Kirk Hammet Ventures To Solo Career With New EP

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has recorded “Portals,” a four-track instrumental EP that marks his first venture as a solo artist.

Portals will be released worldwide exclusively at your favorite local independent retailer and in the Met Store on April 23 in celebration of the Record Store Day. Available across digital platforms, on CD, and as an ocean blue vinyl EP (including a download card).

Hammett said in a press release:

“Initially, before I even had the idea for a solo EP, I was inspired by the need to create some sort of soundtrack music to accompany The Kirk Hammett Collection for the first ‘It’s Alive’ exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, 2017. I wanted to conceive music to play on a loop in the background as people walked through the exhibit. I sat down one night with a progression, and before I knew it, all the parts were there for ‘Maiden And The Monster’.

“The initial concept for ‘Portals’ started with that one song. Following that, I realized I could create different soundtrack moments. These songs are what I call ‘audio cinematic’; I’m creating sounds and pieces of music for the movies playing in my head. Hopefully they’ll create movies in other people’s heads in a similar fashion.”

This is the first-ever solo project to come from any member of Metallica.

Portals track listing:
01. “Maiden and the Monster”
02. “The Jinn”
03. “High Plains Drifter”
04. “The Incantation”