Metallica’s Black Album Gets Reboot

And the stars come out for a companion set.

Metallica will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their self-titled fifth studio album – commonly known as the Black Album – in the autumn. The band release a newly remastered edition via their Blackened Recordings imprint on September 10, and on the same date release The Metallica Blacklist, a collection of more than 50 artists from all spheres of music covering the record’s 12 songs.

That list includes Elton John, Miley Cyrus, Royal Blood, Ghost, Biffy Clyro, Volbeat, Idles, Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan, Weezer, Corey Taylor, Cage The Elephant, Imelda May, The Hu and Darius Rucker of Hootie & The Blowfish. No less than six acts elected to cover the band’s biggest hit, Enter Sandman, including Ghost, Weezer, Rina Sawayama and Alessia Cara & The Warning. Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo teams up with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Sir Elton, Miley, Yo-Yo Ma and WATT for a version of the power ballad Nothing Else Matters.

Profits from The Metallica Blacklist will be divided between chosen charities of the artists involved and Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation.

To date the Black Album has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide, including 16 million in the US alone. The reissue will be available in digital form and multiple physical formats including 180gram double-vinyl, standard CD and three-CD Expanded Edition, plus a Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set that includes a 120page hardback book and more than 24 hours of music.

Metallica have announced several dates on next year’s The Return Of The European Summer Vacation tour. Details of British dates to come when we get them.