New Metallica Album Nearly Complete, But Band “Don’t Wanna Get Anyone’s Hopes Up Too High”

Will Metallica really nail down their status as making the fifth-best 80s metal band still making new music today with a fresh album in 2016? Uh… maybe!

During this past Saturday evening’s “The Night Before” concert, James Hetfield shared the following tidbit with the crowd:

“We’re working on a new record… for the last twenty years or so [laughs]. We’re gettin’ near the end. I don’t wanna get anyone’s hopes up too high, but… we’re coming to the end!”

Metal Injection and several other websites are assuming that Hetfield’s crack about not getting fans’ hopes up was a reference to the album’s release — e.g., that even if they’re nearly done making the record, it may not come out anytime soon for whatever reason. Which is probably an accurate assumption. Still, I think it’s funnier to pretend that Hetfield meant he didn’t wanna get anyone’s hopes up that the album would be good. When it comes to new Metallica music, low expectations can only help. Especially since the band seems barely enthused about its creation.

You can watch the entire “The Night Before” show below. The bit about the new album comes around the 1:05 mark.

https://youtu.be/NYCq51wIR9g