Metallica’s James Hetfield To Release New Book “Messengers: The Guitars Of James Hetfield” In October

Metallica’s James Hetfield will be offering fans a look at his guitar collection in a new book titled “Messengers: The Guitars Of James Hetfield.” The effort will be available on October 17 and it can be pre-ordered HERE.

Here’s a synopsis:

“From the Electra OGV that defined his style, sound and attitude to the mythical MX guitars, the first in a series of iconic collaborations with ESP, and from his signature Snakebytes through his ambitious projects with renowned luthier Ken Lawrence, James Hetfield shares the emotional and technical elements of the chosen tools that have shaped his singular musical journey, including exotic instruments, vintage Gibsons, and custom one-offs. He also reveals many studio secrets, including the key amplifiers and gear that sculpt his tone and create his sound.

Each featured guitar is accompanied by lush museum-quality portraits by acclaimed photographer Scott Williamson, exhibiting intimate details one can only see if holding it in their own hands, alongside Hetfield’s deeply personal reminiscence. Spanning more than forty guitars, ranging from the original battle-scarred road warriors to the trusted studio stalwarts and enduring tour favorites, Messengers: The Guitars of James Hetfield is a meticulously crafted coffee table book and a mesmerizing window into the mind and soul of one of rock’s greatest front men. These invaluable guitars have forged over four decades of music history.”

Robert Trujillo To Make His Metallica Vocal Debut On “72 Seasons”

During a recent interview conducted for Metallica’s So What!, Robert Trujillo discussed the band’s new album “72 Seasons” (out April 14). Notably, the bassist also revealed that he contributed backing vocals to a new track called “You Must Burn!.”

Trujillo said the following about the record:

“I think we all had a pretty good idea that [James] would be sharing a story, an energy. With all of the impactful thoughts and what was going on in his world, it would almost be impossible for that not to happen. That’s also what makes this album great – what he’s gone through and how he’s had to grow.

It’s almost like a rebirth in a lot of ways, because you’ve got to reconnect with your inner spirit, who you are, and what you’re about. And now you’re sending it, you’re bringing it, and you’re presenting it to us and eventually to the world, so it’s a very heavy thing for him. So at that point, I know it’s going to be a powerful record. This is going to be one of the more important records, I think, that Metallica’s ever made.

It’s also even in the riffs and where he’s coming from in that place, too. Riffs speak a certain language; they signify a certain level of power, whether it’s in the groove or the heaviness, the edginess. There’s a lot of impact in the riffs in my mind. I always say that a riff can really determine your headspace or where you come from.

I mean, some of the best riffs have come from challenging environments or situations, whether it’s Birmingham, England, or South Central Los Angeles, you know what I mean? It’s like, where did Slayer pull Reign in Blood out of? Well, it probably came from the impact of where they grew up and what they experienced.

I always say that about these guys like Tony Iommi or James Hetfield or Jeff Hanneman. You create what’s inside of you, what you’ve experienced in your life, and some of that is more powerful than others. That’s what 72 Seasons is. It has a lot of that energy in all of us.

Every note we play is a statement that appears on this record. It’s coming from the heart and soul of who we are as individuals and where we were in this whole process, the growth of these songs, and everything. To me, every note that’s played is important on this record, and I believe people are going to feel that.”

He continued:

“I know, for me personally, every note that I played on this record had a certain importance and impact, and it was coming from the heart. More than any of the other records I’ve made with Metallica, this album really resonated [with] what was going on in my life. And I think that- I mean, I don’t even think… I know people feel on that. That’s the magic of music.

That’s why if you listen to old classic songs, those guys are playing from the heart, they’re playing from experience, and every note they’re playing means something, whether it’s Black Sabbath or even Santana. Carlos is pulling it from a place of where he is, and that’s the passion he’s conveying through his instrument. That’s how I feel about this record. I really do believe that we were all playing from our hearts, there’s a collaborative spirit in that alone, and that’s something that is a magic ingredient on 72 Seasons.”

Trujillo also added the following about recording vocals for the album:

“When I joined Metallica, I’d never sung in my whole life, so the fact that I can now support a backup vocal is pretty cool. For the first time in my life, I get to sing on a Metallica record [‘You Must Burn! ‘] and support James.

I’m very proud of that. So we’re getting better, we’re learning and still growing in this band right now, and the respect level is much higher. Oftentimes Lars calls me, sometimes he’s checking in or wants my opinion on something – same thing with Kirk. And I love that. I love the idea that there’s trust and respect.”

He also further discussed the track:

“It’s the first time that James and Greg [Fidelman, producer] had probably ever really trusted me with that position on a recording of this stature. I was surprised when I got the call from Greg because I was coming up to play a little bass, but then he said, ‘I’m going to have you sing on a couple things, too.’ And I was like, ‘Really?’ I got a little nervous.

At the same time, I was very motivated. Fortunately for me, the part really does suit my comfort zone, so to speak. The vibe and the interesting – I don’t know, I wouldn’t say the “quality” in what I had to offer – but the part lends itself to my personality, to my voice, and it sits and slots in really well with the moment and bass breakdown. So it’s cool that it’s this breakdown that James and I were able to jam on and create, and then I get to sing on it too!”

In other news, Metallica have also announced that the next single from “72 Seasons” will be released on March 30. A teaser for that track can be found below:

James Hetfield On Metallica’s Musicality: “Individually We’re All Really Average Players”

During a recent interview with Cigar Aficionado, Metallica’s James Hetfield shared a modest opinion on the band’s musical talents. According to the frontman, him and his bandmates are “really average players.”

Hetfield said the following:

“I know individually we’re all really average players, but when you put us together something happens. Something really happens…. Getting up and jamming with people is like a nightmare for me.”

He also added:

“Early shows were really difficult, I was so shy. [I] didn’t want to talk. I’d have the other guys in the band introduce the songs. [Now] I feel so comfortable up there, it’s so weird. Sitting down one-on-one with someone is a lot more anxiety ridden than standing up in front of 10,000 people, 20,000 people.

As we get older, we would love to continue to play all the places we’ve been before but it’s near impossible to keep up the pace we’ve had, say, in the ’90s. We would go out for months at a time…We are very self-critical and hard on ourselves and have very high standards. So we do take care of all aspects of bringing the best show visually and sonically to the people that enjoy our music and continue to come to see us live.”

[via Far Out]

Metallica Share English, Spanish, German, French, Etc. Lyric Videos For “If Darkness Had A Son”

Metallica have shared English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean lyric videos for their latest single “If Darkness Had A Son.” You can check those out below. The track will appear on the band’s new album “72 Seasons,” which is set to be released on April 14.

Lars Ulrich On Metallica And Lou Reed’s “Lulu” Album: “It’s Aged Extremely Well”

During an interview conducted for the new Lou Reed book, “The Art of the Straight Line: My Tai Chi,” Metallica’s Lars Ulrich reflected on “Lulu,” the album the band recorded with the late Velvet Underground frontman. The drummer had the following to say about the divisive record:

“What the fuck is it about Lulu that it got that kind of reaction? I can’t quite figure it out, but years later, it’s aged extremely well. It sounds like a motherfucker still. So I can only put the reaction down to ignorance… It took our fans to a place I wish they would go more often. Maybe it would be a better time to release it now with what’s going on outside in the world, the chaos. I don’t know, but I am very proud of this record… James [Hetfield] and I would be figuring out ways through a piece of music and then Lou would look over and go, ‘That’s it. I’m not doing another fucking take of that.’ That’s not the way we usually worked, but it was so beautiful and great, the whole thing.”

[via Loudwire]

Metallica Acquire Majority Stake In Vinyl Pressing Plant

Metallica now own their own vinyl pressing plant. The band have revealed that they have just acquired a majority stake in Furnace Record Pressing in Alexandria, VA.

Furnace founder Eric Astor commented:

“Building Furnace into the dedicated and experienced family of experts that it is today has been a huge effort, but immensely gratifying.”

The company’s chief operating officer Ali Miller continued:

“Knowing our long-term future is secured while also being better able to take advantage of growth opportunities is really exciting for every member of the Furnace staff. We have found ideal partners in Metallica. They want us to continue our customer driven focus. To that end we look forward to providing even greater capacity and service to each of our customers in the future.”

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich also commented:

“We couldn’t be more happy to take our partnership with Furnace — and Eric, Ali and Mark specifically — to the next level. Their indie spirit, the passion they have for their craft… culturally we’re kindred souls.”

Frontman James Hetfield added:

“Furnace has been great to Metallica and more importantly to our fans. This deepened relationship between Metallica and Furnace ensures that fans of vinyl everywhere, particularly our Fifth Members, will have continued access to high quality records in the future.”

Revised Third Edition Of “To Live Is To Die: The Life & Death Of Metallica’s Cliff Burton” To Be Released In April

Joel McIver will be releasing the revised third edition of “To Live Is To Die: The Life & Death Of Metallica’s Cliff Burton,” on April 11. Amongst the new content in the book, is a new foreword from Testament’s Steve DiGiorgio.

Here’s a synopsis:

“Today, Metallica are known as consummate musicians, but it wasn’t always that way. Their early career is marked by a gradual evolution from garage thrash to sophisticated, progressive heights – an evolution driven by their bass player, Cliff Burton, who pushed the band to new heights with his songwriting ability and phenomenal bass skills across the band’s first three albums, including their undisputed masterpiece, Master Of Puppets.

Cliff’s life was short but influential; his death at the age of 24 in a tour bus crash on a Swedish mountain road was sudden and shocking. Following his passing, Metallica went on to huge global success, but by their own admission they never pushed the creative envelope as radically as they had done during the first four years of their career.

The cult of Burton grows year on year, and so too the list of bassists acknowledging his influence in metal and beyond. Published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Metallica’s debut album, Kill ’Em All, this revised and updated edition of To Live Is To Die adds a new chapter that looks at Burton’s enduring legacy from a fresh perspective and includes commentary from current Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and Aquaman star Jason Momoa, as well as an eyewitness account of the opening of the Cliff Burton Museum in Ljungby, Sweden, in 2022. There is also a brand new preface by Testament bass master Steve Di Giorgio, who shares his memories of meeting Burton as a teenager and then watching on from close quarters as Metallica began to take off.”

Metallica’s James Hetfield To Be Featured In New Film “The Thicket”

According to Deadline, Metallica’s James Hetfield is set to appear in Tubi’s new film adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale’s “The Thicket.” The movie is being directed by Elliot Lester (“Blitz”) and it will star Peter Dinklage (“Game Of Thrones”) and Juliette Lewis (“Yellowjackets”). Here’s a synopsis:

“Set in west Texas, the film follows a boy who, after his sister is kidnapped by a violent killer known only as Cut Throat Bill, enlists a fierce bounty hunter named Reginald Jones who grudgingly becomes the leader of the group of outcasts searching for the stolen girl.”

Metallica Share New Trailer For “72 Seasons” Worldwide Theatrical Listening Party

Metallica have shared a new trailer for their “72 Seasons” (out April 14) global listening party. That event will take place on April 13 and it will feature screenings of the full album and its music videos in select theaters.

The band commented:

“Join the Metallica Family on Thursday, April 13, for the worldwide listening party celebrating the release of 72 Seasons with the global premiere of the album at over 2,100 movie theaters! Tickets for the one-night event are on sale now at metallica.film.

72 Seasons will play exclusively for cinema audiences around the globe, with every one of the new songs featuring its own music video along with witty, insightful (?!) commentary from us. Some fans will experience the music in Dolby Atmos®, a totally next-level audio experience that will immerse listeners with unparalleled clarity and depth. Check metallica.film or contact your local theater to see if your event will be in Dolby Atmos® audio.

As a refresher, to bring us all together, we’ve joined forces with Trafalgar Releasing for the second time following 2019’s S&M2 theatrical release. Trafalgar partners with thousands of theaters in 132 countries worldwide, so hopefully, there’s one right in your neighborhood.

If you’re planning to join us in theaters, make sure to order your official 72 Seasons Listening Party T-Shirt created exclusively for this global event!”