Producer Bob Rock has predicted that Metallica’s tenth album will be a "landmark" work, but he doesn’t believe he’ll work with the band again.
Even if you don't know Bob Rock, you know his work. Rock is the producer known for crafting the sound of bands such as Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe and all of the Metallica albums from 1991's "Black Album" to 2003's "St. Anger." Following the St. Anger release, fans began calling for Rock's ouster, even delivering a petition calling for a new producer.
Rick Rubin took over for the return-to-form "Death Magnetic," but Rock tells Eddie Trunk's podcast that he remains on friendly terms with Metallica. "When you spend fifteen years with somebody and [you've] kind of gone through all the things they’ve gone through and I’ve gone through, they’re a big part of my life – period."
As for working with Metallica again, Rock says, "I don’t see it happening. I think they’ve got to keep moving forward. With Death Magnetic they went back to their roots, which was great. I get where they went and they had to go there. I think they’ve got a landmark record in them and it’s probably brewing right now."
-Spencer
Bob Rock gets the guitar solo he wants from Kirk Hammett (NSFW language)