Kirk Hammett goes for the throat on “Death Magnetic”
Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett gets the spotlight at a recent show on the band’s ”World Magnetic Tour,” playing tonight at Tulsa’s BOK Center. (Associated Press photo)
A version of this story ran on the cover Tuesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Guitarist gets in his licks
Guitar solos return with vigor in Metallica’s “Death Magnetic”
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett freely admits that he went for the throat on “Death Magnetic,” the band’s first album in five years.
His trademark inventive, high-octane guitar solos dominate the heavy metal giants’ studio album, widely praised as a triumphant return to form for the band that made hardcore music mainstream.
“I went for the jugular. I mean, there’s absolutely no subtlety whatsoever,” Hammett said with a laugh during a recent phone interview from Chicago. “I pretty much went in there with the attitude of just doing the fastest, most aggressive, loud, raunchy-sounding solos that I could possibly dream up for the material, and yeah, you know, it really suits the songs well, I think.”
When the band plays tonight at Tulsa’s BOK Center, Hammett is sure to grab the spotlight with his fast and furious shredding. “Death Magnetic” represents a kind of comeback for the guitarist, though he never left the band.
On Metallica’s last album, 2003′s “St. Anger,” Hammett was famously forced to live with a no-guitar-solos edict. The backlash from fans was as swift and forceful as his signature solos, and it took the guitarist by surprise.
“It really shocked me just to hear of the fans’ response to ‘St. Anger’ not having guitar solos. I did not foresee how much people were actually gonna miss my contributions,” he said. “After hearing an earful … it felt like there was a little pressure for me to, like, do guitar solos and do them well. And you know, I really seized the opportunity.”
Hammett, who turns 46 today, didn’t hold much back on “Death Magnetic,” and his boldness has paid off. The album was even dubbed “Kirk Hammett’s revenge” by one reviewer, and the guitarist said the acclaim has been gratifying.
“I think it just adds to the overall vibe (on the album) of us kind of like returning to form and refinding ourselves and playing really super-heavy dynamic music again – with guitar solos,” he said.
After making more blues-based, groove-oriented hard rock in the 1990s, the quartet of Hammett, frontman James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich and bassist Rob Trujillo opted to return with the new album to the band’s ’80s speed-metal sensibilities.
“Death Magnetic” debuted in September at No. 1, making Metallica the first group to see five of its albums bow in the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. The band also made it this year onto the final ballot for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2009 class.
“To be known as a band that’s had an impact on musical culture, I mean, that’s great to me,” Hammett said.
As Metallica’s music has evolved over the past 25 years, so have the members’ lives. On North American leg of their tour – their first in the U.S. and Canada in four years – the band alternates spending one week on the road and one week at home so they can have time with their families.
“We play five shows a week, which is a little hectic, but you know, we’re all happy to do it because it’s a great tradeoff to be able to be home every other week and getting that good family time in,” said Hammett, who is married and has two sons, ages 2 and 4 months.
Hammett, who expects to get attacked with cream pies tonight as part of the band’s birthday tradition, said he is looking forward to playing Tulsa since Metallica has always had a fervent Oklahoma fan base.
“We’re just trying to … pick songs off all our albums, that represent our entire career,” he said. “And we have a totally new production; I don’t want to give two much away ‘cause it’s super cool. And you know, it’s gonna be two hours of pure metal mayhem.”
In concert
What: Metallica’s “World Magnetic Tour” with The Sword and Down
When: 7 tonight.
Where: BOK Center, 200 S Denver.
Tickets: $77.50 and $57.50.
Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com.
-BAM
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Kirk Hammett is a beast!