Metallica are one of the biggest bands in the world and it's not a stretch to imagine that their collective ears may not be close to the current metal floor, but guitarist Kirk Hammett has dispelled this notion. Speaking with the Malay Mail Online, the six-stringer offered up opinions on some of his modern favorites, which includes French metal quartet Gojira and American groove-hungry favorites Lamb of God.

Regarding Gojira, Hammett called the group “the best thing I’ve heard in a long time" and went on to heap praise unto their newest studio effort, the critically-acclaimed Magma. “I love their new album,” the axeman stated, adding, “I think it’s an incredible piece of art. It’s heavy, it’s vibey, it’s moody. It has all the things you want to hear — great complex rhythms, great drumming, great riffs, great songs.”

For their sixth studio album, Gojira deviated from their typical formula, opting for more concise and compact songs over their previously sprawling nature that employed a deft balance between mammoth riffs and, lighter, more evocative passages. This sonic mix still remained in tact on Magma as theyutilized new tools like Joe Duplantier's clean singing and simpler overall song structures.

As for Lamb of God, Hammett simply said he has "high hopes' each time the Virginia-based outfit releases a new record. The band's latest release, The Duke, was issued on Nov. 18, the same day as Metallica's Hardwired... To Self-Destruct.

Hammett was spared from the writing process for Metallica's long-awaited follow-up to 2008's Death Magnetic, calling it a "very bitter pill to swallow." Hoping it won't be another eight years between albums, the guitarist also recently revealed that another covers album could potentially be in the band's future.

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