Last year, Metallica and Billabong announced a collaborative 2019-2020 surfwear collection inspired by some of the band’s most iconic albums and informed by guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo’s personal passion for riding the waves. Now, the two institutions have unveiled the latest product delivery within that collection: Titled “Master of Puppets,” the new selection of apparel draws imagery from the thrash OGs’ revered 1986 classic LP of the same name. The limited-release drop includes cross-branded surf trunks, T-shirts, and corduroy jackets. The boardshorts are crafted from 90 percent recycled polyester and 10 percent elastane, while the tees are made from 100-percent combed ring-spun cotton. See below.
“Master of Puppets inspired an entire generation of surfers when it was released,” enthused Evan Slater, VP of Global Marketing at Billabong. “Even better, this album feels just as relevant today as it did then and continues to be the ultimate soundtrack for anyone looking for that extra push.”
Hammett added, “For myself, the exhilaration of heavy metal and the exhilaration of riding a wave are one and the same. The new collaboration reflects this incredible feeling.”
“There’s a lot of rage in metal, but it’s a good rage,” Trujillo commented of the collaboration with Billabong. “It’s a great release, almost like surfing, out in the rhythm of the ocean.”
The new drop — as well as products from the previous three collections, which were inspired by “the Black Album,” Ride the Lightning and more — are available now via both Metallica and Billabong’s websites. The fifth and final delivery in the Billabong x Metallica 2019-2020 Collection is expected to hit e-commerce and international retail in March.
