Metallica’s Kirk Hammet Release Cinematic New Song “High Plains Drifter”

Metallica’s Kirk Hammet Release Cinematic New Song “High Plains Drifter” | Society Of Rock Videos

onstage during the 56th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has released the first single “High Plains Drifter,” taken on his upcoming debut solo EP, Portals.

It was back in February, when Hammett announced his first-ever solo EP release. Now, he gives us a clue on what to expect on the whole record by releasing the cinematic instrumental track that captures his incredible guitar skills.

Conductor Edwin Outwater, Queens of the Stone Age drummer Jon Theodore and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic also contributed to the song.

“High Plains Drifter” was inspired by Clint Eastwood’s 1973 Western film of the same name. Hammett explained in a statement:

“[The song] was not meant to be specifically music for that film, but it was once it was written, I immediately thought it conveyed the same sentiment as the film, so the piece was christened accordingly. The music for ‘High Plains Drifter’ initially came from a flamenco piece I had written. It was a two-and-a-half-minute piece, and I really liked it, but it was one of those riffs that would be hard to integrate into Metallica.

“I knew I wanted to do something with it, even though it came out spontaneously,” Hammett continued. “I had been sitting outside messing around with a flamenco acoustic guitar I’d just bought, and it flowed out in the moment. I was determined it would have a life. It would have its moment.”

Portals will be released on April 23 and will be available digitally, on CD and as an exclusive Record Store Day ocean-blue vinyl edition. Hammett produced the EP and mixed it with longtime Metallica producer Bob Rock, who worked with the band from 1991’s Black Album through 2003’s St. Anger.

Hammett added:

“This music was created with what I describe as an Audio-Cinematic approach.

“They’re soundtracks to the movies in your mind.”

Listen to High Plains Drifter below.

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