Pro-Shot Footage Of METALLICA's Jams With THE SWORD, MACHINE HEAD From Cologne Available

Professionally filmed video footage (courtesy of Metallica.com) of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich performing the song "Freya" with Austin, Texas' THE SWORD and METALLICA frontman James Hetfield joining MACHINE HEAD on stage to play "Aesthetics of Hate" on Sunday, May 17 at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany can be viewed below.

RollingStone.com recently asked Lars Ulrich to name his favorite album of 2008. "We're fortunate to have this heavy-metal band from Austin out playing with us, and we've got them playing shows on our days off so that we can go see them," he responded. "I'm a product of British metal — IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, ANGEL WITCH — and THE SWORD sound like the definitive new wave of British heavy metal, which is interesting coming from four guys from Texas. The arrangements, the intros and outros, the middle eights and that type of stuff, it reminds me of DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH or JUDAS PRIEST. They're not really a young METALLICA, but that's because they're cooler than we were."

THE SWORD's latest album, "Gods of the Earth", was released on April 1, 2008 via Kemado Records. The follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed debut "Age of Winters" was recorded at Folkvang Studios in Austin, TX, and is said to be "more ambitious, more accomplished and simply bigger."

In a 2008 interview with Revolver magazine, Hetfield spoke highly of MACHINE HEAD, stating, "We just did some dates with them over in Europe. And man, I couldn't get enough. It was unbelievable . . . They're so heavy, and super-friendly. They get it, and they love it. The last album, 'The Blackening' — unbelievable. Unbelievable sound, power. It sounds like a band on fire. They have really turned it on again for me."

Speaking to Metal Hammer magazine, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich concurred, stating, "The staying power of that record ['The Blackening'] is unbelievable. I have a six-CD changer in my car and that has been in there for the better part of the last year. I listen to it and my kids listen to it — it's a great record. MACHINE HEAD have been around for a while now, but on this record, it seems like they found their strength again and made a mindfuck of a record. Even though it's a couple of years old now, they're out there playing with us every night and fucking bringing the house down. And on top of that, it's a pleasure to have them around. Even though Robb [Flynn, MACHINE HEAD frontman] does such a good job of giving this impression that he's an absolute lunatic, he's actually a really nice guy to be around. All of them, the whole gang, it's just a pleasure to have them around. But, like I told Robb the other day, maybe they should think about going and recording another record soon. [Laughs.] We all wanna hear it!"

Asked by Metal Hammer magazine what his thoughts were on James Hetfield saying how influential "The Blackening" was for METALLICA, Flynn said, "I saw some YouTube clips of some stuff he said in interviews, [and] my brain basically discombobulated! I could not believe it. I was so honored and amazed, dude. Maybe it's because I'm from the Bay Area, maybe it's because METALLICA has meant so much to me over my life. I mean, MACHINE HEAD was formed at a METALLICA show, at the Day On The Green [festival in San Francisco] on the 'black album' tour. So they've been so important to me [that] maybe I've wanted some kind of approval from them for some reason. I've wanted some kind of 'Yeah, you guys are cool' from them. To read the things James said about 'The Blackening', my jaw hit the fucking floor, dude. My jaw hit the fucking floor!"

For Flynn's thoughts on Hetfield's jam sessions with MACHINE HEAD in Cologne and one day earlier in Oberhausen, read BLABBERMOUTH.NET's exclusive interview with Robb at this location.