Metallica New Album Update: Kirk Hammett lost over 250 recorded rifts for latest album; Bowie commends ‘Lulu’ a ‘Masterpiece’

By Staff Writer

Apr 20, 2015 08:43 AM EDT

The New 'Metallica' Album is currently around 25% complete as revealed by their Lead Guitarist, Kirk Hammett. Their new album will be the follow up to their 2011 "Lulu" collaboration with Lou Reed, which David Bowie regarded as Lou's "Masterpiece."

After seven long years, American heavy metal band Metallica is announcing that they will be releasing a first new studio album. Kirk Hammett, the band's lead guitarist tells Billboard "We have a lot of good songs." Hammett continues that the band has over a dozen songs and they still have over two or three hundred riffs, and it's still unknown at which point they are at in the project. "I don't think we hit the middle point yet. I would say we're at the 25 percent point, maybe 30 percent point ...." Hammett elaborates.

But after detailing that the new record is in the "25 percent" part already, the Metallica's lead guitarist recently revealed a potential hurdle. He said in a recent interview that he has lost his iPhone that contains 250 stored riffs.

Kirk Hammett, 52, told the "The Jasta Show," "I put riffs on my iPhone, but something very unfortunate happened to me about six months ago. I lost my iPhone [containing] two hundred and fifty musical ideas. And I was crushed. It didn't get backed up. And when it happened, I was bummed out for about two or three days."

He immediately noted that he hasn't found it yet and only remembers eight of the riffs. But the positive side is, he said that maybe it was not meant to be produced and he will move forward from it. Hammett also has some pieces of advice for musicians: "All you musicians out there who use your phone, make sure it's backed up. Right?!"

On what the new material is sounding like, Hamlett said "Let's just say that the stuff that's coming up is super riffy, super heavy ..." The material is progressing and in fact, he revealed that it's a lot similar to 2008's "Death Magnetic" but different in certain parts.                                                                          

In related news, The "Space Oddity" singer David Bowie has affirmed "Lulu," Metallica's ridiculed collaborative album with Lou Reed, as a "masterpiece." This sentiment was from the speech of Laurie Anderson, Reed's widow, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last April 18.

"One of his last projects was his album with Metallica," Anderson said. "And this was really challenging, and I have a hard time with it. There are many struggles and so much radiance. And after Lou's death, David Bowie made a big point of saying to me, 'Listen, this is Lou's greatest work. This is his masterpiece. Just wait, it will be like 'Berlin.' It will take everyone a while to catch up.'" Reed died in October 2013 at the age of 71 due to liver problems.

Will Metalica finish recording their New Album even though Kirk Hammett lost 250 recorded rifts? Will they be able to surpass their "Lulu" album collaboration with Lou Reed Share, which was admired by David Bowie as Lou's great "Masterpiece"? Share your thoughts with us on the comments section below!

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