Metallica drummer: New album is "more dynamic" than last few

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has spoken with Revolver magazine about the band's ninth studio album, which is expected out later this year and will be its first all-new effort since 2003's St. Anger. Ulrich told the magazine that the group's new material "is certainly a lot more dynamic and a lot more varied than the last couple of go-rounds," adding, "There's a lot of light and shade in these songs. There's heavy, fast, nutty stuff, and then there's some slowdowns and musical interludes." Ulrich also said that the album has more in common with some of the group's '80s releases than more recent offerings like St. Anger and Load.

Ulrich wouldn't agree that the yet-to-be-titled disc is a full-blown return to the past, saying, "I hate to be that specific, because six months from now people are gonna go, 'What the f***? Lars lied to us!' But it feels that way to me."

The drummer also revealed that producer Rick Rubin, working with the band for the first time, wanted Metallica to use classic efforts like Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets as "reference points" for its new songs.

There's no word yet on an exact release date for the new Metallica CD, although a summer release is likely. The band has booked a number of European tour dates for June and July.