The disc will be the first new studio release from the Bay Area rockers in six years. Their last studio effort, Reload, was released in 1997.  This will also be the first album released since Jason Newsted left the band. Producer Bob Rock played the bass lines on the new effort. 

In related news, as we reported last week, Metallica will team up with Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park for a North American stadium tour this summer. The tour was officially announced this week.  The Deftones and Mudvayne will also join the bill. 

The official press release is below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Rock fans rejoice! Three of the music world's greatest, most vital bands are joining forces for one of the most compelling tours in rock history, the Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003. Metallica, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park come together for this once-in-a-lifetime live extravaganza that will kick off this coming summer, with all 3 bands playing headline length sets. The 3 groups are also delivering new albums to coincide with this unprecedented juggernaut throughout the U.S. The Summer Sanitarium Tour is slated to officially begin on July 4th. Metallica's inaugural Summer Sanitarium tour - which trekked across the U.S. in a series of sold out shows in the summer of 2000 - was one of the most successful concert events of that year, and featured some of the biggest names in rock, including Metallica, Korn, Kid Rock and System Of A Down. For Metallica, who will be delivering their first studio album in more than five years this summer, the tour will mark their first appearance on American stages since 2000's Summer Sanitarium run. With more than 85 million albums sold worldwide, and holding down gold or platinum certifications in more than 40 countries, Metallica enters their third decade at the top of their game, largely regarded as one of the most influential groups in music history. Since their inception in 1981 the group has broken countless records, garnered numerous awards including 6 Grammys and engaged in several history-charting performances, including a groundbreaking appearance with the San Francisco Symphony in 1999. Their much anticipated new disc their 8th studio album entitled St. Anger, will be in stores on June 10th and is their first studio release since 1997's Re-Load, which debuted at #1 in 12 countries around the world and has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide to date. 

Limp Bizkit, led by multi-talented frontman Fred Durst burst on to the rock scene in 1997 with their masterpiece, Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$, and are credited with single-handedly re-invigorating the rock genre by changing the face of alternative and rock radio. Having sold 28 million albums worldwide with just 3 studio releases, their last studio album Chocolate Starfish and The Hot Dog Flavored Water, sold 13 million copies worldwide and is certified platinum in 33 countries. It is the only rock record in the history of Sound Scan to sell over 1 million copies in its first week of sales. The band's long awaited follow up, Lessismore is tentatively set to be released May of 2003.

Linkin Park became the biggest selling band of 2001 with more than 8 million albums sold for their acclaimed album Hybrid Theory. Hailed by critics and fans alike as one of rock's most important new forces, the band refuses to be pigeonholed as 'just' a rock band, describing their sound as a cross-section of many genres, including alternative rock, hip hop and electronic. For the past eighteen months Linkin Park has been hard at work on Meteora, their new album on Warner Bros. Records due March 25th, 2003. Produced by Don Gilmore and Linkin Park, Meteora features Linkin Park's new single Somewhere I Belong, which will be released to radio in late February. 

In addition, Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003 is proud to announce Deftones and Mudvayne to the line-up. Deftones are currently putting the finishing touches on their as yet untitled 4th record once again produced by Terry Date. The record will be released this June. Mudvayne, The Peoria, Illinois, quartet are supporting their second album, The End of All Things To Come following the gold success of their debut L.D. 50. 

In no particular order, here are the confirmed cities for Summer Sanitarium Tour 2003. Specific dates to be confirmed later. Most of these shows will go on sale February 22nd. Stay tuned! Minneapolis 

St. Louis
Orlando
Philadelphia
New York
Boston
Columbus
Montreal
Dallas
Houston
Seattle
Denver
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Detroit
Toronto
Washington /Baltimore
Chicago

more on Metallica, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, The Deftones .