In honor of Master Of Puppets being added to the National Recording Registry, the Library Of Congress conducted an interview with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich on May 27th. An excerpt is available below.

LOC: As you geared up to make the album Master of Puppets, did you have something specific that you wanted to do with this album that was different from, say, your previous release Ride the Lightning (1984)?

Ulrich: "I think, looking back at those records and years, they were all very instinctual. And we continued that--going on instinct. We were fortunate to have started out very young. We made our first record when I was 19; our second when I was 20. So I was just 21 when we made Master of Puppets. We were very impulsive. I don’t think we thought about it too much or tried to intellectualize it.

I think the biggest difference between our first album, Kill ‘Em All, and where we were when we made Master of Puppets is that we had added two additional writers and players to the band and they were very gifted. They brought to us a different kind of educational background and perspective. It greatly broadened us. We were allowed to cast our net wider, so to speak, creatively. We could look at everything a little differently and experiment more. We had, earlier, found a dynamic and balance, with the earlier record, that we continued with on Master of Puppets. I think, on Master of Puppets, we felt comfortable enough to work in different melodies, try acoustic, even try ballads. I think we embraced a far more dynamic range. That is what that album afforded us." 

Click here for the complete interview.

Metallica have just released a ton of hilarious behind-the-scenes footage detailing their new collaboration with Italian luxury menswear house Brioni and their new creative director Justin O’Shea.

Says the band: “We are beyond thrilled to have been invited to be the face of Italian luxury menswear powerhouse Brioni as they kick off their first creative campaign under the direction of newly appointed creative director, über cool style star Justin O’Shea. The black and white Queen ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ inspired photos were shot last month in San Francisco by photographer Zackery Michael. We’re sporting Bespoke Brioni suits and tuxedos as well as sunglasses from their new eyewear collection.”

According to BOF, the campaign will be distributed on social media channels and is set appear on billboards and kiosks in Paris and in The New York Times, reflecting a more focused initial print advertising buy. Wider print distribution and billboards in New York, Los Angeles and Moscow will follow in the autumn.

Check out more photos here.