Metallica

[muthagoose]

METALLICA's JAMES HETFIELD: SLAYER's KERRY KING Is 'Afraid' Of Getting Old

Greece's metal TV show "TV War", which airs on MAD TV, recently conducted an interview with METALLICA frontman James Hetfield.

A transcript of the chat follows:

On why the setlist for the "Sick of the Studio '07" tour consisted mostly of pre-1991 material and not any newer songs:

Hetfield: "Well, it's tough when you're doing festivals and also you have a lot of material. You wanna do something new, you wanna do something different, you wanna do the ones that people identify with. And a lot of times… you know, we haven't done some of these festivals in years. But we did the festival circuit last yer also. So we're hitting some of the festivals we've done… Every night is different. Sometimes that's fun, sometimes it's… for me, introducing the wrong song or something, or starting a wrong one…. But as far as the stuff on 'St. Anger' goes, I guess we have so much time, and they don't make the list — that's all. But we also don't wanna be one of those bands that are just playing the favorites. You wanna put some in there, so… We have been playing a song like 'Ride the Lightning', '…And Justice for All', 'Whiplash', 'The Four Horsemen'… you know, some songs that we haven't played in festivals in a long time."

On playing the "Live Earth" concert and whether musicians should get involved in politics:

Hetfield: "Fuck politics! I mean, I can't stand it. It drives me crazy. And there's politics within music; the business side a lot of times really, really bothers me. I like playing music. We were asked to play, and I said, 'OK. I wanna play. There's a lot of people that are gonna be watching that show.' . . . I don't like talking politics. METALLICA is about music from us, music for the ears of our fans. Really, that's what it's about. I don't like playing for any cause. I had to get a little more talked into playing this show. I don't like any strings attached to things. I wanna play because I like to play."

On how things are different in the recording studio now compared to how it was for 2003's "St. Anger":

Hetfield: "A lot of growing up happened on 'St. Anger'. We went from hating each other, not talking, to, 'Ah, I love you,' hugging — you know, from one extreme to the other — and both of them were just a little bit crazy, so we're somewhere in the middle now where most people live, maybe. [Laughs] I don't know… We're feeling better about it. And all the therapy and the work we did for 'St. Anger' is really for this record, because now we don't have Phil Towle, the therapist, with us; we don't have Bob Rock babysitting us a lot — that's not his only job, of course — but a different producer. And we're trying to take more responsibility for ourselves and grow up through the process."

On the "Some Kind of Monster" movie and SLAYER guitarist Kerry King's explanation that he didn't want to watch the film because that he didn't want to "see these fragile fucking old men that can't have a cocktail anymore":

Hetfield: "That's probably what they saw, and that makes a lot of sense — that's what they're afraid of… they don't want to get old and… Everyone gets old, everyone goes through things. It happened that we went through that on film. And we're not afraid to show ourselves to anyone at any time. That is pure freedom right there. Putting that movie out was more for us, I would say. I'm not interested in showing everyone my dirty laundry, but that was part of human nature. It wasn't to shock anyone, it wasn't to make money, it wasn't to… there was no ulterior motive to that except showing what we went through at that time."

On various descriptions that have been used to describe METALLICA's upcoming album, including that it sounds like a cross between "Master of Puppets" and the "black" album and that it contains Middle Eastern influences:

Hetfield: "I think there always is, as far as scales go — minor scales — there's been that type of stuff since 'Fight Fire with Fire'. Robert [Trujillo, bass] just yesterday said, 'Hey, that solo section in 'Fight Fire with Fire', it sounds Greek to me.' It sounds like Greek music, maybe."

On why "Master of Puppets" is regarded as such a classic album and other bands' aspirations to make their own "Master of Puppets":

Hetfield: "I think it's more of a landmark. I think when a band says, 'We want to record our 'Master of Puppets',' that's more of a landmark… I think it was a bit of a peak in the band with Cliff Burton, just like the 'black' album was, I think, a peak with Jason [Newsted], and maybe we'll peak with Robert somewhere. But 'Master of Puppets'? Who knows? Who knows why? Just a bunch of good songs at the right time. That happened, you know?! There was no extra thought put in it — we were just doing what we were supposed to do, and that's play our best music. We were just thinking about that the other day. We were driving in England and looking in all the bushes between the estates, you know, and saying, 'Oh, that's a hedgerow.' And then we started singing, 'There's a bustle in your hedgerow' — the lyric from 'Stairway to Heaven' [by LED ZEPPELIN] — and [we were like] 'What is that?' The most popular song in the history of rock has some gibberish lyrics. It's just magic somehow."

On what makes producer Rick Rubin (SLIPKNOT, AUDIOSLAVE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SYSTEM OF A DOWN) so special and why METALLICA picked him to work on the new album:

Hetfield: "It's not luck that these albums that he does [that] they sound good and they hit the mark. Bob Rock… god bless Bob Rock. We learned so much from him. But at a point we were too enmeshed together, and I think we needed to just separate for awhile. And working with someone new — someone who we might be able to respect... It's tough when you're at the top of your game and you've done it all. You need someone to show you things, and hopefully he's gonna show us some things we don't know."

On some of the off-the-wall and outlandish things that people have done as a result of their love for METALLICA — such as the Swedish couple that named its daughter "Metallica", the book "Metallica and Philosophy" written by a college professor, and the death of a Canadian fan following an argument over METALLICA:

Hetfield: "We are four very grateful and lucky kids that play music. . . I don't know what to say. We're just doing what gift we have, and their gift may be writing a book. Naming your kid METALLICA… I don't know about that. Maybe my dog or something, but your child? Hey, if they love it so much, why not? People getting married to METALLICA songs… Hopefully it's not just a trendy thing, [and] it really moves you. And everyone in life just wants to be moved and feel like they're a part of something, or feel alive, and METALLICA music does that for me, and I'm grateful that it does it for a lot of other people."

[muthagoose]

Hetfield On Upcoming Album:
'We Don't Want Pretty Good, We Want Excellent'

In the latest issue of the METALLICA Club (the group's official fan club) members-only magazine "So What!" METALLICA's James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich offer more insight into the songwriting process for the group's forthcoming album. "We don't want pretty good, we want excellent and [producer] Rick Rubin is getting us to try and achieve that," Hetfield is quoted as saying. "He's [Rick] very good at getting the essence of an artist out and bringing that back to the top again. It's the 'Master of Puppets' mentality again. You need to prove the world that you're good, you need to be hungry again — you need to [put on] a showcase that says, 'Here we are, just like the first time we did it.'"

Added Hammett: "It's about doing the best that you possibly can. I have difficulty wading through all the ideas because I'm biased — I think everything we do has a lot of merit to it. In that regard Rick Rubin is great because he will just say, 'Such and such a part is not good, so come up with something else.' He just leaves the problem up to us and we just solve it between ourselves without too much interference from his side, which is completely different from [longtime METALLICA producer] Bob Rock whose musical thinking would permeate the record. Rick Rubin leaves a lot of the musical problem solving to ourselves, which keeps it more pure."



Lars commented: "A lot of the work we did after the band nearly broke up [during the making of 2003's 'St. Anger'] was not going to be so evident on the record we made at the time, but more evident on the next record, which is the one weré making now. This has been a much more enjoyable experience, much more fun, creatively stimulating and working with Rick is helping a lot."

Ulrich told Examiner.com in October that the band's upcoming album will be "heavier" yet more "melodic" than "St. Anger". Ulrich explained, "Whereas 'St. Anger' was an exercise in over-pummeling the listener, these new songs echo some of our stuff from the '80s — long, epic journeys through different musical landscapes, heavier, but a lot more melodic." When asked whether the new songs will be shorter, in the four-to-five minute range, Ulrich said, "Well, the most of the intros are four to five minutes. I don't know — METALLICA and short songs just don't go that well together."

The new METALLICA album is tentatively due in the spring.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA Drummer Says New Album Is
Not As 'One-Dimensional' As 'St. Anger'

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently spoke to Revolver magazine about the band's much-anticipated new album, tentatively due in the spring via Warner Bros. Records.

"This stuff is certainly a lot more dynamic and a lot more varied than the last couple of go-rounds," he said. "There's a lot of light and shade in these songs. There's heavy, fast, nutty stuff, and then there's some slowdowns and musical interludes. It's pretty different from 'St. Anger', and it's pretty different from the 'Load' stuff. This stuff is not the one-dimensional punch in the face that 'St. Anger' was. This is probably a little more like those couple of albums back there in the decade that begins with an '8.'"

When asked if the material represents a return to the "old school," Lars replied, "I hate to be that specific, because six months from now people are gonna go, 'What the fuck? Lars lied to us!' But it feels that way to me. It's been no secret that Rick [Rubin, producer] suggested to us that we use a couple of those records as reference points — that we spend some time kind of accessing that headspace. So when we would come to forks in the road, sometimes the exercise became, 'What would we have done at this point in 1985?'"

For more of Revolver's conversation with Lars Ulrich, pick up the February 2008 issue of the magazine, available on newsstands now. More information is available at www.revolvermag.com.

[muthagoose]

New METALLICA Album Pushed Back To September?

Stereo Warning reports that the release of METALLICA's new album has been delayed again, according to the band's record label. The band's ninth studio CD is now expected to hit the stores in September. Originally METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said it would be out in February, then the release was pushed back to April.

Ulrich recently spoke with Revolver magazine about the band's upcoming LP, which will be its first all-new effort since 2003's "St. Anger". Ulrich told the magazine that the group's new material "is certainly a lot more dynamic and a lot more varied than the last couple of go-rounds," adding, "There's a lot of light and shade in these songs. There's heavy, fast, nutty stuff, and then there's some slowdowns and musical interludes." Ulrich also said that the album has more in common with some of the group's '80s releases than more recent offerings like "St. Anger" and "Load".

Ulrich wouldn't agree that the yet-to-be-titled disc is a full-blown return to the past, saying, "I hate to be that specific, because six months from now people are gonna go, 'What the fuck? Lars lied to us!' But it feels that way to me."

The drummer also revealed that producer Rick Rubin, working with the band for the first time, wanted METALLICA to use classic efforts like "Ride the Lightning" and "Master of Puppets" as "reference points" for its new songs.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA's Management:
New Album 'Will Be Out When It's Ready'

A representative for METALLICA's management has responded to a report on www.StereoWarning.com which claimed that "sources from the band's record label" have said that the group's new album has "been delayed again" to a September release. The representative told The Pulse of Radio that the disc has not been "delayed" since there "has never been an actual release date." As for when the record was likely to surface, the representative said, "It will be out when it's ready."

METALLICA began working on its ninth studio album in 2006. Since then the group has taken its time to write and record the new disc, but drummer Lars Ulrich told The Pulse of Radio it isn't hard to stay inspired even 25 years into the band's career. "I don't use the word 'career,' 'hunger,' I use more words like 'fun,'" he said. "As long as we keep it fun for ourselves and keep it kind of manageable, the days of the word 'career' and the business and, I don't know, it just seems kind of part of the past. Now it's just about, like, having fun and wanting to do it. You know, as long as it doesn't turn into too much work, it's not hard to be inspired."

METALLICA has been recording the new album with producer Rick Rubin after ending a 15-year collaboration with Bob Rock.

The new METALLICA CD will follow up 2003's controversial "St. Anger".

As late as last October, Ulrich said in interviews that he expected the new album to arrive in February of 2008.

METALLICA has booked a number of European festival appearances starting in late May, although it has yet to schedule any North American dates.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA To Announce First U.S. Dates Next Week?

MetClub, the official METALLICA fan club web site, has sent the following e-mail to its members:

"Hopefully you all know by now, the boys will be heading back to Europe this summer... Just a friendly 'heads up' that a few more shows are coming your way as we're getting ready to announce dates on the second part of their summer vacation. Most of these shows will have pre-sales for Clubbers only, so keep watching MetClub for more details. As for you Americans who have been having a good moan, we'll have a little something for you next week. No more hints for now..."

Upcoming METALLICA shows:

May 28 - Chorzow, Poland - Slaski Stadium
May 30 - Landgraaf, Netherlands - Pinkpop
May 31 - Madrid, Spain - Electric Weekend
Jun. 03 - Prague, Czech Republic - Slavia Stadium
Jun. 05 - Lisbon, Portugal - Rock In Rio Lisboa
Jun. 07 - Nürburgring, Germany - Rock Am Ring
Jun. 08 - Nürnberg, Germany - Rock Im Park

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently spoke with Revolver magazine about the band's ninth studio album, which is expected out later this year and will be its first all-new effort since 2003's "St. Anger". Ulrich told the magazine that the group's new material "is certainly a lot more dynamic and a lot more varied than the last couple of go-rounds," adding, "There's a lot of light and shade in these songs. There's heavy, fast, nutty stuff, and then there's some slowdowns and musical interludes." Ulrich also said that the album has more in common with some of the group's '80s releases than more recent offerings like "St. Anger" and "Load".

Ulrich wouldn't agree that the yet-to-be-titled disc is a full-blown return to the past, saying, "I hate to be that specific, because six months from now people are gonna go, 'What the fuck? Lars lied to us!' But it feels that way to me."

The drummer also revealed that producer Rick Rubin, working with the band for the first time, wanted METALLICA to use classic efforts like "Ride the Lightning" and "Master of Puppets" as "reference points" for its new songs.

There's no word yet on an exact release date for the new METALLICA CD, although a summer release is likely.

[muthagoose]

Metallica Launches "Mission Metallica" Website

METALLICA has set up a special web site to promote the group's forthcoming LP. "Mission Metallica" will go live in May and it promises to offer fans a chance to "experience the new album before it's done."

Check it out at www.missionmetallica.com.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently announced that the group's follow-up to 2003's "St Anger" will be released this September. The band has been recording the as-yet-untitled record in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin.

[muthagoose]

MissionMetallica.com Goes Live on The Web...

METALLICA's new web site, www.MissionMetallica.com, has officially launched, showcasing the kind of "making-of-the-album" features usually found these days on a DVD accompanying a CD release. METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told a Los Angeles radio station on Monday (May 5), "We thought, instead of doing the usual DVDs and all that, why don't we just do it on the Internet and people can kind of tune in every day, watch clips, contests, get updates for what's going on with the record and kind of watch the last couple of months of song titles, album titles, final mixes...So it's kind of a little bit of a countdown type of thing. It should be fun."

[muthagoose]

'GUITAR HERO: METALLICA' To Arrive In 2009

GameSpot has issued the following report from Tor Thorsen:

Earlier this year, Activision unveiled Guitar Hero: AEROSMITH, the first installment in its billion-dollar rhythm series based entirely on a band. No sooner had the publisher announced the deal than speculation began to spread about what the second band-based Guitar Hero game would be. Along with VAN HALEN, the most mentioned group was METALLICA, the legendary San Francisco Bay Area heavy-metal quartet.

Now, talk of Guitar Hero: Metallica is no longer a case of wishful thinking or idle speculation - it's fact. When sifting through an SEC filing of Activision's over the weekend, Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Edward Woo - associate of the highly visible Michael Pachter - uncovered a gem in the section where the Santa Monica, California-based publisher discussed its upcoming game slate.

"In fiscal 2009, we plan to publish Guitar Hero: On Tour for the NDS; Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Guitar Hero: Metallica, and Guitar Hero IV across multiple platforms," the company said in its report. Activision's fiscal year ends on March 31, 2009, which means that the game will likely follow the holiday release of Guitar Hero: World Tour (nee Guitar Hero 4).

Guitar Hero: Metallica will be the first time a game based on the multiplatinum-selling band - which has become only slightly less famous for its antipiracy efforts as its musical achievements - has made it to retail. However, it is the second such game to be announced. In 2003, Vivendi Games - which will soon merge with Activision - struck a deal to create a vehicular combat game inspired by Metallica's music. Unconfirmed reports stated that the project had been quietly canceled in 2005.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: Mission Metallica Site Updated


METALLICA's Mission: Metallica site has been updated with new footage of the band in the studio working on their upcoming studio album, due out in September.

www.missionmetallica.com

[muthagoose]

METALLICA has posted a mysterious image on its official web site under the headline "," leading to speculation that this is the cover of the band's much-anticipated new studio album.



The CD is due out in September, with the title expected to be announced soon through the new Mission: Metallica web site.

METALLICA will play Tennessee's Bonnaroo festival on Friday, June 13, and the one-day Ozzfest in Dallas on August 9, with a full North American tour in the works for the fall.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA 'Death Magnetic' Box Set Detailed

According to the Norwegian music retailer Platekompaniet, METALLICA will release a limited-edition two-CD, one-DVD, deluxe "Death Magnetic" box set in September. The box set will be packaged as a coffin box and will also include an exclusive t-shirt, flag and USB memory stick.

The details of the deluxe box set are as follows:

* 1 "Death Magnetic" CD (exclusive digipack version)
* 1 CD with demos of songs from "Death Magnetic" (10 songs)
* 1 "Making of 'Death Magnetic'" DVD featuring never-before-seen material
* 1 exclusive "Death Magnetic" t-shirt (only available with the box set)
* 1 "Death Magnetic" flag
* A set of "Death Magnetic" guitar picks
* 1 fold-out, coffin box, poster with pictures of the band members
* 1 USB memory stick with METALLICA logo (enables digital download of "Death Magnetic" album)

A Finnish retailer called Record Shop X has listed Wednesday, September 17 as the release date for METALLICA's ninth studio album, "Death Magnetic". Although an official release date has yet to be announced by the band or its label, the Finnish date would indicate that the album would arrive in the U.S. on Tuesday, September 16, with most of continental Europe getting the CD one day earlier on September 15. Some countries, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, would see the record issued on Friday, September 12.

Tuesdays are when almost all CDs are issued in the U.S.

The members of METALLICA have been saying in interviews that the album will arrive in September.

"Death Magnetic" was produced by METALLICA and Rick Rubin, and marks the recording debut of bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined the lineup in 2003 shortly after the last METALLICA album, "St. Anger", was completed.

METALLICA will hit some European festivals starting in mid-July. The band's next U.S. date is the one-day Ozzfest on August 9 in Dallas, with a full North American tour slated to begin in October.

A METALLICA cover of IRON MAIDEN's "Remember Tomorrow" will appear on a compilation of MAIDEN covers being given away by England's Kerrang! magazine with its July 16 issue. Other artists contributing MAIDEN covers to the collection include MACHINE HEAD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, COHEED AND CAMBRIA and DREAM THEATER.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: More 'Death Magnetic' Packages Announced

METALLICA's new album, "Death Magnetic", will be made available in the following packages in North America:

Digital Death Magnetic:

* Digital "Death Magnetic" first — at 320 KBIT/S delivered at midnight on street date
* Downloads of two entire shows from this summer
* Almost 2 hours of additional exclusive fly-on-the-wall footage
* 250 additional exclusive photos
* Ringtones of riffs from the new album
* Exclusive Contests: Airfare, hotel, tickets and meet + greet passes for Ozzfest, Reading UK and special listening party for the new album at band HQ!
* $10 off merch or Fan Club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com

Death Magnetic CD + Digital Death Magnetic:

* The "Death Magnetic" CD with free shipping
* Digital "Death Magnetic" first — at 320 KBIT/S delivered at midnight on street date
* Downloads of two entire shows from this summer
* Almost 2 hours of additional exclusive fly-on-the-wall footage
* 250 additional exclusive photos
* Ringtones of riffs from the new album
* Exclusive Contests: Airfare, hotel, tickets and meet + greet passes for Ozzfest, Reading UK and special listening party for the new album at Band HQ!
* $10 off merch or Fan Club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com

5LP + Lithograph + Death Magnetic CD + Digital Death Magnetic

* 5 LP 180 gram box with 5 individual sleeves
* Mission: Metallica Lithograph
* The "Death Magnetic" CD
* FREE shipping on all!!
* The "Death Magnetic" CD with free shipping
* Digital Death Magnetic" first — at 320 KBIT/S delivered at midnight on street date
* Downloads of two entire shows from this summer
* Almost 2 hours of additional exclusive fly-on-the-wall footage
* 250 additional exclusive photos
* Ringtones of riffs from the new album
* Exclusive Contests: Airfare, hotel, tickets and meet + greet passes for Ozzfest, Reading UK and special listening party for the new album at Band HQ!
* $10 off merch or Fan Club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com

For more information, visit www.missionmetallica.com.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA Confirms 'Death Magnetic' Coffin Box

METALLICA has posted the following message on its web site:

"For you collector types out there we just had to put together something next level when the new record comes out in the fall . . . how about 'Death Magnetic' in a coffin box? [As BLABBERMOUTH.NET first reported on July 2.]

"The special edition box will come out the same day the album does (we'll tell you when that is soon . . . very soon) and will of course include the full CD (duh!), along with everything next level cool relating to 'Death Magnetic'!

"Seriously, there will be a CD with the demos of the songs, a DVD of even more 'making-of-the-album' footage not seen on Mission: Metallica, a t-shirt only available in this box, a flag, guitar picks, and a fold out poster along with a collector's credit card embossed with a code to redeem a free download of a special European show happening in September (yes, details coming soon!).

"We're in the process of wrapping up the artwork now, so we'll be sure to have some things to show soon. The coffin box will only be available through www.metallica.com, www.metclub.com, and www.missionmetallica.com and we'll keep you posted here as to when that will be (soon!)... not all countries will be available at the same time, so keep watching."

As previously reported, METALLICA has announced details of three other separate versions of the band's new album, "Death Magnetic", which will be available through the recently launched Mission: Metallica web site. The first package, called "Digital Death Magnetic", will cost $24.99 and includes digital delivery of the album at midnight on its release date, downloads of two entire shows from this summer, almost two hours of exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, 250 exclusive photos, ringtones of riffs from the new album, access to exclusive contests and a $10 coupon toward merchandise or fan club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com.

The second package, "Death Magnetic CD + Digital Death Magnetic", is $32.99. In addition to all the above items, it includes "Death Magnetic" on CD. The last package goes for $124.99 and includes all the items from the other two packages, plus a five-LP vinyl box set with five individual sleeves and a Mission: Metallica lithograph.

"Death Magnetic" is due out in September and was produced by METALLICA and Rick Rubin.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: The Game Magnetic (Death For Guitar Hero)

METALLICA has posted the following message on its web site:

"It's a first in both music and gaming… The same day that [the new METALLICA album] 'Death Magnetic' hits the streets, you'll be able to download every song from the album for Guitar Hero III! We are so psyched that we'll be the first out of the gate with this simultaneous release… Who knows?! Maybe a few years from now this will be the norm when your favorite band's new record comes out.

"And for those of you who are anxiously awaiting the next Guitar Hero 'World Tour,' we're ready for that too… You will be able to experience 'Death Magnetic' for drums, vocals, and guitar when that game emerges this fall."

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: Charleston, WV Show From 1986
Now Available For Free Download At LiveMetallica.com

METALLICA's August 1st, 1986 show at the Civic Center in Charleston, WV is now available for free on www.livemetallica.com

Click the link to go to the site an register, then head to the Vault page to download the show.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: Officially Confirm Tracklisting For "Death Magnetic"


METALLICA have officially confirmed the tracklisting for Death Magnetic, which will be released on September 16th. It is as follows: 'That Was Just Your Life', 'The End Of The Line', 'Broken, Beat & Scarred', 'The Day That Never Comes', 'All Nightmare Long', 'Cyanide', 'The Unforgiven III', 'The Judas Kiss', 'Suicide & Redemption', 'My Apocalypse'.

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: 'Death Magnetic' Release Date Announced

METALLICA has officially set Friday, September 12 as the "worldwide" release date for its new album, "Death Magnetic". Although the band has yet to announce separate release dates for the different parts of the world, the September 12 date in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (where albums are traditionally issued on Fridays) would indicate that the album would arrive in the U.S. on Tuesday, September 16, with most of continental Europe getting the CD one day earlier on September 15.

Tuesdays are when almost all CDs are issued in the U.S.

METALLICA's new CD will be available to download for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on the same day the album arrives in stores.

The band is offering the record for sale in numerous configurations, ranging from a digital-only release to a deluxe "coffin box" that will come with a bonus CD, a DVD, a T-shirt, guitar picks and other goodies.

"Death Magnetic" official track listing:

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. Broken, Beat & Scarred
04. The Day That Never Comes
05. All Nightmare Long
06. Cyanide
07. The Unforgiven III
08. The Judas Kiss
09. Suicide & Redemption
10. My Apocalypse

[muthagoose]

METALLICA Tries To Recapture Old-School Hunger
On 'Death Magnetic', But Not To Please Fans

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was asked by MTV News if the band's forthcoming album, "Death Magnetic", could be the next best thing to its classic "Master of Puppets" effort, seeing as the bandmembers themselves have publicly stated that the LP would signal a return to their old-school sound.

"I don't know — in a way, yes, and in a way, no," Hetfield told MTV News last week. "The last thing I want is someone to think, 'Oh, they had to go back to 'Puppets' because that was the best album, and they're doing it because we want it.' If we start writing songs for our fans, something's gone wrong. The fans may think they know best, but hey, I'm the armchair quarterback when I'm watching my team too. At the end of the day, we have to write it because we love it and it's coming from our heart. That's why people connect with it. If you start doing it for the fans, you've lost the plot."

He continued, "We recognize there was an essence, there was a youth, there was a something about that record ['Master of Puppets'], and this is a perfect time for a record like this," he said, "because old-school metal is huge and coming back, and there's so many people wanting to play, and get riffy again, get solo. ... I love that, so [with this record], it's like us starting over again."

"[Producer Rick Rubin's] mission statement was to get to the essence of METALLICA," Hetfield added. "He told us, 'Think back to 'Master of Puppets' — what were you doing? What were you thinking? What were your influences? What bothered you? What was around you? Where did that hunger come from?' And that was a little bit of homework for us that was a little impossible to get to. You could dress up like you're in 1986, [but] you just can't be there again. We've been through so much — you can't erase the learning we'd done."

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: North American Tour Dates Announced

METALLICA has posted the following message on its official web site:

"Time for a different sort of vacation ... one right here on our home turf!! Now that [the new METALLICA album] 'Death Magnetic' is complete, we're ready to start a proper indoor arena tour of the States and Canada and we can't wait to visit all of our 'TALLI-fans here . . . it really has been too long (hey, what's four years amongst friends?).

"Met Clubbers and Mission Metallica Platinum members will have first crack at 'em when tickets go on sale . . . dates, times and in general more on that later. But for now, we thought we would let you know where we'll be for the next couple of months . . . here's a complete list of cities and venues up through January 31, 2009!

"Keep watching here for all ticket on sale dates and times . . . coming very soon. See you out there!"

METALLICA tour dates:

With DOWN and THE SWORD:

Oct. 21 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing Arena
Oct. 23 - Albquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum
Oct. 25 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
Oct. 26 - Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
Nov. 01 - Portland, OR @ Rose Quarter
Nov. 03 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Energy Solutions Arena
Nov. 04 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
Nov. 06 - Omaha, NE @ Qwest Center
Nov. 08 - Moline, IL @ iWireless Center
Nov. 09 - Columbus, @ OH Schottenstein Center
Nov. 17 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
Nov. 18 - Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
Nov. 20 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Nov. 22 - Little Rock, AR @ Alltel Arena
Nov. 23 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena

With LAMB OF GOD and THE SWORD:

Dec. 01 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
Dec. 02 - Vancouver, BC @ GM Place
Dec. 04 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
Dec. 07 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
Dec. 12 - Ontario, CA @ Citizens Bank Arena
Dec. 13 - Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
Dec. 15 - San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena
Dec. 17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
Dec. 20 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena

With MACHINE HEAD and THE SWORD:

Jan. 12 - Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
Jan. 13 - Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
Jan. 15 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
Jan. 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
Jan. 18 - Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Center
Jan. 26 - Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
Jan. 29 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
Jan. 31 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center

[muthagoose]

Metallica Rules. St. Anger did not. So it with GREAT trepidation that I post this: Cyanide. The newbian. It seems you can download the thing on the up and up on www.livemetallica.com That’s a step in the right direction. Fuck all you Metallica fans that don’t like the Black Album, btw. Just because a song is catchy, doesn’t mean they’ve sold out, and it doesn’t mean they don’t still rock.

My logic is flawless. Like Sub Zero after he pitches Kano off the pit into the spikes. TOASTY!

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: New Single To Receive Exclusive Radio Premiere This Thursday

METALLICA's new single, "The Day That Never Comes", will be premiered exclusively on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1 this Thursday, August 21 between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. UK time.

To listen to the program live via the Internet, go to this location:

www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/index.shtml

[muthagoose]

METALLICA - 'The Day That Never Comes' To Stream Online Tomorrow


METALLICA's new single, 'The Day That Never Comes', hits the airwaves tomorrow.

A message from the band states: "Tune into your local radio station, Metallica.com or Mission Metallica, to listen to 'The Day That Never Comes', the first featured track from Death Magnetic. It all starts tomorrow, Thursday, August 21st at 11 AM (PDT).

More than just a taste . . . coming very, very soon!"

Metallica recently finished mixing and mastering Death Magnetic which hits the streets worldwide on Friday, September 12th. The album was produced by Rick Rubin (SLAYER, RED HOT CHILI PEPERS) and recorded at Sound City Studios, Shangri La Studios, and the band's very own HQ.

The complete tracklisting: 'That Was Just Your Life', 'The End Of The Line', 'Broken, Beat & Scarred', 'The Day That Never Comes', 'All Nightmare Long', 'Cyanide', 'The Unforgiven III', 'The Judas Kiss

[muthagoose]

METALLICA: 'Death Magnetic' Exclusives
And Collectibles Detailed

METALLICA's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"Our friends at retail have some cool exclusives and collectibles out there. To help you decide where to pick up your version of 'Death Magnetic', here are some options:

"Coffin Box Set: The limited-edition coffin box set, a must for collectors, is now available on Metallica.com, www.missionmetallica.com, and select online retailers in Europe! The coffin-shaped box contains the new 'Death Magnetic' CD along with a bonus CD with demos, DVD with more making-of footage, a flag, guitar picks, fold-out poster, a T-shirt, and a free download of either the O2 Arena event in London or the O2 World event in Berlin. Don't miss out!!! Pre-order now and receive a free digital download of the album (320 kbps) available at 12:01 am on September 12! Hurry, supplies are running out...

"Best Buy: 'Death Magnetic' CD/Guitar Hero III bundle - Along with the new CD, you will given a code to download the entire album for Guitar Hero III on Xbox 360. The download will include two exclusive versions of 'Suicide & Redemption', one with a James solo and the other with a Kirk solo.

"Hot Topic: Get your copy of the Hot Topic-exclusive METALLICA single for only $2.99!* You'll get two tracks, 'The Day That Never Comes' and 'No Remorse' (live). It's available in Hot Topic stores NOW and will be coming soon to Hottopic.com. Go to Hottopic.com to enter for a chance to be METALLICA's roadie for a day! *Taxes not included. Subject to availability while supplies last.

"Newbury Comics: Pre-order the upcoming METALLICA release, 'Death Magnetic', and receive a limited-edition pint glass from the 'Newbury Comics Artist Pint Glass Series!' This METALLICA pint glass is a limited edition (only 1,500 made). If you want to be sure you get one, order on newburycomics.com. Please note: Pint glasses only ship to DOMESTIC destinations. If you are ordering from outside of the United States you will receive a CD only, unless otherwise stated.

"Independent retail: Pick up your copy of 'Death Magnetic' at your cool, local record store and receive a limited-edition METALLICA collectors' pin, while supplies last!"

"Death Magnetic" will be officially released on Friday, September 12.

[muthagoose]

I think that "Death Magnetic" is a pretty kick ass record. I picked it up over the weekend and have listened to it several times. I don't think that anyone can argue that it isn't a step up from "St. Anger".

Anyone else listening to this currently?