Loutallica: The case for what will surely be the most derided album of the year
31.12.69

There's an implicit lesson here, or at least a message being sent to Metallica by those that mock and tease: that the band should cut the shit and start acting like the metal royalty that they are. You know, the way that other more respected elder statesmen do, like Slayer, or Iron Maiden, or Motörhead. What does that mean? Well, it means that Metallica, in the autumn of their years, should (according to this line of thinking) begin to acknowledge their legacy, their fan base, their place in metal's hegemony, and begin the final phase of their career, the part where they dutifully trot out the hits every few years, occasionally releasing albums that nicely fit into their discography. Clearly, Metallica aren't interested in this option.
In an interview with Franco-German TV network Arte , Lou Reed discusses the genesis of the project, and how he approached the band with the question "Are you read to end your career?" Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich convulse with laughter, and Hetfield says "Every album!"
Source: The Phoenix (blog)