blabbermotuh.net
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
TRIVIUM: Cover Of METALLICA's 'Master Of Puppets' Posted Online
As previously reported, "Remastered" was packaged with a special issue of Kerrang! commemorating the 20th anniversary of "Master of Puppets". Other bands contributing to the CD include MACHINE HEAD ("Battery"), MENDEED ("The Thing That Should Not Be"), BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE ("Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"), CHIMAIRA ("Disposable Heroes"), FIGHTSTAR ("Leper Messiah"), MASTODON ("Orion"; audio) and FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND ("Damage, Inc."). Check out the "Remastered" cover artwork at this location.
TRIVIUM's acclaimed "Ascendancy" CD will be receiving a re-release in the U.S. on May 9 in a special-edition package similar to the album's recent U.K. re-release, but with even more extras, videos and goodies.
The U.K. version of TRIVIUM's "Ascendancy - Special Edition" CD/DVD package, which was released on February 27, came in an embossed slipcase featuring new artwork and included a previously unreleased studio track plus a bonus DVD. The DVD featured four promo videos, including the previously unseen "Rain", plus five live tracks recorded in the U.K. in September 2005. More information is available at this location.
"Ascendancy" was recently certified silver in the U.K. for sales in excess of 60,000 copies.
Source: Blabbermouth.net
Monday, April 24, 2006
METALLICA: 'Creeping Death' Rehearsal Video Posted Online
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently told England's Kerrang! magazine that the band's new music has a more "old-school" sound than its controversial 2003 release, "St. Anger", according to Launch Radio Networks. He told the magazine that the group has gone back to an earlier method of songwriting, explaining, "Everything you hear on ('St. Anger') was given birth to in the studio. This time around we've each brought in ideas as we used to — as well as working on some jams we had from two summers ago — and James (Hetfield) and I are sorting through our CDs of riffs to put together stuff as we did back in the day."
Ulrich said the new material is "much more organic, more old-school. It certainly doesn't feel like 'St. Anger Part Two'."
The drummer still defended the band's eighth studio album, which drew criticism for its underproduced sound. "'St. Anger' was a statement, 55 minutes of brutality packed onto a CD, proving to ourselves that we still had the spark," he said. "'St. Anger' was fun but we don't need to make that album again."
Ulrich said that the band has six or seven songs nearly completed for its next release, which is due out in early 2007. The band is working with producer Rick Rubin after 15 years with Bob Rock behind the board.
METALLICA will play some European and Japanese festivals this summer.
Frontman James Hetfield will be honored at the second annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert on Friday, May 12 in Hollywood, California.
Source: Blabbermouth.net
Saturday, April 22, 2006
METALLICA Host Winners Of 'Some Kind Of Monster' DVD Release 'Golden Ticket' Contest
METALLICA hosted the winners of the "Some Kind Of Monster" DVD release "Golden Ticket" contest at their headquarters in San Rafael, California on Friday, April 21. The winners came from all over: Oregon, Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, and even Germany.
The day started with the six winners and their guests relaxing with the guys in the band lounge, sharing stories and finding out how they won their "Golden Ticket." A superb barbeque lunch of burgers, hot dogs, steak, chicken, and fish was served with all the fixings and extras you could eat. In the game room, you could hear the dings of the pinball games and the slappings of the air hockey table.
Read the rest of the report — and check out pictures — at Metallica.com.
Source: Blabbermouth.net
Friday, April 21, 2006
'TALLICA LEND VOICES AGAIN
Brendon Small, known for the series "Home Movies", co-created "Death Clock Metalocalypse" about a Norwegian heavy metal band called DEATHKLOK. Although they rock to the top of the charts with gusto, they are also incredibly stupid and leave a path of destruction and mayhem behind wherever they tour. The new series will premiere in August on the Cartoon Network.
METALLICA have previously lent their voices to animated shows including "The Simpsons" and "Dave the Barbarian".
Source: Blabbermouth
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Metallica Continue Work On New LP
Metallica are mentioned in the latest issue of Kerrang! magazine, where drummer Lars Ulrich offers a small update on the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's new album, reports Blabbermouth.net.
According to Ulrich, Metallica have "six to seven" new songs completed without vocals and have gone back to the old approach of Lars and guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield sifting through riff tapes the band have recorded on hours of jam sessions from the last world tour.
Regarding the band's collaboration with producer Rick Rubin (Slipknot, System Of A Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Lars said that its been good working with him because he sees things in the big picture and it was good to change producers because after 15 years they felt spoiled.
In other news, the Mercury News is reporting that Hetfield and guitarist Kirk Hammett attended a live show by Queen at the HP Pavillion in San Jose last week. They hung out backstage and were later introduced to the audience by Queen guitarist Brian May.
Metallica return to "old school" metal
Ulrich said the new material is "much more organic, more old school. It certainly doesn't feel like St. Anger Part Two."
The drummer still defended the band's eighth studio album, which drew criticism for its underproduced sound: "StAnger was a statement, 55 minutes of brutality packed onto a CD, proving to ourselves that we still had the spark. StAnger was fun but we don't need to make that album again."
Ulrich said that the band has six or seven songs nearly completed for its next release, which is due out in early 2007. The band is working with producer Rick Rubin after 15 years with Bob Rock behind the board.
Metallica will play some European and Japanese festivals this summer.
Frontman James Hetfield will be honored at the second annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert on Friday, May 12th in Hollywood, California.