To keep up with demand, Metallica have bought a vinyl pressing plant

Metallica have announced a new business venture with Virginia-based plant Furnace Record Pressing.

Having released their huge boxsets of Kill ’Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets, …And Justice For All, The Black Album and S&M2 with Furnace, the metal legends will be continuing this successful partnership on a whole new level, having just acquired a majority interest in the manufacturer.

In a statement, Furnace explain how this move is to keep up with the huge demand for Metallica vinyl (in 2021 and 2022 the band were rated one of the United States’ best-selling vinyl acts), with their new partnership helping to ‘enable the band and its Blackened Recordings label to better serve the needs of any and all vinyl lovers in the Metallica family – as well as those of the various artists and record labels who will continue to utilize Furnace’s services’.

Indeed, they have been pressing vinyl copies of Metallica’s upcoming album 72 Seasons since January.

“We couldn’t be more happy to take our partnership with Furnace – and Eric, Ali and Mark specifically – to the next level,” says Lars Ulrich. “Their indie spirit, the passion they have for their craft… culturally we’re kindred souls.”

“Furnace has been great to Metallica and more importantly to our fans,” continues James Hetfield. “This deepened relationship between Metallica and Furnace ensures that fans of vinyl everywhere, particularly our Fifth Members, will have continued access to high quality records in the future.”

For more Metallica goodness, we’re releasing a book – Kerrang! Living Loud: Four Decades On The Frontline Of Rock, Metal, Punk, And Alternative Music – on April 6, with a foreword from the one and only Lars Ulrich. Pre-order your copy now.

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