"Hardwired... to Self-Destruct" is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on November 18, 2016, through the band's own record label, Blackened Recordings. The album is a double album and marked Metallica's first studio release in eight years, following Death Magnetic (2008). This extended gap was the longest between studio albums in the band's career. Produced by Greg Fidelman, who also worked on Death Magnetic, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 291,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, and topping charts in 57 countries. The album is Metallica's sixth consecutive studio album to debut at number one, setting a rare record in the history of the Billboard 200.
The band began working on new material in 2011, with bassist Robert Trujillo confirming that they were writing new songs. Metallica had initially worked with producer Rick Rubin, but by 2013, Lars Ulrich suggested that their new material would sound like a continuation of Death Magnetic. Over the following years, the band slowly moved towards recording, with a focus on writing and testing out new material. In March 2014, the band premiered a new song called "Lords of Summer" during their "Metallica by Request" tour, and by 2015, Ulrich confirmed that twenty songs had been written for the album. Recording sessions began in earnest in 2016, with Fidelman taking on production duties, marking the first time the band had worked with him as the lead producer.
The album's lyrical content is dominated by themes of nihilism, pessimism, and self-destruction. The title, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, reflects this with a reference to the inevitability of a destructive path, a phrase that James Hetfield had encountered and felt resonated with the band's message. The album includes songs that explore diverse topics, such as the dangers of fame on "Moth Into Flame," cosmicism on "Dream No More," and tributes to Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister on "Murder One." The album also touches on darker themes like drug addiction and the music industry, with songs like "Hardwired" and "Moth Into Flame" addressing these topics. Hardwired... to Self-Destruct marks the first Metallica album in which guitarist Kirk Hammett did not contribute songwriting, due to the loss of a phone containing ideas he had accumulated for the record. Trujillo, however, contributed the intro to "ManUNkind," a tribute to former bassist Cliff Burton.
In August 2016, Metallica announced the album's release date and revealed its 12 tracks. The first single, "Hardwired," was released the same day, and those who pre-ordered the album received an instant download of the song. The album artwork, created by Herring & Herring, and the music video for "Hardwired" were also unveiled. Following this, the band released additional singles, including "Moth Into Flame" in September 2016 and "Atlas, Rise!" in October 2016, each accompanied by a music video. Metallica announced plans to create music videos for all twelve tracks, utilizing YouTube as a platform. On November 16, 2016, the music videos for all remaining tracks were released, and the album began appearing on sale in some locations prior to its official November 18 release date. The album's promotional efforts were extensive, with the band releasing music videos, live performances, and other content to build anticipation.
Hardwired... to Self-Destruct received positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised its return to a thrash-heavy sound reminiscent of earlier Metallica albums, while others appreciated its introspective and mature themes. The album's success solidified Metallica's ongoing relevance in the heavy metal world, despite the long gap between releases.
