Believe it or not, it’s been eight years since Metallica released their last studio album, Death Magnetic. Following a few hiccups, the band is now hard at work on a new record, which they say will arrive sometime in 2016, or “at the very worst, the beginning of 2017.” While that seems like a ways away, today frontman James Hetfield gave fans an early Christmas present by sharing a 15-second preview of new music.
Guitarist Kirk Hammett previously said the new album is “in same lines as Death Magnetic — kind of like that direction,” and the short clip confirms as much with ferocious guitar licks and Hetfield’s signature howls. Hear for yourself below.
During their 2014 South American Tour, Metallica debuted a new song called “The Lords of Summer”. It’s unknown whether that track will end up on the band’s next album.
