Editing Metallica (section)

===2023–present: Future plans===
In an interview on ''Loudwire Nights'' radio program in April 2023, Ulrich stated that "there [were] some ideas [Metallica] could start with" for the follow-up to ''72 Seasons'', adding, "I'm looking forward to going live and being in sharing mode for the next couple of years. The beauty of being with these guys, I kind of joke, James writes more riffs when he's tuning his guitar than most people do in a lifetime. That's the beauty of being in band with these guys and I'm eternally grateful. I'm dumbfounded by it." When asked about "leftovers" that could be used for the next Metallica album, Ulrich said, "There's always a few riffs in the riff tank."<ref>{{cite web|first=Joe|last=DiVita|url=https://loudwire.com/lars-ulrich-metallica-have-ideas-to-start-next-album/|title=Lars Ulrich on the NEXT Metallica Album - 'There Are Some Ideas'|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=April 14, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916132619/https://loudwire.com/lars-ulrich-metallica-have-ideas-to-start-next-album/|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2024, Hetfield confirmed that he has been "writing lots of music, playing guitar pretty much every day."<ref>{{cite web|first=Joe|last=DiVita|url=https://loudwire.com/metallica-james-hetfield-writing-music/|title=James Hetfield Has Been Writing 'Lots of Music' Between Tours|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=May 22, 2024|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=May 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523003623/https://loudwire.com/metallica-james-hetfield-writing-music/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a March 2025 interview with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Hammett confirmed that he has been working on ideas for the next Metallica album: "I have 767 new ones for the next album. It is such a nightmare going through this stuff, too. And I'm the one responsible for all of it and I can't do it...I don't foresee us starting the next album for at least another year because we're still finishing the tour."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Brian|last=Hiatt|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kirk-hammett-book-solo-album-metallica-podcast-interview-1235301767/|title=Kirk Hammett Has a Solo LP Coming — and 767 New Riffs for Metallica|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=March 23, 2025|access-date=April 24, 2025}}</ref>