METALLICA IN NO HURRY TO RELEASE NEXT ALBUM

Lars Ulrich talks about the recording process and reveals Metallica are in no hurry to release their follow up to 2003’s St Anger.

Metallica are still locked away in their Northern California recording studio working on new material for the band’s follow up to 2003’s ‘St. Anger.’ The recording process for this album in far different from the group’s last studio album as the band has scaled down distractions to a minimum as they look to write a full album of new material with Robert Trujillo, who takes over for the departed Jason Newsted on bass. This will be Trujillo’s first studio album with Metallica, and the band is in no hurry to release the album as they gel as a tight four piece unit once again.

We caught up with Metallica’s drummer Lars Ulrich several months back to talk about the recording process and when fans can expect the still untitled new album to be released.

“It’s kind of slow but we’re not in any hurry, there’s no deadlines and it’s a little different thing now with taking kids to school and making lunch boxes and soccer practice and all that type of stuff. But we get it done and we really, really want to make a record without deadlines and tour dates and all that stuff.”

Another significantly different aspect to the recording process is the band’s collaboration with one of music’s super producers, Rick Rubin. The band enlisted Rubin’s talent to replace long time producer Bob Rock, and Ulrich admitted the band is finding a fresh new energy in the studio with Rubin.

“It’s good so far. It’s great to have a new perspective and a different energy in there. Nothing against Bob obviously, but we really needed that and Bob even agreed that we should get a new perspective in there. So, it’s been good so far. It’s a good vibe.”

Metallica fans can also find on iTunes, a rare Acoustic Metallica performance from The Bridge School Benefit concerts held annually in the Bay Area. Two of the songs are from Metallica, “Fade To Black” and “The Four Horsemen” were recorded at Shoreline Ampitheatre, Mountain View, CA, in October of 1997 when the band performed at the yearly benefit which was started by Neil Young which educates children with severe physical and speech impairments.

On February 20th, Metallica will release a version of the classic song “The Ecstasy of Gold” which is a tribute to composer Ennio Morricone. The composition is from the film “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” and has been opening Metallica shows for over 20 years. The band is honoring Morricone as part of the album also including interpretations of his classic scores from Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, among others.