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[Kaladin]

Remember the awesome 9 + minute Mercyful Fate medley Metallica did a while back?

No?

Let me refresh your memory.

Got it?

Well, they have done it again. This time with a medley of tracks called "Ronnie Rising Medley" to be featured on a Dio Tribute album which is out April 1st.

The songs covered:

'Stargazer'
'Tarot Woman'
'Kill the King'
'A Light in the Black'

The songs Metallica chose cull from the period in Dio's career that especially meant a lot to drummer Lars Ulrich, who saw the group multiple times while growing up in Copenhagen, Denmark. "Ronnie's music, and what he was, was part of my life," Ulrich tells Rolling Stone.

"[Dio's] music is so much a part of what's in Metallica's DNA, the harder, edgier, blues-based hard rock from the Seventies," he says. "It was fairly effortless to put this together, because it's something that we were all reared on. I don't recall sitting there in a band meeting or anything deciding what to play. Somebody starts playing 'Stargazer' – which is sort of just like something that's in our arsenal to jam – and then that whole period there, 'Tarot Woman,' 'Kill the King,' 'A Light in the Black ' – that's just really effortless to jump into."

The process of putting together a medley like "Ronnie Rising" is second nature for the band, Ulrich says, because it's so close to how Metallica operate with their own music, something they did recently with their new song "Lords of Summer." "We love doing that kind of stuff – starts and stops, dynamics and all," he says. "We figured a couple, three or four go around with that early Rainbow train would suit us particularly well."

As with Metallica's many cover recordings over the years, Ulrich says the group's goal was not so much to copy Dio's recordings as to show its respect. It's a feeling that comes through even when Ulrich talks about the recording now. "You just try and do your own thing, respectfully, in the shadow of these legends," the drummer says. "It becomes more of an homage and respect thing rather than trying to copy the song – it's not even about outdoing them."

Listen to the new track here.

1. Neon Knights Anthrax (Previously unreleased)
2. The Last In Line Tenacious D (Previously unreleased)
3. The Mob Rules Adrenaline Mob
4. Rainbow In The Dark Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher (Previously unreleased)
5. Straight Through The Heart Halestorm (Previously unreleased)
6. Starstruck Motörhead with Biff Byford (Previously unreleased)
7. The Temple Of The King Scorpions (Previously unreleased)
8. Egypt (The Chains Are On) Doro
9. Holy Diver Killswitch Engage
10. Catch The Rainbow Glenn Hughes, Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, Rudy Sarzo, Scott Warren (Previously unreleased)
11. I Oni Logan, Jimmy Bain, Rowan Robertson, Brian Tichy (Previously unreleased)
12. Man On The Silver Mountain Rob Halford, Vinny Appice, Doug Aldrich, Jeff Pilson, Scott Warren (Previously unreleased)
13. Ronnie Rising Medley (Featuring A Light In The Black, Tarot Woman, Stargazer, Kill The King) Metallica (Previously unreleased)
14. This Is Your Life Dio

 

[Accoun]

"Kill The King" kicked major ass. Others weren't bad either.

 

[SuomiDude]

Damn great for sure. The first and second song transition was kinda bad, like the song ended and a new one started, but other than that it was great. Everyone plays great and James sounds good. I hope the new album would sound like this at least, and hopefully Metallica takes some inspiration from these songs, especially Kill the King. Suits their style a lot.

 

[Hydranockz]

That was a pretty sweet track. The rest of the album seems rather interesting.

 

[Dicer]

Here is Anthrax doing their cover live

 

[Edwardo]

Awesome.

I've always loved Killswitch Engage's cover of Holy Diver too.

 

[Calm Killer]

New Metallica? Day just made BETTER!!!!

 

[Shadow2222]

Pretty cool stuff!

Glad to see Mike Portnoy make it on there with Adrenaline Mob. I wish it would have been Dream Theater's Stargazer cover though: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EpxOVXW1a8

 

[Mister_Bubbles]

2. The Last In Line Tenacious D (Previously unreleased)

Looking forward to hearing this

 

[Dicer]

Looking forward to hearing this

I bet this will be fucking badass

 

[teruterubozu]

"Kill The King" kicked major ass. Others weren't bad either.

That was a good cover, but man, Lars is getting really sloppy.

 

[The perfect Dark]

I have a good feeling about their next album. I really like Lords of Summer and this medley is also pretty good.

 

[Kaladin]

Just an FYI, their covers are typically better than their own output.

 

[Kaladin]

This artwork :

Is bad ass.

 

[metsallica]

I've had this preordered since it was announced! Now do I wait a week or listen now...

 

[metsallica]

So I couldn't resist, and holy crap is this fantastic.WHERE THE DIO FANS AT?

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Wasn't this CD announced right after Dio died? How has it taken this long?

 

[HammerOfThor]

I dig it. Although I do not like the first transition. Kill the King was awesome and I'd love just a straight cover of that.

I'll maintain my opinion that Metallica does the best covers.

Also, this isn't as brickwalled as DM stuff but its still more than it should be.

Wasn't this CD announced right after Dio died? How has it taken this long?

YES! I wondered the same thing. Luckily it's finally coming out.

 

[HammerOfThor]

Also for those wondering where Part Uno is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiOtev3rEKI

 

[Deadstar]

So I couldn't resist, and holy crap is this fantastic.WHERE THE DIO FANS AT?

I'm here man. This sounds awesome!

 

[fabricated backlash]

Ok this shit is freaking awesome. I'd love a new Garage Inc. but for now this will have to do.

 

[Kaladin]

Finally got around to a full uninterrupted listen....damn you work.

Yep, this is pretty fucking awesome. They could have done a better transition between the first couple of tracks other than starting a new song, but it's still the best Metallica we can hope for now.

 

[Perfect Cha0s]

I hope the mixing in this track is what we can expect from the new album.

 

[HammerOfThor]

You know, I'd just like to take this moment to point out that if you listen to the soundboards from Metallica's last few shows, Lars is actually using double bass again.

Sure, its not as amazing as other metal drummers, but its leagues better than what he was doing.

 

[Miss.Selfdestruct]

Just an FYI, their covers are typically better than their own output.

This is a fact, haha.

I really dig this Dio medley and agree the transitions could've been better. ....This is the best I've heard from them since Garage Days, Inc., haha.

 

[Himynameischris]

That was awesome

 

[Cetra]

Man they sound amazing on this track. Here's hoping the new record is produced in a similar fashion.

 

[ThatGuyAgain]

I'm a fan of old-school Metallica and started losing interest when they released the Black album. Wow, that was great though. I should give Garage Inc a listen.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

If anyone is interested, Corey Taylor's track from the CD is streaming now.

Rainbow in the Dark

Kind of uninspired, but not bad. Impressed with his singing, in that I didn't know he actually could.

 

[agrajag]

If anyone is interested, Corey Taylor's track from the CD is streaming now.

Rainbow in the Dark

Kind of uninspired, but not bad. Impressed with his singing, in that I didn't know he actually could.

Who's the band for this, who's the guitar player? Some studio guys, or anyone known?

 

[Maddocks]

If anyone is interested, Corey Taylor's track from the CD is streaming now.

Rainbow in the Dark

Kind of uninspired, but not bad. Impressed with his singing, in that I didn't know he actually could.

Corey could always sing, he always had great pipes, but years of yelling and not really giving a damn and about taking care of his voice ruined it. Early Corey was great though. The problem was he took the Axle Rose route and would warm up his voice by smoking and drinking.

 

[agrajag]

he sounds a little bit like Jeff Scott Soto in this

 

[Kaladin]

Who's the band for this, who's the guitar player? Some studio guys, or anyone known?

It's a studio band:

Corey Taylor, Roy Mayorga, Satchel, Christian Martucci, Jason Christopher