The sound of beer cans being crushed on foreheads will ring out like gunfire in September as the new Metallica album drops. Either that or the whine of kids telling their parents to get off the computer. Or is it the other way round? I forget.

Yes Metallica are doing the whole "midnight download" thing for their new album to be titled, Death Magnetic. But rather than going with the "pay what you like" scenario that Radiohead utilised so successfully last year, the band have set up a "mission" page explaining the myriad ways one can "experience" buying the record.

So there are four options for fans to experience. Number one is you don’t pay anything and you receive recording footage, photos and the ability to pre-order the new album. All before the album is completed. Apparently. Experience 2 is $24.95 (US) and gets you the album download at midnight on street date, two live shows to download, lots of photos and "ringtones of riffs from the new album" – !! So to this point, nothing much is coming at you that isn’t – or won’t be – available freely online either now or an hour or so after those pesky IT eggheads get their torrents on anyway. [read more @ The Vine]

PS
DO you remember our post about the guy who will not shave his beard until Metallica comes out with a new album? I think he can start looking for his shaver.