Metallica's 'S&M2' locked in chart battle for UK number one
It's on course to be their fourth number one album
Metallica are locked in a chart battle to secure their fourth UK number one album with ‘S&M2’.
The metal legends’ orchestral live album, which was recorded over two nights at The Chase Center last autumn alongside the San Francisco Symphony, is currently at number one at the midweek stage according to Official Charts Company figures.
If they hold strong, Metallica will score their fourth number one album following in the footsteps of ‘Death Magnetic’ (2008), ‘Load’ (1996) and ‘Metallica’ (1991).
However, Metallica are only 2,000 sales ahead of Gregory Porter’s ‘All Rise’ in second spot and there are only 3,000 sales separating the entire Top 5.
Last Friday (28th August) to mark the release day of ‘S&M2’, Metallica shared their performance of ‘No Leaf Clover’ from ‘S&M2’. Alongside “- Human", ‘No Leaf Clover’ was one of two original compositions to appear on the first ‘S&M’ album back in 1999.
Watch Metallica perform 'No Leaf Clover':
Over the weekend, Metallica fans watched a full concert performance at drive-in venues across the US and Canada. The show was recorded three weeks ago at a secret location.
Metallica frontman James Hetfield recently revealed to Sirius XM that he’d written “tons” of new material during lockdown.
Asked what he’s been up over the past six months, Papa Het said: “The obvious thing is, ‘Well, we’re not on the road. Start writing.’
“So (I’ve written) tons of material. And I’m sure there’s lots of musicians out there that are just, like, ‘Okay, what can I do? I’m gonna write and just get into that,’ which I love doing.”
Bassist Robert Trujillo said told The Vinyl Guide in June Metallica are "excited about cultivating new ideas" for the follow-up to November 2016’s ‘Hardwired... to Self-Destruct’.
He added: “What we've started doing is basically just really concentrating on our home studios and being creative from our homes and navigating through ideas and building on new ideas. And that's where we're at right now."
Metallica live in Manchester and London in 2019:
Metallica rock Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica's fiery new pyro production at Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica rock Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica fans at Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica rock Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica's James Hetfield tells the Manchester Etihad Stadium crowd how much he loves them.
Metallica rock Manchester Etihad Stadium
The view from the crowd at Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica rock Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica's Kirk Hammett at Manchester Etihad Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica's James Hetfield stands in front of their towering stage setup at London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica's Kirk Hammett at London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
YEAH! Metallica's James Hetfield at London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica's Lars Ulrich at London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
Robert Trujillo at London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica's James Hetfield looks out to the back of the crowd at London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
Oosh! Metallica's James Hetfield at London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica rock London Twickenham Stadium
Metallica's Kirk Hammett at London Twickenham Stadium