| Metallica going old-school
Metallica's Lars Ulrich has exclusively revealed to Kerrang! magazine that the band's new material has an "old-school" Metallica flavor.
The metal legends are currently working on the follow-up to 2003's "St. Anger" in their own studio at Metallica HQ in San Rafael, California.
"The last album was an unusual Metallica album in that no one brought ideas into the studio. Everything you hear on that album was given birth to in the studio," the drummer notes. "This time around we've each brought in ideas as we used to -- as well as working on some jams we had from from two summers ago -- and James [Hetfield] and I are sorting through our CDs of riffs to put together stuff as we did back in the day.
"The new stuff is much more organic, more old school. It certainly doesn't feel like 'St. Anger' Part Two," Ulrich adds. "When we were rehearsing for our South African shows and started playing the 'St. Anger' stuff, it definitely felt very different to the rest of the set because of how the songs were put together. It was really important to make that record in the way we did because of the chaotic internal vibe at that time: 'St. Anger' was a statement, 55 minutes of brutality packed onto a CD, proving to ourselves that we still had the spark. 'St. Anger' was fun but we don't need to make that album again."
Ulrich says that the band have six or seven songs nearing completion, minus vocals and they are using producer Rick Rubin, famed for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, System Of A Down and Slayer, for the first time. This collaboration marks the end of the quartet's 15-year relationship with producer Bob Rock, but Ulrich insists the split was drama free.
"We had a great time with Bob," he admits. "But it seemed that after 15 years it was time to try some different things and get a different perspective. As you get older you get set in your ways and get very fucking spoilt. It was important for as to not get stuck. Rick makes everything — he sees the big picture and has big ideas. It's working out great. We're excited hearing shit come together!"
Metallica's as-yet-untitled album is expected in early 2007. | 
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