Apparently Metallica’s forthcoming new Rick Rubin-produced full-length will be titled Death Magnetic:

Last week, a mysterious image popped up on Metallica’s Web site — an image that continued to morph over the next few days. It began June 9 with just two letters, D and C, in the middle of four sideways Metallica M’s arranged to look like magnetic rays. Each day, more letters were added. Because the band had promised it would soon divulge the title of its forthcoming album (due in stores this fall), several fans accurately surmised that the image would eventually reveal the LP’s name. Some guessed the title would be Magnetica. On Saturday, just before the band’s set at Bonnaroo, the image changed for the last time, providing fans with the answer they’d been waiting for. It seems that Metallica have named their next record Death Magnetic.

A trailer for Metallica’s new Mission:Metallica website features a sneak preview of some of the new songs on the band’s forthcoming Rick Rubin produced album. Metallica are of course one of most bad ass bands of all time, and even if they fucked off on the last couple of records, any true Metallica head still has hope that James Hetfield will pull a few Puppets-era riffs out of his ass and make this new record hard as f. Plus the band finally canned Bob Rock, which is definitely a start. Now if they could just start slamming Jaegermeister and writing “EET FUK” on their guitars again they’d really be getting somewhere!

Weezer’s third self-titled record (known as the “red” album, following suit with 1994’s “blue” and 2001’s “green” albums) was set to be released this July, but has been pushed up a month, most likely to thwart pirates. Here’s the release:

The streets can’t wait any longer: Buoyed by a single which reached #1 at Modern Rock radio a mere eleven days after its release to the format, and a tidal wave of buzz, Weezer’s new, self-titled album on DGC/Interscope Records has had its release date moved up three weeks to June 3.

The latest single “Pork and Beans” produced by Jacknife Lee (U2, R.E.M.)  has been embraced by Modern Rock radio making it the quickest journey to #1 that any Weezer single has found in its illustrious history. The single has earned rave reviews in the UK’s NME  and Rolling Stone.

The new album which is the third eponymous in the band’s catalogue and is being referred as “The Red Album,” was produced by the band, Rick Rubin, and the aforementioned Lee.

In some flossed out corporate room somewhere, rap duo The Clipse just signed a contract (perhaps with a jewel encrusted fountain pen) with Rick Rubin (who I didn’t realize kind of looks like Spencer from Bear Hunter and MC Oroville) at Sony/Columbia Records. They love The Clipse, The Clipse loves them. Here’s the deets:

Their multimillion-dollar, 5-year contract with Columbia is rare given the stingy state of the industry. And it accommodates not only forthcoming Clipse albums, but also solo efforts from each brother, and collective recordings with co-conspiratorial MCs Ab-Liva and Sandman. Together, the foursome comprises the Re-Up Gang. In fact, a Re-Up release is first on the slate, aimed for March ‘08. The Clipse will follow come summer.

Says Pusha T about the relationship with Sony: “The Clipse represent everything that we’ve all known Rick Rubin to represent: hip-hop in its purest form. To know that the head guy is a creative guy as well, that makes me feel good.”

I wanna Ice Cream hat.