METALLICA DEATH MAGNETIC MODERN VERSION OF AND JUSTICE FOR ALL?

Metallica are putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated album ‘Death Magnetic’ and Kirk Hammett compares it to a modern ‘And Justice for All.’

Metallica is putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated album ‘Death Magnetic’ and it was recently revealed that the album will be released as a box set with a demos disc, DVD, T Shirt and other collectibles. The record, which is set for a release in September of 2008 was recorded at the bands studio in the Bay Area and was produced by the legendary Rick Rubin.

We caught up with Metallica’s lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett recently to get his thoughts on the album being completely different from anything they’ve done in the past, although he did compare it to a more modern, less progressive version of ‘And Justice for All.’

“Completely different. I couldn’t even begin to tell you. We’re playing around with the fact that we have a new band member who is just an amazing musician, that being Robert Trujillo. We’re tapping into a lot of the things he has to offer, which is quite a bit and the music is landing in a different spot. I would like to say that it’s somewhere around where ‘And Justice For All’ was but not as progressive. But then again, it sounds modern at the same time, to me.”

Hammett also went on to add there were no psychiatrists and head doctors needed during the recording of ‘Death Magnetic’ and with Rubin’s hands off approach to producing, the band were clearly more focused and for that reason, the album is sounding good.

“No wacky Doctors, there isn’t even a producer there you know living every second of studio time with us. It’s just us four and maybe a guitar tech and maybe a guy to answer the front door. But it’s great because we can just totally focus and we get good results quickly too. And we’re all pysched because it sounds good.”

The ‘Death Magnetic’ box set, dubbed the “coffin box,” features a demo CD, a “making of” documentary DVD, a T-shirt, guitar picks, a Metallica flag and a poster. Metallica are also releasing a special edition version via the band’s website for their fans, which arrives with a code redeemable for a download of a special European show happening in September. Look for the band to announce a definitive September release date in the near future. Metallica are set to start a brief European run of tour dates beginning July 16th in Norway and extending until August 24th in The U.K. The band does have one U.S. show booked, which is the bands performance at Ozzfest in Texas on August 8th. Also slated to perform at Ozzfest, which is a one off show in 2008 instead of a full blown tour are Ozzy Osbourne, Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Hellyeah, Jonathan Davis (Korn), Sevendust, Devil Driver and Drowning Pool, to name just a few.