Listen: Metallica Guitarist Kirk Hammett Releases New Solo Single “High Plains Drifter”

Carlos Rodríguez/Andes, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
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Back in February, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett announced that he would be releasing his first ever solo material – and now you can hear a song from his upcoming solo release!

The four-track EP From the Metallica guitarist, called Portals, is a departure from Hammett’s work in Metallica, offering a more atmospheric, soundtrack-like quality from the brilliant thrasher. Available in a variety of formats, and available to purchase at the Met Store and local independent retailers, Portals will be released April 23rd in celebration of Record Store Day. You can place your order for the EP now via Metallica.com.

You can check out the single “High Plains Drifter” from the Metallica guitarist below:

This is fantastic! We are very excited to be able to hear all of Portals when it releases later this month!

In a statement on Metallica’s website, Hammett shares that, “Initially, before I even had the idea for a solo EP, I was inspired by the need to create some sort of soundtrack music to accompany The Kirk Hammett Collection for the first ‘It’s Alive’ exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, 2017. I wanted to conceive music to play on a loop in the background as people walked through the exhibit. I sat down one night with a progression, and before I knew it, all the parts were there for ‘Maiden and the Monster.’”

He continues, “The initial concept for Portals started with that one song. Following that, I realized I could create different soundtrack moments. These songs are what I call ‘Audio Cinematic;’ I’m creating sounds and pieces of music for the movies playing in my head. Hopefully they’ll create movies in other people’s heads in a similar fashion.”

Are you excited for Hammett’s solo release?

Portals track list:

“Maiden and the Monster”

“The Jinn”

“High Planes Drifter”

“The Incantation”

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Words by: Michael Pementel