The cover art for the collaborative project between Lou Reed and Metallica. Not entirely sure of what to expect from this record, but definitely looking forward to it as long as it’s nothing like when Jimmy Page and Puff Dadddy collaborated.

Originally featured in Guitar World’s March 2011 issue, the Shadows Rising poster is a Metallica-inspired image created by John Baizley of Baroness. Each 18-by-24-inch print was created using a French whitewash paper and a seven-color silkscreen press. This edition is limited to just 250 prints, each of which is numbered and signed by the Baizley.

Purchase the poster for $49.99 at Guitar World’s site.

The excellent print job by Ben Lafond for Burlesque of North America.

A new independent record store initiative dubbed Metal Club has launched and will release exclusive vinyl to participating stores. So far releases include Metallica, Pantera, Queens of the Stone Age, The Damned Things and this rad hexagonal picture disc from The Sword (pictured above).

The Music Monitor Network, largest of the independent record store coalitions with stores in both the US and Canada –is proud to announce the launch of Metal Club. Metal Club is a group of record stores throughout the US and Canada that work to connect the vibrant metal community with their local record store. Fans will be able to visit their local Metal Club store for special metal promotional pieces, exciting in-store events, and a series of exclusive Metal Club releases.

Visist MyMetalClub.com for updates and more info.

The Big Four’s European tour is coming to theaters worldwide. Not sure how watching Metallica and Slayer in a movie theater will compare in person besides that either way you will be sitting near smelly dudes drinking heavily. Tickets are $20 and most of each bands set will be shown.

Here’s a listing of the screenings happening in the New York City / New Jersey Area

A special issue of Revolver has just landed in my mail box that features the art of hard rock and heavy metal. The magazine goes through the concept behind classic album cover art with the band and artists. Bands included are Deftones, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Converge, Guns and Roses, Cattle Decapitation, Mastodon, Napalm Death and more. Artist interviews include Wes Benscoter, Paul Romano, Arik Roper, Ed Repka and more.

Another example of someone having way too much time on their hands…that results in making the internet a better place for all.

Usually t-shirts with funny slogans make me cringe and immediately judge a persons level of intelligence, but Crispy Tee’s have put together some good ones. Namely the ones I have featured above for Metallica and The Misfits. You can buy these over at CrispyTees.com.

Some more detail of the shirts after the jump.

Now we already saw 3 Inches of Blood diving into the world of shoes last month. Plus Vans has been doing the band branded shoes for a while including Bad Brains, Slayer, Iron Maiden etc. Now the legendary AC/DC and Metallica have decided you need to wear their logo on your feet. The Metallica Chuck Taylor high tops feature Ride The Lightning imagery on black and white.

AC/DC’s shoes featuring imaging of the band from Highway To Hell on the black version of the shoe and the red version features Angus Young and the phrase “Lock Up Your Daughters”. Trust me, any guy wearing AC/DC shoes should probably not be near any women. Look out for the shoes in store this June. Check out images of the AC/DC kicks after the jump.

(via High Snobiety).

Metallica are still the reigning kings of metal. They are always amazing live and their Death Magnetic tour was no different. Check out pictures below, unfortunately the photo pit closed before the pyro started!

Machinehead served as direct support for Metallica playing on the massive in the round style stage. Check out some photos below. I overheard a guy tell a security guard, that you “gotta respect Metallica, but Machinehead is fucking sick bro!”

The Sword held their own opening up for the might Metallica at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Unfortunately, I only caught their last song. These photos are from the first of two Metallica shows in New Jersey that weekend.