Metallica are offering up what can be considered a sonic Christmas gift for fans. A studio version of the previously unheard song ‘Hate Train’ from the ‘Death Magnetic’ sessions has popped up online, at the same time the band played it at the first of their recent 30th anniversary shows.

Fans that aren’t able to make the celebratory shows get to enjoy the song, thanks to the wonders of the web. Wanna know what you will find when you hop on this ‘Hate Train?’ Well, we’ll tell you.

The song is seven minutes in length and it cycles through several tempo shifts, which we’re guessing isn’t big news to any of  you. It also boasts a minute-long instrumental opening with lots of riffing and militaristic drumming. It’s more rock than thrash and it has a similar melodic pattern to ‘Fuel,’ for the most part. There’s a melodic mid-section, and overall, it’s what you’d expect from ‘Tallica in 2008, which is when ‘Death Magnetic’ was done.

James Hetfield sings, “Cursed to drown in sorrow / You took away tomorrow / Still I stand,” to give you an idea of the song’s anthemic lyrical content. We’re guessing that the consensus regarding the song will be split down the middle, with half the band’s fans wishing this song had made ‘Death Magnetic’ while the other half will dislike it and think it should have stayed buried.

Hey, at least it’s more Metallica-like than anything on ‘Lulu,’ right?

Listen to Metallica’s ‘Hate Train’

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