Metallica offer album update

Bay Area "big four" metal icons Metallica have provided an update on the progress of their upcoming studio album.

Speaking with prominent publication Rolling Stone, drummer Lars Ulrich is forthright when observing work on writing the full-length is well underway.

"We've got lots of songs, and we're honing them and tweaking them. It's pretty close," the musician states.

A follow-up to 2008's 'Death Magnetic', the band has roughly 20 songs prepared.

"The creative elements are getting close to being done. Just remember, this is still 'Metallica time.' When I say we're close to being done, it means the next month or so. There's a lot of stuff going on as life continues with family and personal events.... But we are certainly down there [writing] pretty much every day," Ulrich expands.

You can read the full interview here.

Metallica's forthcoming record was named one of Killyourstereo.com's most anticipated metal albums of 2015.