Metal’s melting process

KIRK: DRAMA OVER

MASTER Of Puppets? Metallica were more like Masters Of Melodrama over the years.

However, after suffering their fair share of feuds, mid-life crises and Spinal Tap moments, the metal legends insist their “soap opera” days are finally over.

Metallica are “very grateful” to have their first UK No1 in 15 years with the album 72 Seasons, as guitarist Kirk Hammett explained: “There have been times when we’ve been in the studio and it’s been a f***ing soap opera. That’s been well documented!”

He’s referring to the 2004 film Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster, which showed the painful and often hilarious process of making 2003’s St. Anger which led the band to group therapy.

Metallica’s 12th full-length studio album came much easier: “It seemed like the most comfortable we’ve been.

“Everyone just went in and we recorded our tracks and played our parts and everything just seemed to naturally gel.

“There wasn’t any pushing and shoving, there weren’t any debates or arguments, there weren’t any dubious statements. There was none of that. It was really remarkable. It was really easy – for once.”

72 Seasons is a throwback to the Metallica of old – and they put their revived synergy down to lockdown.

Kirk added: “It forced us into a perspective that we normally wouldn’t have taken.

“We played as if there was no guarantee of us being able to come back and play again.

“We had to live in the moment, play in the moment and appreciate everything. That’s reflected in the performance of this album.”

Metallica headline Download Donington Park this summer.