Metallica have spoken to Rolling Stone about their forthcoming new album. "If Death Magnetic was a logical successor to …And Justice For All, the next album will be a heavier Black Album. We're not going to the depths of complexity that we did for Death Magnetic. The stuff we're coming up with is more groove-oriented, a heavier version of what we were doing in the early 90s."

Lars Ulrich also added that the band would eschew their tendency for having a womble for songs that are "shorter and more to-the-point". Added Ulrich: "When people talk about the old stuff, they think Justice. But look at 'Harvester Of Sorrow' on that album. It's a fairly simple five-minute song. And 'Fuel' is an absolute scorcher live. Right now, I'm thinking shorter, more to-the-point."