Kirk Hammett, the 62-year-old thrash metal icon and guitarist of Metallica, has been keeping busy with various projects. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, he revealed that he is working on his first solo album and stockpiling riffs for Metallica’s next full-length outing.
Hammett mentioned that he has written over 767 new riffs for the next Metallica album, but it may take another year to start working on the follow-up to “72 Seasons”. The band still has a significant number of touring commitments ahead, with dates scheduled in North America and internationally.
In addition to his work with Metallica, Hammett has been actively creating music for his solo project. He recently released an EP called “Portals” in 2022, which featured instrumental tracks. His upcoming solo album is expected to include vocals, as he wants the songs to “scream” for singing.
Hammett also shared his thoughts on Metallica revisiting their 1990s reinvention era. He expressed interest in exploring this direction again, citing the band’s ability to reconnect with fans who loved that era. The interview also touched on Hammett’s personal connection to the music of bands like Led Zeppelin and his fascination with ancient Greek texts.
With Metallica’s touring schedule still ongoing, fans can look forward to hearing from Hammett through his solo project and possibly seeing some new material from the band in the future.
Source: https://www.theprp.com/2025/03/23/news/kirk-hammett-has-767-riffs-written-for-new-metallica-and-is-also-working-on-his-debut-solo-album