In a conversation with SiriusXM, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich talked about the new version of their song ‘Blackened‘ and how the band’s frontman James Hetfield astonished his bandmates with an unexpected project.

The thrash metal legend Metallica released one of their most famous songs, ‘Blackened,’ within the 1988 album ‘…And Justice for All.’ It was the first album released after the death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton in 1986.

During the challenging days of self-quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Metallica members kept in touch with their fans around the world via different platforms. They even released a new version of ‘Blackened’ recorded separately by the band members at the studios in their homes.

Recently, Lars Ulrich joined an interview for SiriusXM and answered questions about how they decided to make a quarantine rendition of ‘Blackened.’ Apparently, the legendary lead singer of Metallica, James Hetfield, was actually the one who started working on the project without letting others know.

As Ulrich mentioned in the interview, they didn’t have any idea what James had done until he sent them the recording. He stated that this was the reason why it was so fun and exciting for all of them to be a part of the project. Lars also added this was a great gift that everyone needed considering the troubling times we had to live through.

Here’s how Lars Ulrich described what he felt when he first heard the recording James Hetfield sent to him:

“It was super fun because James didn’t tell any of us what he had done. So, I was second. I pressed Play and – ‘What am I gonna hear now?’ – and that was super fun, and so unlike our normal work process.

I just played the first thing that came into my mind, and I had one of my kids film. OK, film what you’re doing on the iPhone, play, and then off to Rob.

Greg was the switchboard operator down in LA, kind of making it all happen on the practical side. It just came together so organically, and it was such a fun thing and such a gift.

And to be able to turn that around in a week, or whatever we did, and then share it with all the fans out there and feel that something beautiful had come out of this surreal and difficult time was a great thing.”

Click here to read the entire interview with Lars Ulrich.

You can also watch the music video of Metallica’s Blackened on Youtube below.