Metallica Star On What Was Behind Return To Thrash Roots

(Metal Hammer) Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo has credited Death Magnetic producer Rick Rubin and the band's live performances of older albums with helping them return to their thrash metal roots.

And while he accepts they can't please everyone, he argues that it's important that they're still taking chances late into their career.

Metallica release 10th album Hardwired� To Self-Destruct on November 18. The follow-up to 2008's Death Magnetic has been keyed up with the launch of well-received tracks Hardwired and Moth Into Flame.

Trujillo tells Punk Rock Politics: "My launch pad with Metallica was Death Magnetic - that was a collaborative experience for me with Lars and James. Then you get into the second phase of the journey. It is thrash, it is in your face.

"Our producer Greg Fidelman, who actually engineered Death Magnetic, I always thought would be great. No disrespect to Rick Rubin, because Rick was super-important in getting Lars and James to reconnect with the thrash roots.

"Having Rick guide them into that was super-important at the time. Then, over the years, learning the Black Album top to bottom and touring that, was really cool.

"Going through Ride The Lightning and even Kill 'Em All - those challenges drive you crazy. They make you better." Read more here.

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