ROBERT TRUJILLO Admits New METALLICA Album Got 'Sidetracked'

According to The Pulse Of Radio, METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo admitted in a new interview with Classic Rock that work on the band's next album — its first official release since 2008's "Death Magnetic" — has been sidetracked in recent months by touring and by preparing the feature film "Metallica Through The Never" for release. Trujillo told the magazine, "Before all the film stuff, we were jamming these ideas and having a lot of fun. But we got sidetracked. In 2014 it'll be all about getting new music — without any interruptions, hopefully."

Trujillo told The Pulse Of Radio that the band wants to get back on track with its 10th studio album as soon as it can. "Obviously for next year, our priority has to be making a new record," he said. "We've been detoured from that through the course of the year. We had about six weeks or so where we were really focusing on a new album and writing and then, you know, somehow we ended up hitting the road. And then at the same time we've got to promote this film. We get sidetracked by great things — it's a blessing and a curse."

Trujillo admitted to Classic Rock that the band is "sitting on a stockpile of riffs" but has yet to complete any songs.

He added about the next album's direction, "It feels like 'Death Magnetic' was the launch pad — it's the introduction to what we have now . . . that's one thing I'm excited about: there's the thrash element back in the mix. It's kind of been missing in the past."

Trujillo said that fans will "get their album in the next year or so."

"Metallica Through The Never" is out in IMAX 3D theaters on September 27, with the film expanding around the country on October 4.

The film combines a full-blown METALLICA concert with a storyline in which a roadie played by Dane DeHaan must fight his way through post-apocalyptic city streets on a mission for the band.