The wait is almost over for Metallica fans who are anxiously awaiting when they can get their hands on the band's new musical collaboration with Lou Reed. 'Lulu' is set for release in North America on Nov. 1 (through Warner Bros. Records) and will be available throughout the rest of the world on Oct. 31 (distribution through Universal Music).

Metallica were inspired to create the new project after the 25th anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts in New York City two years ago. The album is extremely close to both iconic artists, as they each had their hand in the producing pot, along with Hal Willner and Greg Fidelman.

"[Lou] has a reputation for being a grouchy kind of guy," Metallica member Kirk Hammett told Revolver magazine (via Blabber Mouth). "Once we started rehearsing [for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts], though, Lou was just like, 'Oh my God. This is great! This is what I've wanted to hear all my life.' And that's what led to, 'Oh, we should make an album.' And we all kind of unanimously agreed."

'Lulu' is a bit of a departure for Metallica, as the record consists of songs that Reed had written for American avant-garde theater director Robert Wilson and German theater group the Berliner Ensemble's production, 'Lulu Plays,' which premiered in April. The tunes on 'Lulu' were inspired by German expressionist Frank Wedekind's early 20th century plays 'Earth Spirit' and 'Pandora's Box,' and were a rewrite of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven,' which emerged as a graphic novel on Fantagraphics Press.

"I think it's one of the best things we've ever done," Hammett told Revolver. "It showed me that we could still be truly spontaneous and in the moment. We haven't been spontaneous like that for years and years and years, probably since the '80s."

"We were all out of our comfort zone, and because of that, we came up with stuff we wouldn't normally come up with," Hammett continued. "It's largely an artistic endeavor for ourselves. And we're just inviting everyone else along for the party. This is something that most people won't be expecting from us. All I have to say is don't judge it by heavy-metal standards and maybe you'll understand it better."

For more information on 'Lulu' and the great collaboration between Reed and Metallica, visit the official website designed for the project at LouReedMetallica.com, and read Loudwire's review of Loutallica's track, 'The View,' here.

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