Metallica’s Classic Albums Return in Limited Colored Vinyl Reissues

Metallica’s bringing out the big guns with their upcoming reissue series, serving up their classic albums on colored vinyl as if you haven’t bought these a few times already.

They’re starting with the real deal, no half-hearted “best of” collections here. Instead, it’s a month-by-month release of the iconic ones: Kill ‘Em All (1983), Ride the Lightning (1984), Master of Puppets (1986), …And Justice for All (1988), and the so-called Black Album (1991).

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Lars is a notorious collector of modern art, and he’s even sold a few paintings for millions. Who knew that smashing cymbals led to a taste for high-priced art?

All of these are hitting shelves on 180g vinyl in hues that supposedly match each album’s vibe—like electric blue for Ride the Lightning and Jump in the Fire Engine Red for Kill ‘Em All.

Each record includes the 2016 remastered audio. A subtle way of saying, “Here’s that version we sold you seven years ago, only this time it’s on eye-catching vinyl.” It’s a strategy Metallica’s mastered—getting you to pay again for what you already own but with just enough flair to justify the splurge.

And let’s not ignore the touring circus they’ve got running alongside these releases. The M72 World Tour kicked off with Metallica’s latest album, 72 Seasons, hauling along Pantera, Mammoth WVH, and Ice Nine Kills as the openers in a rotating cast.

A few dates left this year will wrap up their 2023 schedule, and then they’re back on the road next spring, spreading out across Europe, the U.S., and Mexico.

Here’s the rundown if you’re looking to catch them live:

Metallica M72 World Tour 2023-2024

• November 3, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center
• November 5, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center
• November 10, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
• November 12, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
• May 24, 2024 – Munich, DE – Olympiastadion
• May 26, 2024 – Munich, DE – Olympiastadion
• June 7, 2024 – Helsinki, FI – Olympic Stadium
• June 9, 2024 – Helsinki, FI – Olympic Stadium
• June 14, 2024 – Copenhagen, DK – Parken Stadium
• June 16, 2024 – Copenhagen, DK – Parken Stadium
• July 5, 2024 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy
• July 7, 2024 – Warsaw, PL – PGE Narodowy
• July 12, 2024 – Madrid, ES – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano
• July 14, 2024 – Madrid, ES – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano
• August 2, 2024 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
• August 4, 2024 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium
• August 9, 2024 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
• August 11, 2024 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
• August 16, 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
• August 18, 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium
• August 23, 2024 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
• August 25, 2024 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium
• August 30, 2024 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
• September 1, 2024 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field
• September 20, 2024 – Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol
• September 22, 2024 – Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol
• September 27, 2024 – Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol
• September 29, 2024 – Mexico City, MX – Foro Sol

Special Guests

• Europe Show 1: Architects & Mammoth WVH
• Europe Show 2: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills (Volbeat jumps in for Architects on Show 1 in Gothenburg)
• North America Show 1: Pantera & Mammoth WVH
• North America Show 2: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills (Greta Van Fleet swaps with Pantera on Show 1 in Mexico City both weekends)

Metallica’s back catalog reissues and the M72 Tour schedule have enough to keep diehards entertained, whether through vinyl retail therapy or catching them live. The real question is—how many copies of Master of Puppets do you actually need?