Image Courtesy of BB Gun PressMetallica drummer Lars Ulrich has given an update on the progress of his band's new album. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Ulrich says Metallica has written about 20 songs, and that the album's "creative elements are getting close to being done." However, he adds that the project's production schedule is still on "Metallica time."
"When I say we're close to being done, it means the next month or so," he says. "There's a lot of stuff going on as life continues with family and personal events...but we are certainly down there [writing] pretty much every day.
"In our world, there's been a distinct difference between the creative phase and the recording phase," Ulrich continues. "With this project, we're trying to bridge the two a little more organically and not have there be such a great divide between the processes. We want to see if we can bring some of the creative curiosity, the impulsive stuff that happens when you're first playing a song into the studio."
One thing is for sure, though -- Metallica isn't planning a "surprise" release, which seems like the in-vogue method of issuing a new album these days.
"Right now, it's not like we're going to do one of those things where we'll just give it to iTunes on Thursday without telling anybody," Ulrich says. "That's not in the cards."
As for Metallica material with a concrete street date, the band will release a remixed version of their 1982 demo No Life 'til Leather on cassette for Record Store Day, April 18.
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