Kirk Hammett has released the first preview to his upcoming debut solo instrumental EP, Portals, which comes out on April 23.
Embedded below is “High Plains Drifter” which serves as the EP’s opening track. Per a press release, “‘High Plains Drifter’ shares a unique inspirational relationship with the 1973 cinematic classic of the same name.”
Hammett said in a statement on the tune, “[‘High Plains Drifter’] was not meant to be specifically music for that film, but it was once it was written, I immediately thought it conveyed the same sentiment as the film, so the piece was christened accordingly. The music for ‘High Plains Drifter’ initially came from a Flamenco piece I had written. It was a two-and-a-half-minute piece, and I really liked it, but it was one of those riffs that would be hard to integrate into Metallica.”
Hammett continued, “I knew I wanted to do something with it, even though it came out spontaneously. I had been sitting outside messing around with a Flamenco acoustic guitar I’d just bought, and it flowed out in the moment. I was determined it would have a life. It would have its moment.”
“High Plains Drifter” is available for streaming/download here. In addition to it being available digitally and as a CD, Portals will also be available on Record Store Day as an exclusive on “Ocean Blue” vinyl.