Metallica have announced that they have recorded a full-length collaborative album with none other than singer-songwriter-guitarist-former Velvet Underground member-icon Lou Reed. According to a post on their website, the 10-song set doesn't have a release date yet, so fans will have to wait a little longer to hear what a Metallica-Lou Reed album actually sounds like.

You may remember that guitarist Kirk Hammett had hinted that the band was working on a project that's "not really 100 percent a Metallica record." That statement certainly got tongues wagging as web chatter and speculation escalated. The band even joked that the guitarist was punished for his verbal slip with a little push-up penance.

Metallica have history with Reed, having performed with him at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Madison Square Garden in October of 2009. The seed of the idea of making an album together was born that night, and now it's finally come to fruition.

Reed has recently been spotted in and around Metallica's Northern California digs, which the band confirmed in their post. "Some of you astute Bay Area residents may have picked up news of recent Lou Reed sightings in the greater San Francisco area and we have indeed been working at our home studio at HQ on and off over the last few months," the band wrote. "In what would be lightning speed for a Metallica-related project, we recorded 10 songs during this time and while at this moment we're not exactly sure when you'll hear it, we're beyond excited to share with you that the recording sessions wrapped up last week."

The band also explained why Reed was the perfect choice for a collaboration. According to Metallica's post, Reed is "a true innovator and easily one of the most influential songwriters, musicians, and performers in rock music history. Lou's work with the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist has such an enduring quality that he has long been revered and respected by us and many of our peers. We can't wait for you to listen to the finished record, so as we like to hear ourselves say around here, keep watching this spot for updates . . . we'll be back with more details as they come together."

You own us, Metallica. We are dying to hear more.

Watch the video for 'All Nightmare Long'


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