Lars Ulrich has been dropping quite a few hints of late pertaining to his band’s upcoming, currently untitled ninth studio album, which is due for release sometime in September. The Metallica frontman has even gone as far as to discuss release possibilities and posts clips of new songs online.

So it was really no surprise when Ulrich dished some more nuggets during a press call yesterday promoting the band’s upcoming appearance at Bonnaroo.

• The yet-to-be titled new record will drop sometime in September.

• The quartet will wrap production on the record next week, “by Wednesday or Thursday,” Ulrich confirms.

• The band hit the studio “with 26 songs,” then “went down to 14 with Rick [Rubin, producer]” and recorded 11. Only 10 songs will make the final tracklisting.

• The album’s tunes, “long… nutty ass songs,” will not be edited, and are “seven minutes, eight minutes, nine minutes” in length, recalling “some of the earlier records.”

• Sonically, the songs are “definitely all over the place… with a lot of variations.” Definitely “hardcore” and “nutty,” Lars says.

• This week the quartet have been working with its graphic designer on the album art.

• In the recording of the new set Metallica were seeking “a little bit of a more sane environment,” unlike the records they produced in the early ’90s. “And we’ve been able to keep that,” Ulrich says.

[Spin Magazine]

I wonder what Dave Grohl will think…

Categories: News
Tags: Metallica