Metallica have revealed that they are finishing their new record in six weeks with a view to release it in September.

The rock legends have been holed up in the studio for much of the past year with long-term cohort Bob Rock and the legendary Rick Rubin. Now they have the finish line in their sights for the follow-up to 2003’s ‘St Anger.’

Drummer Lars Ulrich appeared on Bruce Dickinson’s BBC6music radio show at the weekend to reveal all. He said: "We're just finishing up a record, we've got six weeks left and it should be out in September, that's the idea right now."

He added: "I like what I've heard so far. I'm not one of the great sellers of 'the new record's the best thing we've ever done and it shits all over the last record and it's way heavier'. I'm not a great believer in all that horseshit."

"I like it and I'm one of Metallica's harshest critics. So far it feels pretty good but there's still plenty of time to fuck it up, so let's see what happens."

(by Scott Colothan)