Jimmy Page and Jack White both loved Metallica's St. Anger, according to Bob Rock By Matt Parker published 26 May 23 The guitar heroes – and It Might Get Loud co-stars – expressed their appreciation for the highly polarizing album in separate encounters with the producer
Kirk Hammett says he prefers the Epiphone Greeny to the $20k Gibson Custom Shop version – here’s why By Matt Parker published 26 May 23 The Metallica man says they’re all great “but my favorite version of Greeny is probably the Epiphone”
Robert Trujillo: “We have more riffs than we know what to do with. With every handful of riffs we get out of Kirk, there’s another 500 we didn’t hear” By Amit Sharma published 26 May 23 Now a 20-year veteran as Metallica bassist, Trujillo details the secret weapons that locked in with James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett's guitar tones on 72 Seasons, and the key to getting extra grit from fingerstyle bass
Gibson adds Kirk Hammett’s 1960 “Sunny” Les Paul Standard to its Certified Vintage Collection By Matt Owen published 18 May 23 Sunny was used by the Metallica maestro up until last year, and joins the company’s growing cohort of ultra-exclusive vintage instruments to be sold to customers direct via the Gibson Garage
Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo offer their track-by-track guide to Metallica’s super-heavy smash-hit new album, 72 Seasons By Jenna Scaramanga published 18 May 23 Fast stuff, bouncy stuff, thrashing riffs, evil tones, power grooves and ‘total noise’ solos included
The guitar gear secrets behind James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett’s tones on 72 Seasons By Jenna Scaramanga published 12 May 23 Metallica co-producer Greg Fidelman reveals how the new album was made with the help of a Marshall modded by Eddie Van Halen’s amp wizard and a rack full of battle-hardened guitars, including one that makes Hetfield “immediately want to play fast riffs”
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett: “With 72 Seasons, I improvised 20, 30 solos, gave them all to Lars and Greg Fidelman, and went, ‘You guys edit them!’” By Jenna Scaramanga published 5 May 23 Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo draw back the curtain on the metal album of the year: the gear shakeups, the Angus Young and Ritchie Blackmore-inspired guitar approach, and the response to critics of Kirk’s improvisational soloing approach
James Hetfield recalls Dimebag Darrell introducing him to solid-state amps: “He had this freaking amazing crunch going on” By Matt Parker published 3 May 23 The Metallica frontman was asked about his time with the Pantera legend and credited Darrell for making him question his tube tone
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett debut new ESP and Gibson guitars at first show of M72 world tour By Michael Astley-Brown published 28 April 23 Papa Het has a fresh Vulture, while Hammett’s uber-rare ’59 Les Paul got its first-ever runout for the set’s surprise opener
Kirk Hammett explains why he uses wah so much: "I can't think of anybody who uses the wah pedal as much as I do – I'm not ashamed of it" By Jackson Maxwell published 26 April 23 The Metallica guitarist addresses criticism of his frequent use of the effect and explains what it unlocks in his playing
Watch Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Joe Perry join Metallica for a pulverizing performance of Train Kept A-Rollin' at 2009’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony By Matt Owen published 24 April 23 The two Yardbirds alumni and Aerosmith icon – who each had history with the song – were joined by Ronnie Wood and Flea for the rendition, which featured a who's who of rhythm heroes and lead legends
Kirk Hammett reveals the truth about that burned guitar on Metallica’s 72 Seasons album cover By Matt Owen published 21 April 23 Is it a Fernandes Stratocaster copy? Well, not exactly
Cliff Burton wrote one of Metallica’s heaviest riffs on a de-tuned classical guitar By Nick Wells published 20 April 23 Kirk Hammett: “To this day, I think: ‘How did Cliff write that?’”
Guitarist who re-recorded Metallica’s Lux Æterna solo responds to Kirk Hammett’s defence: “The solos sound lazy and completely throwaway” By Matt Owen published 18 April 23 In a blunt rebuttal of Hammett’s comments, YouTuber Bradley Hall – who first criticized the song's solo by remaking it – labeled the lead playing as having “super-regurgitated, boring, lazy phrasing”
Everything you need to know about Metallica's scorching new album – only in the new Guitar World By Damian Fanelli published 18 April 23 Plus! Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton, Steel Panther, Paul Gilbert does Dio, Chris Holmes, the top 10 tools for every gig and tributes to Gary Rossington and David Lindley
Kirk Hammett reveals the secret weapon behind his guitar tone: “I can’t believe I’m telling you about it!” By Matt Owen published 18 April 23 The elusive piece of gear has sonic ties to Eddie Van Halen, AC/DC and Pink Floyd, and featured throughout new Metallica album 72 Seasons
James Hetfield was offered the chance to buy the Greeny Les Paul before Kirk Hammett, but he turned it down: “I’m a real idiot” By Michael Astley-Brown published 13 April 23 Watch Hammett demo Peter Green’s iconic Gibson for Howard Stern as his Metallica bandmate makes the surprise revelation
Kirk Hammett hits back at solo trolls: “My friends down the street could probably play a better solo than Lux Æterna – but what’s the point?” By Jenna Scaramanga published 11 April 23 In an explosive new interview, the Metallica legend explains why sweep picking is pointless, what makes melodic pentatonic playing harder than shredding, and names just three guitarists who make good music with arpeggios
James Hetfield used a “legendary” head modded by Eddie Van Halen’s amp wizard for every track on Metallica’s new album By Matt Parker published 6 April 23 According to 72 Seasons producer Greg Fidelman, the Metallica frontman leant heavily on this revived guitar amp, which was modded by renowned tech José Arredondo
Kirk Hammett: “It drives me nuts having to play that f**king guitar solo in Master of Puppets every time – I’m freaking bored of it” By Jenna Scaramanga published 6 April 23 The Metallica axeman explains why he prefers living on the edge with his improvised live solos: “Usually, I surprise myself – sometimes I die a f**king death”
