Metallica have promised that the setlist on their forthcoming US tour will favour songs from their new album 'Death Magnetic'.

Drummer Lars Ulrich said that the band would ignore their traditionally “conservative” starts and “hit the ground running” with a host of songs from the album.

“We're probably gonna learn all of them and play, I hope, at least five a night and probably rotate 'em so we get a lot of new songs in. That's one thing I'm definite about,” he told Billboard.

To date, 'Death Magnetic' has topped the charts in 25 countries across the world since it was released in September.

Ulrich said he had found fans' response to the record an “overwhelming, positive thing”.

"You couldn't have told me a month ago or six months ago that we would have a record that would be this well-received,” he said.

“It seems like it's so universal this time and it's all over the world and everybody's so into it on so many different levels -- the fans, press, the peers ... everybody.

"I'm a little overwhelmed, humbled ... and certainly appreciative. When you put out a record twice a decade, which is kind of what we find ourselves doing these days, you bask in it a little bit."

(by Jason Gregory)