METALLICA's official website reports:

"Kirk and Lani Hammett gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Vincenzo Kainalu on June 28th. Mom and son are doing great. (Angel and Dad are coping)."

As previously reported, and according to Fragland.net, Microsoft has announced that METALLICA will join the Guitar Hero series, and how! Their now album Death Magnetic will be completely downloadable for Guitar Hero III and Guitar Hero: World Tour. On top of that this will only be possible for the Xbox360 version.

Metallica have posted the following statement at their official website:

"Death Magnetic," the entire album, available for Guitar Hero too! It's a first in both music and gaming . . . the same day that "Death Magnetic" hits the streets, you'll be able to download every song from the album for Guitar Hero III! We are so psyched that we'll be the first out of the gate with this simultaneous release . . . who knows, maybe a few years from now this will be the norm when your favorite band's new record comes out.

And for those of you who are anxiously awaiting the next Guitar Hero, World Tour, we're ready for that too . . . you will be able to experience Death Magnetic for drums, vocals, and guitar when that game emerges this fall.

Keep watching here for the where, when, and how stuff..."

As previously reported, the following Death Magnetic packages will be available in North America:

Digital Death Magnetic:

Digital Death Magnetic first - at 320 KBIT/S delivered at midnight on street date

Downloads of two entire shows from this summer

Almost 2 hrs of additional exclusive fly on the wall footage

250 additional exclusive photos

Ringtones of riffs from the new album

Exclusive Contests: Airfare, hotel, tickets and meet + greet passes for Ozzfest, Reading UK and special listening party for the new album at Band HQ!

$10 off merch or Fan Club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com

Death Magnetic CD + Digital Death Magnetic:

The Death Magnetic CD with free shipping

Digital Death Magnetic first - at 320 KBIT/S delivered at midnight on street date

Downloads of two entire shows from this summer

Almost 2 hrs of additional exclusive fly on the wall footage

250 additional exclusive photos

Ringtones of riffs from the new album

Exclusive Contests: Airfare, hotel, tickets and meet + greet passes for Ozzfest, Reading UK and special listening party for the new album at Band HQ!

$10 off merch or Fan Club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com

5LP + Lithograph + Death Magnetic CD + Digital Death Magnetic

5 LP 180 gram box with 5 individual sleeves

Mission: Metallica Lithograph

The Death Magnetic CD

FREE shipping on all!!

The Death Magnetic CD with free shipping

Digital Death Magnetic first - at 320 KBIT/S delivered at midnight on street date

Downloads of two entire shows from this summer

Almost 2 hrs of additional exclusive fly on the wall footage

250 additional exclusive photos

Ringtones of riffs from the new album

Exclusive Contests: Airfare, hotel, tickets and meet + greet passes for Ozzfest, Reading UK and special listening party for the new album at Band HQ!

$10 off merch or Fan Club membership at Metallica.com or MetClub.com

More details can be found here.

Death Magnetic is "a stunning, overdue return to the shock and rush of the band's speed-metal monuments, 1984's Ride The Lightning and 1986's Master Of Puppets," according to Rolling Stone.

According to BW&BK; sources, the album will be preceded by an eight-minute single which is being described as "a tour de force that features some of their fastest playing ever." The record is being produced by Rick Rubin (SLAYER, RED HOT CHILI PEPERS) and mixed by Greg Fidelman.

Listen to Death Magnetic samples below: