Metallica Embark On New "Mission"

BY Brock ThiessenPublished May 30, 2008

Nearly a decade after publicly blasting Napster and online music sharing, California metal vets Metallica are singing a very different tune. Earlier this week, the band launched Mission Metallica, a new website that "offers users a unique, ground-breaking look in on the making of Metallica’s upcoming ninth studio album.”

Rather than forcing fans to wait for the yet-to-be-titled, Rick Rubin-produced new album to be released, through the site Metallica will give fans a sneak peek at the new album before its to-be-announced fall due date. Mission Metallica will also provide the "low-down” from James, Lars, Kirk and Robert on the album’s progress through "fly-on-the-wall video footage,” song excerpts and archival footage. In addition, fans will get the chance to enter contests for swag, concert tickets and meet-and-greet passes to Metallica’s summer shows.

Most of this content is free to the website’s members, but there is something called "Mission: Metallica Platinum,” which provides downloads of live shows, the delivery of the album the day it comes out and other little perks. The price tag on this platinum access ranges from $11.99 for the above bonuses and a 320 kbps in place of the physical album to $124.99 for a limited five-LP box set, the CD, the download and a lithograph. After all, therapy doesn’t come cheap.

Latest Coverage