Heavy Heart

Metallica fans had to wait almost a decade for a new record, but frontman James Hetfield isn’t about to apologize

- Jeff Perlah

BACK IN THE ’80s, Metallica recorded four of metal’s mightiest albums in just five years. Since then, though, the band’s pace has slowed. In the past 15 years, they’ve recorded only three studio albums, and it took eight years for the band to release Death Magnetic’s successor, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, near the end of 2016. In February at the Grammys, they rocked out with Lady Gaga, but we only heard half of frontman-guitarist James Hetfield’s vocals due to microphone problems. Later that night, Metallica lost to the late David Bowie for best rock song (they weren’t even nominated for best metal performance).

Let’s hope Hetfield will be plugged in better when Metallica begins the U.S. portion of its WorldWired tour in May. In a conversation with Newsweek, he speaks about the making of Hardwired and how Metallica learned to be slightly less bombastic.

NEWSWEEK: Throughout Hardwired, you guys lock in so tightly. Staying together for a long time obviously has its advantages.

HETFIELD: Sure. Lars [Ulrich, Metallica’s drummer] and I have been married for 35 years [laughs]; you get to know each other pretty well. We’re brothers that hate each other, love each other, can’t stand each other. I’ve known him longer than anybody except for family members. There are times when he’ll just do a count in, and we both start playing the same song. I know his limitations, he knows mine, and we try to push each other a little bit. He’s able to suggest things for riffs, vocals, and I’m able to suggest things for drums. I’m a frustrated drummer, and he’s a frustrated guitar player/singer.

At this point, you guys obviously know the good riffs from the bad ones. How do you narrow down the choices?