METALLICA's 'No Life 'Til Leather' Cassette To Be Re-Released On 'Record Store Day'

METALLICA will celebrate this year's "Record Store Day" with the release of an exact duplication of the band's 1982 demo tape "No Life 'Til Leather" as a limited-edition cassette on April 18. The artwork was made from METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich's own copy and will feature his handwriting.

Says METALLICA in a statement: "In 1982 we recorded seven songs that became our initial calling card known as 'No Life 'Til Leather', and it led us to our first record deal. Tthe rest, as you some of you may know, is history!

"On Record Store Day, April 18th that demo tape will be available as a limited-edition cassette (yes, cassette!!) at your favorite neighborhood record store and Metallica.com.

"We've been digging through the archives, gone to the original source material and re-mastered it to maximize the sound potential for 2015 without altering the original mixes in any way.

"Recorded with the first line-up of the band that appeared live as METALLICA, 'No Life 'Til Leather' has never been commercially available until now. Look for expanded versions coming on CD, vinyl and a collector's set sometime this summer.

"We hope you enjoy this little walk down memory lane with us and that you will continue to join us in supporting independent record stores around the world. Visit RecordStoreDay.com for a list of independent retail stores taking part in Record Store Day."

"No Life 'Til Leather" was recorded on July 6, 1982 at Chateau East Studio, Tustin, California and it features the following tracks:

01. Hit The Lights
02. The Mechanix
03. Motorbreath
04. Seek & Destroy
05. Metal Militia
06. Jump In The Fire
07. Phantom Lord

"No Life 'Til Leather" recording lineup:

James Hetfield - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Lars Ulrich - drums
Dave Mustaine - lead guitar
Ron McGovney - bass

Speaking to RollingStone.com about "No Life 'Til Leather", Ulrich said: "It's time for us to put out some next-level reissues and do the song and dance of the catalog that everyone else has done; the U2s and the LED ZEPPELINs and the OASISes. Instead of starting with 'Kill 'Em All' in 1983, we figured we'd go back another two years to when the band was formed in 1981."

He continued: "This is the second demo that we made and circulated. I sat in my bedroom and wrote on the J cards and went to the post office and sent it around to all the tape collectors around the world. Now, 20, 30 years later, it has become synonymous with the pre-'Kill 'Em All' era."

METALLICA is currently working on material for its tenth studio album for a tentative late 2015/early 2016 release. The new CD will follow up 2008's "Death Magnetic".

METALLICA has spent a lot of time outside the studio in 2014, with activities that included a string of European all-request shows last summer, being guests of honor at a film festival, and playing a week-long residency on "The Late Show With Craig Ferguson".