Drummer Lars Ulrich and Metallica are currently writing music for their ninth studio album. But unlike their previous CD they do not have a therapist along for the ride this time.\"We\'ve been working on the new record for the last three months and it\'s been, I would say, probably the best experience we\'ve had writing in as long as I can remember. Everybody\'s getting along, everybody\'s real respectful and mellow, and, you know, it started off by us playing a couple of shows with the [Rolling] Stones in November [2005] out in San Francisco and since then, we\'ve just been on such a great roll, no therapist needed.\"
Metallica nearly broke up while making \"St. Anger\" in 2003. They hired a sports team therapist to coach the band back together, which was documented in the movie \"Metallica: Some Kind of Monster\", released in 2005.
Metallica will enter the studio later this year to begin recording its new album with producer Rick Rubin. An early 2007 release is expected.
