Thrash Metal
Kerry King Says Post-Slayer Project Will Be “F**king Good”
Kerry King has again teased his post-Slayer project, saying that it will be “f**king good” and that he would have already toured with his new mystery group had it not been for the pandemic. After recently stating that he felt Slayer “quit to too early” when they called it a day after their final 2019 show, the guitarist is now looking ahead to the future. King previously hinted that he had two records’ worth of material for his post-Slayer band, but has remained tight-lipped about the specifics. “I’m dragging my feet on letting the world know what I’m doing because there’s no rush,” King told Metal Hammer in a new interview. “I have a tour that I’m considering doing, but I’m not going to announce a band, I’m not going to announce a record, I’m not going to announce anything. But you will s...
James Hetfield Recalls When Metallica Recruited Another Singer as Their Frontman
As the frontman of Metallica, James Hetfield is one of heavy metal’s most recognizable singers. However, had the iconic band gotten its wish, he may have been better known solely as the group’s rhythm guitarist. Hetfield hosts a new segment called “Road Dog Brothers” on the Mandatory Metallica channel on SiriusXM, and in it he recalled a time when the band offered the lead vocalist job to Armored Saint’s John Bush. Hetfield began, “A lot of [our] early memories were celebrated with a band called Armored Saint, who were a fellow L.A. band back in the early ’80s.” He added, “When we were getting started, obviously John Bush was a singer we got to know really well, and really, really tried to get him into the band as a singer. It didn’t work out. He was dedicated and very in love with what he...
Suicidal Tendencies’ Instagram Account Was Taken Down Due to Band Name
Suicidal Tendencies‘ Instagram account mysteriously disappeared three weeks ago, and it turns out that the band’s name was likely flagged by the social media platform’s content filter. The iconic crossover thrash act returned to Instagram yesterday (October 6th) after apparently recovering its account and “@suicidaltendencies” handle. As the band remarked in a new post, it’s not the first time the name has been censored. The account blackout couldn’t have happened at a more inopportune time for Suicidal Tendencies. The group made a major festival appearance at Louder Than Life and played the SoCal Hoedown Festival during that span — no doubt prime occasions for social media content. Advertisement Related Video The band’s new post read: “So as a lot of you already noticed, our Instagram acc...
Metallica Admit They “Weren’t Equipped” to Deal with Jason Newsted’s Exit: We Gave Him “No Creative Voice”
Metallica have admitted they “weren’t equipped” to deal with Jason Newsted upon his exit from the band in 2001. The band opened up about Newsted’s departure in an extensive new interview, reflecting on a decadent 40-year career thus far. This past August marked the 30th anniversary of the “Black Album,” which featured Newsted on bass. Despite his unceremonious exit from Metallica, he played a vital role in the band’s legacy and has returned to the spotlight as fans celebrate the classic LP. At the time of his exit, Newsted was frustrated over his lack of creative input in Metallica, and had sought out another musical outlet in his side project Echobrain. Advertisement Related Video When asked about Newsted leaving Metallica, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich both offered reflective answers, i...
Testament, Exodus, and Death Angel Postpone “Bay Strikes Back Tour” until 2022
Less than one week before it was set to kick off, the “Bay Strikes Back Tour” featuring Testament, Exodus, and Death Angel has been pushed to 2022. All three legendary thrash bands cited COVID-19 safety concerns as the reason for the postponement. The three veteran metal acts know firsthand about the dangers of COVID-19, as they were among the first bands to be affected by the virus as they wrapped up the European leg of the trek in March 2020. Multiple members of touring package were infected, including Testament singer Chuck Billy, Exodus guitarist Gary Holt, and Death Angel drummer Will Carroll, who recovered from a serious battle against COVID after being put in a coma and on a respirator. The new dates will kick off April 9th in San Luis Obispo, California, and run through ...
Metallica Perform “The Black Album” in Full from Back to Front at Louder Than Life
Metallica treated fans at Louder Than Life to a full performance of “The Black Album” on Sunday night (September 26th). In honor of its 30th anniversary, the metal titans played the mega-selling LP from back to front at the festival Louisville, Kentucky. The gig was Metallica’s second of the fest, having been booked to play two distinct sets on Friday and Sunday night. On Friday, Metallica played no songs from “The Black Album,” perhaps hinting that a full album performance was coming on Sunday. The Sunday set started with three songs from other albums — “Hardwired,” “The Four Horseman,” and “Welcome Home (Sanitarium).” Then, a 30th anniversary “Black Album” interlude was played with video images of the band members (including former bassist Jason Newsted) before Metallica launched into th...
Metallica Play Surprise Show at Chicago’s Metro, First Time Since 1983: Video + Setlist
After playing a surprise intimate show in San Francisco last week, Metallica did the same last night (September 20th) in Chicago. The metal legends rocked the Windy City’s famed Metro club for the first time since 1983. The gig was announced just hours before showtime, with a special price of $19.83 to mark the last time Metallica played the 1,100-capacity venue. Within an hour, the show was completely sold out. “THAT was way too much fun last week as we finally played in front of real live fans for the first time in over two years in our hometown of San Francisco,” Metallica announced yesterday on their social media channels. “So why not do it again. This time we’re in Chicago and we’ll be hitting the stage at the storied Metro on Clark Street tonight… our first time back there since 1983...
Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine Calls Mask Mandates “Tyranny”
Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine went on an anti-mask rant at a concert (September 15th) in Camden, New Jersey on Wednesday, calling mandates “medical tyranny.” Performing in a state where over 27,000 people have died from COVID-19, Mustaine addressed the crowd before the final song of the set, decrying the enforcement of masks that have proven effective in slowing the spread of the virus. “I just wanna tell you how great it is,” Mustaine said before the last song of the night. “Look around you, guys. Look to your right, look to your left, and look how wonderful this is. We’re all here together. We’re not freaking out, and we’re not yelling at people, ‘Wear your f–king mask.’ Listen, it starts with this kind of a sensation that we build right now. We feel together, we feel like [there’s] strength ...
Metallica Release 53-Song Blacklist Covers Album: Stream
Metallica have released The Metallica Blacklist charity covers compilation. The album features 53 artists covering the 12 songs from “The Black Album.” All proceeds from the release benefit a charity of each artist’s choice and Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation. The band announced the compilation at the same time as the “Black Album” Super Deluxe Edition box set. Both celebrate the 30th anniversary of the seminal heavy metal album that launched Metallica to superstardom. Each week leading up to the September 10th digital release, the band shared new covers from the Blacklist. From Miley Cyrus’ rendition of “Nothing Else Matters” to Weezer taking on “Enter Sandman” to St. Vincent shredding through “Sad But True,” the covers have been a highly entertaining pastime for Metallica fans...
Slayer Announce Reissues of Metal Blade Catalog, Including Show No Mercy and Hell Awaits
Slayer have announced new reissues of their Metal Blade Records catalog, including vinyl re-pressings of seminal albums such as Show No Mercy and Hell Awaits. They’re due out October 22nd. In addition to the aforementioned albums, the Haunting the Chapel EP and 1984’s Live Undead will also be reissued. Each release will be available in multiple vinyl colorways and on CD and cassette tape. Metal Blade was Slayer’s label home during the band’s early years and played a vital role in proliferating thrash and speed metal in the 1980s. Slayer would go on to sign with Def American and work with producer Rick Rubin for 1986’s groundbreaking Reign in Blood, but for many hardcore fans, the early material remains just as vital. Advertisement Related Video Slayer’s obsession with Satanic and occult th...
Jason Newsted: “I Was F**king Livid” After Hearing Metallica’s …And Justice for All for the First Time
Jason Newsted has admitted that he was “livid” after he first heard Metallica‘s 1988 album, …And Justice for All, which famously had much of the bass removed during mixing. “I was f**king livid!” Newsted told The Metal Hammer Podcast in a new interview. “Are you kidding me? I was ready [to go] for throats, man!” He continued, taking a more serious tone: “No, I was out of my head, because I really thought I did well. And I thought I played how I was supposed to play.” Advertisement Related Video The phantom bass on Justice has become the most controversial mixing decision in the history of metal. The official mixing credits belong to Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero, but Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield were heavily involved in the process. Some suggest Newsted’s parts wer...
Exodus Announce New Album, Unveil Single “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)”: Stream
Exodus have announced their 11th studio album, Persona Non Grata, arriving November 19th. They also shared the video for the lead single “The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves).” True to its title, the single packs a wallop. Blazing fast riffs, snarled vocals, and gang-shout choruses make for a potent thrash metal attack. This is classic stuff from the pioneering Bay Area band. “After what seems like an eon, we now have the debut of our first single, ‘The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves),’” remarked guitarist Gary Holt via a press statement. “I’m so jacked up for this and the release of Persona Non Grata! Let’s get the bloodletting started!” Advertisement Related Video Persona Non Grata translates to “an unwelcome person,” and the album “touches on themes of moder...
