Metallica’s lead guitarist Kirk Hammett discussed his listening habits and guitar work in a recent interview with Louder Sound.
Hammett shared insights about his relationship with the band’s music and reflected on his past performances while discussing his finest moments as a guitarist in Metallica.
‘It’s weird, because my opinion of that changes all the time. I don’t sit around listening to Metallica, so sometimes something comes on and I’m like, “I haven’t heard this in fucking five years! I forgot about that sound,”‘ Hammett said.
The guitarist described the band’s forward-thinking approach to their work. He also highlighted The Black Album as an exceptional period in his career.
‘I don’t look in the rear-view mirror too often. The whole band is like that – we just move on. What’s the next cool thing we can do? It’s just how we are,’ he continued. ‘But I will say, there was a period where I thought my playing was fucking spot on, and that was The Black Album. Those solos wrote themselves! Almost all of them worked out instantly.’
Hammett then reflected on the challenging moments during The Black Album’s recording process.
‘There were only a few things I wasn’t prepared for, and that was The Unforgiven solo, which is pretty well documented. And the solo for My Friend Of Misery,’ he explained. ‘But because the solo of The Unforgiven ended up being so spontaneous, that made me want to do them all like that from that point on.’
The Black Album era became a significant turning point for both Hammett’s guitar work and the band’s evolution.
Loudwire reported that The Black Album marked a crucial transition period for Metallica. The album helped the band expand beyond their traditional heavy metal fanbase and reach a broader audience.
Hammett’s equipment choices played a key role in shaping the album’s distinctive sound. Boost Guitar Pedals documented his use of an ESP S-type guitar equipped with EMG pickups during the recording sessions.
The album showcased the band’s exploration of emotional vulnerability in their music. The Independent highlighted songs like ‘Nothing Else Matters’ as examples of the band’s softer side. Hammett particularly praised James Hetfield’s courage in writing more sensitive lyrics.
This period of experimentation and growth shaped Hammett’s future approach to guitar playing. His contributions to the band ultimately led to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Metallica in 2009.
