Metal (EP)
{{About|the 2013 Newsted record|metal EPs|:Category:Heavy metal albums}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Metal
| type = EP
| artist = Newsted
| cover = Newstead-metal-ep-cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = January 8, 2013
| recorded = October 5−12, 2012 at the Creation Lab, Turlock, California
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Heavy metal
| length = {{Duration|m=22|s=08}}
| label = Chophouse
| producer = Jason Newsted
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Heavy Metal Music
| next_year = 2013
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Allmusic
| rev1score ={{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/metal-mw0002488165|title=Metal - Newsted|website=Allmusic|first=Gregory|last=Heaney|accessdate=April 18, 2013}}
| rev2 = Consequence of Sound
| rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/01/album-review-newsted-metal-ep/|title=Album Review: Newsted – Metal EP|magazine=Consequence of Sound|first=Jon|last=Hadusek|date=January 14, 2013|accessdate=January 14, 2013}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Metal is the debut EP by heavy metal band Newsted.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/newsted-mn0003049348|title=Newsted - Music Biography|website=Allmusic|first=Gregory|last=Heaney|accessdate=April 18, 2013}} The band was formed by American bassist Jason Newsted in 2012. The EP was released on January 8, 2013, under Newsted's own record label Chophouse Records.{{cite news|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=183626|title=Jason Newsted To Release 'Metal' EP Next Month|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 14, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}} The EP was recorded at the Creation Lab studio in Turlock, California.{{cite web|url=http://newstedheavymetal.com/images/newsted_metal_ep.jpg|title=Newsted - Metal EP cover scans|work=newstedheavymetal.com|accessdate=March 8, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201205830/http://newstedheavymetal.com/images/newsted_metal_ep.jpg|archivedate=February 1, 2014}}
Background
From 1986 until 2001, Jason Newsted was the bassist for heavy metal band Metallica. During the 1990s, he met drummer Jesus Mendez Jr., who helped out at the Metallica headquarters and later served as a drum tech on a tour for Newsted's former musical group Echobrain.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalforcesmagazine.com/site/feature-newsted-01-13/|title=NEWSTED – Metal’s Soldierhead|work=Metal Forces|publisher=Rockzone Publications Ltd.|first=Anthony|last=Morgan|date=January 2013|accessdate=January 24, 2013}} In the late 2000s, Newsted met guitarist Jessie Farnsworth; the trio began working on music and writing songs. In the meantime, Jason Newsted was guest at Metallica's 30th-anniversary concert and performed onstage with the band. He said that those shows, along with the fans, inspired him to do another record.{{cite news|last=Turman|first=Katherine|authorlink=Katherine Turman|title=Former Metallica Bassist Jason Newsted Is Back to Kicking Asses Again|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-01-23/music/former-metallica-bassist-jason-newsted-is-back-to-kicking-asses-again/full/|accessdate=June 14, 2013|newspaper=The Village Voice|location=New York|date=January 23, 2013}}
Newsted began writing songs in August 2012, before giving them to Mendez Jr. and Farnsworth to learn. In October 2012, the band began recording songs and later recorded another set in December 2012. The band recorded a total of eleven songs which they planned to release during the first six months of 2013. The result would be the album Heavy Metal Music, released August 6, 2013.
The album was produced by Jason Newsted, with help from associate producer, Frank Munoz. The EP was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Anthony Focx at the Creation Lab Studio from October 5−12, 2012.
Release
On November 15, 2012, Jason Newsted announced the launch of his official website for information on his projects.{{cite news|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=182399|title=Former Metallica Bassist Jason Newsted Wants To Reconnect With His Fans And Friends|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=November 16, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}} On November 16, 2012, Jason Newsted was interviewed on Eddie Trunk's Friday Night Rocks radio show. He revealed that he would be releasing music under his own self-named band.{{cite news|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=182447|title=Jason Newsted: 'It Took Me 12 Years To Come Back To Earth' After Leaving Metallica|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=November 18, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}}
On December 7, 2012, Newsted announced that his band was just finishing off their first record.{{cite news|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=183332|title=Jason Newsted Putting Finishing Touches On His New Band's Debut Album|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 7, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}} On December 11, 2012, Newsted announced that the band had finished their first batch of songs, and that they were working on a second batch.{{cite news|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=183482|title=Former Metallica Bassist Jason Newsted Releases Video Update From The Studio|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 11, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}} On December 14, 2012, Newsted revealed the track listing and release date for a four song debut EP, titled Metal, available on January 8, 2013, via iTunes. On December 15, 2012, a music video was filmed for the first song "Soldierhead".{{cite news|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=183660|title=Newsted Filming 'Soldierhead' Video Today|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 15, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}} On December 17, 2012, "Soldierhead" premiered on the Eddie Trunk Live show on Sirius Satellite Radio.{{cite news|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=183765|title=Newsted: First Song Available For Streaming|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=December 18, 2012|accessdate=December 29, 2012}} On January 10, 2013, Newsted announced that physical CDs of the EP would be available to order from January 15, 2013.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/196845|title=Newsted - Metal EP To Be Released On CD January 15th; 'Soldierhead' To Debut Next Week|magazine=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|date=January 11, 2013|accessdate=January 13, 2013}}
The album sold around 6,200 copies in its first week of release and debuted at number 62 on the U.S. Billboard 200.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185020|title=Newsted: 'Metal' First-Week Sales Revealed|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 17, 2013 |accessdate=January 18, 2013}} "Soldierhead" and "King of the Underdogs" were later featured on the album Heavy Metal Music's track listing while "Godsnake" and "Skyscraper" were made available as bonus tracks on Deluxe Editions of the album.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| total_length = 22:08
| title1 = Soldierhead
| length1 = 4:16
| title2 = Godsnake
| length2 = 5:16
| title3 = King of the Underdogs
| length3 = 6:00
| title4 = Skyscraper
| length4 = 6:36
}}
Personnel
;Newsted
- Jason Newsted − bass, lead vocals, guitars
- Jessie Farnsworth − guitars, bass, backing vocals
- Jesus Mendez Jr. − drums, percussion
;Technical personnel
Charts
| class="wikitable"
! Chart (2012) ! Peak |
| U.S. Billboard 200 |