Kirk Hammett On Metallica Death Magnetic Solos, Sound Quality

River Front Times recently conducted an interview with Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett on the new Metallica album Death Magnetic. Kirk Hammett discussed the Death Magnetic solos, the discussion on the new Metallica album sound quality, and him playing a few minor characters for Metalocalypse.

Kirk Hammett on the guitar solos on Death Magnetic compared to the last Metallica album St. Anger solos:

“I think it goes without saying that the guitar solos were gonna be a given. There was no discussion. When we started writing, it was just like, ‘OK, time for a lead break here. Let’s go!’ There was no dialogue as to whether or not we would have guitar solos on this album. They would be back. Yeah.”

“[The composed solos] didn’t jive with the feel of these songs, so I just said, All right, I’m throwing all this stuff away and I’m just gonna go for the jugular. I would be as spontaneous as I can in the studio.”

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett has been dabbling in voice acting, playing a few minor characters for Metalocalypse, most noticeably the Queen of Denmark in Season One’s “Birthdayface” episode. Was that performance modeled on any specific Danes who drum for a certain band?

“Ahhh, no comment. You know what, I haven’t had any comments come over from the peanut gallery, so you know, no news is good news.”

Asked directly about the online clamor over the clipping on the new Metallica album, and if he hears it, Kirk Hammett took less than half a second to gather his thoughts before speaking.

“Well, it’s like this: There are people who just expect perfection from us. And I totally get that. And when it falls short of their standards of perfection, they’re going to complain. And I totally get that, too. I do hear a bit of clipping here and there. It was more a Rick Rubin sort of decision rather than the band decision, because he thought it made it sound a little bit more lively and dynamic, and we kinda gave him the benefit of the doubt on that. And you know, to me, when I crank the album when I’m driving, it’s not an issue for me. But then again — my ears are kinda fried, too, Bro.”

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett then points out that sound quality doesn’t trump music quality.

“What’s that Stooges album that has, like, the worst [sound] of all time? Was it Fun House? I can’t remember. But you know what? That album is hailed as groundbreaking now!”

And as far as remixing Metallica’s Death Magnetic, Kirk Hammett is unequivocal.

“Well, you know, the album is what it is. And ultimately it’s because of us that it is what it is. And at this point, my attitude is, take it or leave it. You know?”