Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is sharing an update on the status of the band’s new album and plans for 2016.
"I think it will be a pretty in-your-face year, at least the back half of it," Ulrich tells Rolling Stone. "Obviously, we've gotta finish the new record now. But thankfully we're quite far along. Hopefully we should be able to knock that on the head this spring, I would guess. So we will be gearing up and playing shows and doing all that fun stuff again soon."
The band continues work in the studio on the follow-up to 2008’s “Death Magnetic”, and shared a brief clip of some new music over the Christmas holidays.
Ulrich estimates Metallica have spent about nine months on the project so far as they review the new material in a variety of ways.
"Nowadays, we sit and go, 'That's a great piece of music,' and 'That's really cool,' and then we'll play it faster, then slower, then half a step down, exploring all these options," he says. "There are 75 different ways to play something, and you end up driving yourself nutty."
Metallica recently marked the 30th anniversary of their 1986 classic, “Master Of Puppets”, and will see a fall release of “Back To The Front”, a new book about the record and accompanying tour written by Matt Taylor.
On April 15, the group will launch a massive catalog reissue campaign with multiple remastered editions of their first two albums – 1983’s “Kill ‘Em All” and 1984’s “Ride The Lightning.”
The projects will arrive as Metallica play the role of 2016 Record Store Day Ambassadors.
Set for Saturday, April 16, the special day in support of independent record stores and record store culture worldwide is now in its ninth year.
See also:
Metallica reflect on Master Of Puppets 30th anniversary
Metallica named 2016 Record Store Day Ambassadors
Metallica to reissue Kill ‘Em All and Ride The Lightning
Metallica: Lars Ulrich to host Front Row event at University Of California
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