"The mind is the enemy most of the time": James Hetfield talks about overcoming anxiety and finding faith in his creativity By Rob Laing published 3 June 24 "I start to doubt myself, I start to feel insecure that we're too old and we can't do this"
"At first, based on the music and the riff, the band and their management thought it could be the first single… then they heard James’ lyrics": When Metallica and Bob Rock changed tack and gambled with Enter Sandman By Sian Llewellyn published 18 April 24 Via some riff editing from Lars Ulrich
James Hetfield on Metallica's new creative era: "I don't want to sit there and create the songs with Lars anymore – I want everyone to be a part of it and be in it" By Rob Laing published 26 December 23 The frontman is candid about the need for new approaches in an interview with Metallica's fanzine
"If it gets mushy at all, he's out" – Metallica producer Greg Fidelman confirms James Hetfield used a very specific blend of four amps together in the studio for the 72 Seasons album By Rob Laing published 25 December 23 Best of 2023: "It gets pretty hairy" says the producer on the volume levels
“If you have too much distortion it feels like a sponge”: Kirk Hammett reveals the secret behind his Metallica rhythm tone and advises against high-gain overkill By Jonathan Horsley published 18 August 23 Save the distortion pedals for the solos and keep that rhythm tone “harmonically tight”
“We’re bored, let’s do some stuff” – How James Hetfield wrote Metallica’s longest-ever song in a Zoom call with Lars By Jonathan Horsley published 12 May 23 Hetfield and Ulrich tell Apple Music's Zane Lowe that one minute you're bored on Zoom, the next you have a Sabbath-inspired riff, and before long you have the most epic track you’ve ever written
What is the heaviest guitar riff of all time? Metal musicians have their say By Jonathan Horsley published 28 March 23 A Metallica stalwart emerges as a redoubtable contender against '00s heavyweights from Meshuggah and Gojira, as Baroness, GWAR, Halestorm and more are polled by Revolver
Metallica unleash new single Screaming Suicide, a 5:39 min Hetfield masterclass in downpicking By Jonathan Horsley published 20 January 23 Metallica are doing Metallica things again on the second track shared from forthcoming studio album, 72 Seasons, out 14 April
Ernie Ball and Metallica’s James Hetfield launch Papa Het’s Hardwired Master Core signature electric guitar strings By Jonathan Horsley published 26 April 22 Papa Het has got a brand new tin, and it contains a set of 11-50 gauge strings