- Title: Rock group Metallica thrill fans and talk new album
- Date: 18th November 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 18, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** METALLICA AT DESK FAN SHOWING SIGNED ALBUM AUTOGRAPH SIGNING METALLICA SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FANS FAN POSING WITH 'HARDWIRED...TO SELF DESTRUCT' ALBUM METALLICA ALBUM COVER / FAN METALLICA SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS
- Embargoed: 3rd December 2016 04:50
- Keywords: Metallica music band London signing
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / UNIDENTIFIED
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK / UNIDENTIFIED
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA00558Z0IFH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL
U.S. rock group Metallica were in London on Thursday night (November 17) for a special midnight meet and greet with fans ahead of the launch of new album 'Hardwired... to Self-Destruct'.
It has been eight years since the hugely popular band released an album, 2008's Rick Rubin produced 'Death Magnetic', and lead vocalist James Hetfield described the new work as a 'bit cynical'. He also said it was a good feeling to bring out something fresh for fans to enjoy.
"It feels great. It feels like we've waited too long. We've tortured everyone else including ourselves and it feels good to give birth to a new thing and have people listening to it and when people have a positive response to your creation it's always a blessing."
Bassist Robert Trujillo praised the producer, Greg Fidelman, who worked with the group on 'Hardwired... to Self-Destruct' and went as far as to say it could outdo all of the band's previous efforts.
"Well, I know this much, sonically it could possibly be the best Metallica album ever. I mean, the sounds are so amazing, the drums, the bass, the vocal production. I'm really proud of Greg Fidelman, our producer, on this one. The songs are very diverse. You get the wild arrangements that I think people generally like from Metallica but at the same time you got some nice, powerful grooves and very strong melodies. So, there's something for everybody on this new record," Trujillo told Reuters.
Kirk Hammett, who joined the band in 1983, found he was unable to contribute creatively as much as he usually does because he lost a phone containing scores of riffs he had come up with.
"Well, you know, it's something I've had to deal with. You know, I'm probably going to end up overcompensating for it next time out just because that's who I am, that's what I am. And it's never a good feeling when something or somethings that we work hard at and you put so much time invested and you have so much expectations for it all of a sudden disappears. It's the most disappointing thing," he said.
Hammett and Trujillo agreed that they felt Metallica were currently going through a strong creative run and that there is more to come from the group who first formed in 1981 and have produced famed songs including 'Enter Sandman'.
One of the founding members of the band, Lars Ulrich, spoke on his excitement at the prospect of performing the new album live on Metallica's upcoming world tour.
"Feels great, thank you. It's been a long four to six weeks talking about it. As you can tell I don't have much voice left. But the moment is here and we're excited to share new music with the world. And ultimately to get out and start playing some of these new songs in a live situation. It's been a long time. But we're excited, we're thrilled," he said, "The feedback from the fans so far for the songs that have been out and we started sharing it with the world the last couple of days has been spectacular. Critics, too. So, we're very excited. It's a good time to be in Metallica right now."
'Hardwired... to Self-Destruct' is released on Friday (November 18). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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