Listen to Kirk Hammett, KJ Doughton, Brian Lew, and Ron Quintana Dive Deep Into Early Thrash on The Latest Metallica Podcast


In the latest episode of the official Metallica Podcast, hosts Stephan and Renee are joined by Kirk Hammett, KJ Doughton, Brian Lew and Ron Quintana to discuss the early era of Metallica, Exodus, Armored Saint, and other thrash and heavy metal inspirations. Listen to the pod here!

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Gibson Custom Shop and Epiphone Team Up with Kirk Hammett of Metallica to Release His Iconic 1979 Flying V, Available Worldwide


For 150 years, Epiphone has been a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Heavy metal guitars don’t get more iconic than Kirk Hammett’s 1979 Gibson Flying V™. Epiphone is proud to unveil its first official global release and partnership with Kirk Hammett, legendary guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling and GRAMMY® Award-winning band Metallica. In partnership with Gibson Custom Shop, Epiphone is bringing the genre-defining sound of Metallica’s early albums to every stage with the Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V – a painstaking recreation of Kirk’s prized original, available in Ebony and Purple Metallic finishes worldwide at the link below!Continue reading


RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW: Metallica’s St. Anger Turns 20


 

As Metallica’s controversial album St. Anger turns twenty years old on June 5th, 2023, guest columnist Nik Cameron (The Glacially Musical Pouredcast) reflects on where this album lands in history. Is it a triumph, as Lars Ulrich wants it to be, or a tragedy?

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ALBUM REVIEW: Metallica – 72 Seasons


 

And so the Metallica riff machine rolls on! forty years after their debut album Kill Em All (1983) laid the blueprint for the Thrash Metal genre, they return with record number … well that’s kind of up for debate depending on how you view their discography, and whether you count live albums, covers album and erm collaborations. But 72 Seasons (Blackened Recordings Inc) is here, their latest artistic statement four decades into a career that has seen them rise from the US West Coast underground, to become the most successful Heavy Metal band of all time. Continue reading


STAFF PICKS: Ghost Cult Photographer Chris Small’s Top 20 Albums of 2022


Ghost Cult’s Chris Small (aka Smallz, Papa Smallz) has been an essential member of our live coverage team this year and chipped in a few other types of reviews over the years as well. When he is not voraciously consuming heavy music, he is also a dad, documents underground rap shows, and streams on Twitch. Here are his top 20 albums of 2022 list! Peace and Chicken grease, as Chris would say…

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Watch James Hetfield and Kirk Hammet of Metallica Perform a Metal Version of The US National Anthem Before a San Francisco Giants Game


The San Francisco Giants baseball team held their 8th Annual “Metallica” Night” in which the band participates in the game with a performance and themed merch. Metallica has been a Bay Area band since the addition of Cliff Burton, and the band’s relocation to Northern California in 1982. They later added Kirk Hammett. Watch James Hetfield and Hammet perform a metal version of the US National Anthem last night (May 24th, 2022) here:

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Kirk Hammett of Metallica Releases Debut Solo Single – “High Plains Drifter”


Kirk Hammett of Metallica,, by Victoria Anderson

Heavy Metal legend Kirk Hammett of Metallica has released his first single as a solo artist, from his upcoming debut solo EP as the track – “High Plains Drifter.” The track opens the second side of Portals, Kirk’s four-song EP out April 23, 2022, via Blackened Recordings across digital platforms, on CD, and as a Record Store Day Exclusive Ocean Blue Vinyl EP (including a download card). Jam it out now! Continue reading


Kirk Hammett to Release His Debut Instrumental Solo EP – “Portals”


Kirk Hammett of Metallica makes his solo debut with Portals, a four-song instrumental EP to be released April 23rd, 2022 via Blackened Recordings across digital platforms, on CD, and as a Record Store Day Exclusive Ocean Blue Vinyl EP (including a download card). It will be the first release on the label that is not a Metallica release. True to its title, Portals is a collection of gateways to myriad musical and psychic destinations. Recorded in multiple locales ranging from Los Angeles to Paris to Oahu, Portals is both the result of musical and metaphysical journeys. An invitation to inner worlds accessible only by music and the psyche it fuels.

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Watch Metallica Celebrated by Mayor London Breed and The City of San Francisco for Their 40th Anniversary


Metallica has kicked off a weekend of celebrations all over their hometown of San Francisco in honor of their 40th Anniversary Concerts and city-wide takeover. Mayor London Breed welcomed Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo from the band in a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall. Watch it now!

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Metallica Announces “The Metallica Black Box” Archival Project


Long teased by the band on social media, Metallica has announced the opening of The Metallica Black Box. Debuting with The Black Album Exhibition, the Black Box will offer an unprecedented and ongoing deep dive into every era of Metallica from the early 1980s garage days up to today.

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