Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett just announced Portalsa four-track EP that marks his first venture as a solo artist and the very first upcoming solo project by a band member as an active member.

“Initially, before I even had the idea of ​​a solo EP, I was inspired by the need to create some kind of soundtrack music to accompany The Kirk Hammett Collection for the first ‘It’s Alive’ exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., 2017,” Hammett said in a press release.

“I wanted to design music to loop in the background as people walked through the exhibit. I sat down one night with a progression, and before I knew it, all the parts were there. for ‘Maiden and the Monster'” he continued, singling out the opening song on Portals.

Educating fans further about the upcoming release, Hammett explained, “The initial concept of Portals started with this single song. Following this, I realized that I could create different moments of the soundtrack. These songs are what I call ‘Audio Cinematic’; I create sounds and pieces of music for the movies that go through my head. I hope they create movies in other people’s heads the same way.”

The tracks were recorded around the world with Hammett also serving as the EP’s producer. He also worked with co-writer Edwin Outwater on “High Plans Drifter” and “The Incantation”, the last two titles of Portals. Outwater was Metallica’s bandleader S&M2 live release and, here, he contributed keyboards and led the LA Philharmonic orchestra players.

Other contributors include drummer Jon Theodore of The Wedding Band of Hammett, Abraham Loboriel, Greg Fidelman on bass as well as Emmy-winning arranger Blake Neely and Bob Rock, who produced the 90s studio albums of Metallica as well as those of 2003. Holy Wrath.

Portals will be released on April 23, Record Store Day. See the EP’s artwork and track listing below.

Kirk Hammett, Portals EP Artwork + Track List

01. “The Maiden and the Monster”
02. “The Jinns”
03. “High Plains Wanderer”
04. “The Incantation”