The metal gods have stood and delivered. For about two years now, there’s been much speculation on when new Metallica material would see the light of day. Since the first Orion Music + More Festival in 2012, the band has been stating that they are going to start the writing process, how they have hundreds of riffs stockpiled, and so on. The latest statement from the band promised a new song in 2014. Now, that promise has been kept and it appears that construction on the follow-up to 2008’s Death Magnetic is truly and officially underway. Last night at Metallica’s show in Bogata, Columbia, the band unveiled a brand new track, “The Lords of Summer”. It’s heavy with an old-school flair, and is an excellent precursor to the new record. Metallica have reportedly been in the studio for the past several months working on the new album, and are using this spring/summer tour run to get out of HQ and get some fresh air.
Metallica & world-renowned pianist Lang Lang recently performed “One” at the 56th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Shortly after, the band released “One (Awards Show Rehearsal Version)”, a special recording made on January 23rd at EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, CA during rehearsals for their dual performance. A portion of the single’s sales will be donated to MusiCares, a Grammy foundation that provides services and resources for musicians, including financial, medical, and personal assistance. The song is available for download on iTunes now. Shortly after the Grammys, Lang Lang headlined Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Metallica toured relentlessly in support of their 2008 Grammy Award-
winning album, Death Magnetic. While the band did not tour as extensively in 2012, with the help of several major festival appearances (including their very own Orion Music + More Festival), they hauled in $86 million. Their last studio effort saw the band return to form. Both heavy and thrashy, it’s a nice mix of …And Justice and Black Album. The disc debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and has since gone multi-platinum. It was nominated for 5 Grammy Awards, winning two of them (“Best Recording Package” and “Best Metal Performance” for “My Apocalypse”). Metallica have begun working on their next studio album. Producer Rick Ruben, who won the Grammy for “Producer of The Year – Non-Classical” for his work on Death Magnetic, will once again be leading Metallica’s charge. Metallica released another live DVD from their World Magnetic Tour, Quebec Magnetic, last fall. It was the band’s first release on their own newly founded North American label, Blackened Recordings. In September 2013, the band released their first-ever feature film, Metallica Through The Never, an explosive live concert film combined with an original story line that thrilled fans in IMAX theaters around the world. Metallica kicked off their South American tour run last night, and are set to play several headlining shows and festivals this summer around the world. This time around, the band will be letting fans select the setlist for the tour. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for 17 songs out of the band’s approximate 140-track catalog that spans their 30-year career. – by Matt Bishop
