Metallica Debut “Hardwired” Live, Fans Question Cover’s Similarity to Crowbar Album Art

If you signed onto the Internet Friday, you no doubt heard the new Metallica song, “Hardwired,” which, in my estimation, fucking rips. With this track, the band’s upcoming new album Hardwired… To Self Destruct is a step above Death Magnetic already.

The band debuted the track live in Minneapolis, MN, on Saturday. Check out some professional footage of that live debut here:

Cool, right?

But not everyone is super stoked about the band’s new album announcement. Why? The cover art, which many have mentioned looks pre-tty similar to that of Crowbar’s 1998 album Odd Fellows Rest:

Man, goatees and all.

Crowbar frontman Kirk Windstein addressed the issue on his Facebook in traditionally chill fashion:

Good point — one doubts that Metallica came to an artist and said, “Do it like that Crowbar album!” If anything, they probably went off on some tangent about their feelings regarding life and the band, and the artist either ripped off Crowbar or unsuspectingly copied Crowbar. Either way, I doubt it was Metallica hoping to crush a smaller band or what have you.

What do you think, is the cover to Hardwired… To Self Destruct a total rip-off? Should Windstein get a call from Hammett and Hetfield with a polite apology and explanation? Let us know in the comments section.

[via Metal Insider]