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Metallica's Lars Ulrich said the band's eighth studio album 'St Anger'

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said the band's eighth studio album 'St Anger'in a manner which would "hurt the listeners".

Speaking to Classic Rock, via Rock News Desk, about the album, Ulrich said the band as 'St Anger' as "an isolated experiment". Album in 2003, six years after the band's last studio effort was released.

Asked about how the felt about the album, the drummer replied: "When we heard the recording from beginning to end, I felt – and it was mostly me – the experience was so pummelling that it became almost about hurting the listener."

He also that the band put the album out as they needed to "fuck with boundaries", he added: "I view 'St Anger' as an isolated experiment. Once in a while, as we’ve been known to do, we have to fuck with the boundaries. We’d already done 'Ride The Lightning', which I believe is a fine record – it didn’t need redoing."

Ulrich also said that although he understood why some people rated 'St Anger' as the band's worst album, he released Metallica personally can not not be classified.

He added: "I think it’s fair to say some people think it’s our worst album. But I can’t. The way I view the world, I can’t rank them from best to worst. That kind of simplicity doesn’t exist for me."

Metallica's member at Ullevi syadium in Gothenburg, Sweden

METALLICA members James Hetfield (guitar, vocals) and Robert Trujillo (bass) prior on the SVT conducted an interview on 3rd July 2011.

At the Ullevi syadium "Big Four" concert (also featuring MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX) in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A few excerpts follow below.

Hard Rock Calling

During the interview on wearing the t-shirt of the mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST:

Hetfield: "I'm in their fan club. [Laughs] I had no idea what they looked like until I saw the video. I heard the music first and I thought it was very great — very unique, very melodic and a breath of fresh air for metal. It reminded me a bit of '70s kind of rock that I liked as well. So yeah, I love the band."

On what kind of memories the "Big Four" concerts alongside MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX bring back:

Hetfield: "Mostly good memories. [Laughs] And we choose to live in those memories as well. I think the [Rock And Roll] Hall Of Fame induction had a lot to do with a little bit of, actually, turning around and embracing the past — not being so afraid of it anymore or running from it. It was more of a celebration of where we are and the gift that we have now. So along in that vibe with paying back for all the good things that have happened to us, and also just maybe helping some others along as well, you know?! Metal has gone through difficult times. We've seemed to stay pretty strong with the help of our fans, and obviously, the music has a lot to do with it as well, the honesty. But it just felt like a nostalgic time and a good time to bring everyone together. Everyone has matured to a point where we can all get along fine and enjoy the 'oneness' of the 'Big Four' and not so much fighting. There's a good competition — like sports, you know?!"

Trujillo: "It almost seems like a volcano of positive energy, where you have all these bands and all of a sudden it just gets to a certain point where it has to happen. And here we are."

Hetfield: "As far as us getting along, it's really great. Being able to see each other in a different way. A lot of the stuff that we've, I guess, grown to hear about each other is through the press and through other people, and now you can actually look each other in the face and say, 'How are you doing?' 'You look great' or 'Oh, you have neck problems, too? Oh, me too!' It's like all these things we have in common that we're able to talk about openly now. Like, 'My kids drive me crazy.' Or just normal, kind of, dad things — just life stories as well. But getting everyone together and moving in the same direction instead of against each other is so amazing. And it makes you play even better. I mean, we've been hearing for years that we should play with SLAYER, we should play with MEGADETH, we should play with ANTHRAX. And finally, it seems like now's the time. And boy, the level of playing has… We thought we were pretty good. It makes you step up. Every band is on their 'A+' game, so the fans are getting to see the results of a lot of competition, and it's all for the good."