Metallica have teamed up with Vans for a range of new shoes to mark the 30th anniversary reissue of the band’s self-titled 1991 LP, which is also referred to as The Black Album.
The collection features two limited-edition designs of Vans’ Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On footwear with both featuring artwork designed by Metallica artist Pushead, who has provided imagery for the band’s merchandise and stage sets since 1986.
The styles also include a graphic blue shatter pattern, silver Metallica branding and the band’s name printed on the heel stay. You can view the collection and purchase them starting at 5am BST this Sunday (July 25).
The announcement comes alongside a number of significant announcements from the band regarding The Black Album. On September 10, the band will be releasing a remastered deluxe edition of the project, in addition to The Metallica Blacklist, which features over 50 covers from artists like St. Vincent, Miley Cyrus, Jason Isbell, J Balvin, and more. Profits from the tribute record will be split between charities of the artist’s choice and Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation.
Remastered for ultimate sound quality, The Black Album deluxe edition will be available in multiple configurations including 180 gram Double Vinyl LP, Standard CD and 3 CD Expanded Edition, digital, and Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set (containing the album remastered on 180G 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs (containing rough mixes, demos, interviews, live shows), 6 DVDs (containing outtakes, behind the scenes, official videos, live shows), a 120-page hardcover book, four tour laminates, three lithos, three guitar picks, a Metallica lanyard, a folder with lyric sheets, and a download card).
The Black Album is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed records of all time. Its 1991 release not only gave Metallica its first No.1 album in no fewer than 10 countries, including a 4-week run at No.1 in the U.S., its unrelenting series of singles — “Enter Sandman”, “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters”, “Wherever I May Roam”, and “Sad But True” — fueled the band’s rise to stadium headlining, radio, and MTV dominating household name status.