Metallica Have Finished Their New Album Hardwired…To Self-Destruct

(Photo Credit: Marv Watson)

Metallica announced that they have put the finishing touches on their new album, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. Scheduled for release on November 18, it will be the band’s tenth studio album, and the first since 2008.

They followed up with a tweet:

Writing on their blog, Metallica updated us on what they’ve been hard at work on. To complement the 12-song album, the deluxe edition will include some exciting bonus material (see the full track list below). Among the additional tracks are the 2016 version of “Lords of Summer”, along with covers of Iron Maiden’s “Remember Tomorrow” and Deep Purple’s “When A Blind Man Cries.” Metallica also wrote that “all of these tracks have been recently re-mastered for optimum 2016 sound quality.”

Before the big announcement, James Hetfield, voice of the band, reported that Metallica had yet to finish the album, which caused some worry among fans.

In an interview with US radio station 93.3WMMR, Hetfield discussed the creative process of making the album: “There’s always something: ‘Ah, this is a little too long-winded. Let’s cut this out. Let’s make this a little more potent.’ We’re craftsmen, and we want to make this as sharp and potent as possible. So all the way up to the last minute, even the running order, there’s always something we’re thinking about and trying to make it the best.”

Hetfield said that they were working mostly on small adjustments and tweaking some things. It may be unorthodox to delay the final production for so long, but that fits in with what we know about Metallica. They’re artists – they don’t want to throw together an album. For the last 18 months, Metallica have been in and out of the studio. They want to do it right.

So take a deep breath, relax, and expect Hardwired…To Self-Destruct to drop on the scheduled date.

They’ve already released one song from the album, “Hardwired,” in a promotional music video. If the track is a good indicator for the whole album, we can expect the same famous, classic sound of Metallica.

The album is produced by Blackened Recordings, the label which Metallica launched in 2012. The move gave them complete control over their “creative destiny,” according to drummer Lars Ulrich.

Check out the complete, updated tracklisting:

Deluxe Edition (Digital Download & CD)

Disc One

1. Hardwired
2. Atlas, Rise!
3. Now That We’re Dead
4. Moth Into Flame
5. Dream No More
6. Halo On Fire

Disc Two

1. Confusion
2. ManUNkind
3. Here Comes Revenge
4. Am I Savage?
5. Murder One
6. Spit Out the Bone

Disc Three (Bonus)

1. Lords of Summer (2016)
2. Ronnie Rising Medley
3. When a Blind Man Cries
4. Remember Tomorrow
5. Helpless (Live at Rasputin Music)
6. Hit the Lights (Live at Rasputin Music)
7. The Four Horsemen (Live at Rasputin Music)
8. Ride the Lightning (Live at Rasputin Music)
9. Fade to Black (Live at Rasputin Music)
10. Jump in the Fire (Live at Rasputin Music)
11. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live at Rasputin Music)
12. Creeping Death (Live at Rasputin Music)
13. Metal Militia (Live at Rasputin Music)
14. Hardwired (Live in Minneapolis)

Deluxe Box Set (3LP + 1CD)

Disc One Side A

1. Hardwired
2. Atlas, Rise!
3. Now That We’re Dead

Disc One Side B

1. Moth Into Flame
2. Am I Savage?
3. Halo On Fire

Disc Two Side C

1. Confusion
2. Dream No More
3. ManUNkind

Disc Two Side D

1. Here Comes Revenge
2. Murder One
3. Spit Out the Bone

Disc Three Side E (Bonus)

1. Lords of Summer (2016)

Disc Three Side F (Bonus)

1. Hardwired (Live in Minneapolis)

Bonus CD

1. Ronnie Rising Medley
2. When a Blind Man Cries
3. Remember Tomorrow
4. Helpless (Live at Rasputin Music)
5. Hit the Lights (Live at Rasputin Music)
6. The Four Horsemen (Live at Rasputin Music)
7. Ride the Lightning (Live at Rasputin Music)
8. Fade to Black (Live at Rasputin Music)
9. Jump in the Fire (Live at Rasputin Music)
10. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live at Rasputin Music)
11. Creeping Death (Live at Rasputin Music)
12. Metal Militia (Live at Rasputin Music)