Metallica's precious metal

• A NEW studio album by the biggest metal band ever? What an attractive proposition.
The long-awaited Death Magnetic has now hit stores worldwide.
The band’s brilliant tenth studio LP, and first for five years since 2003’s St Anger, is a furious, frenzied return to the sort of face-melting metal music that has won them legions of fans across the globe over the last 25 years.
• Stylish singer Ne-Yo’s slick new LP Year Of The Gentleman was released this week.
The album, which contains the Las Vegas native’s chart-topping single Closer, is a collection of polished R&B strongly influenced by the sharp style of the Rat Pack era.
• The Streets is back on the road next month, including trips to Birmingham and Nottingham, as promotion for anticipated new material.
The rapper, real name Mike Skinner, has a new album and single, both titled Everything Is Borrowed, out at the end of September.
But be sure to buy your own copy, and not just borrow them from a friend.
• Asian dance producer Shri has a new album out called Seven Steps on September 22.
The solo album by Shrikanth "Shri" Sriram, best known for his work alongside DJ Badmarsh, mixes traditional Indian instrumentation with funky, bass-driven dance.
• Scouse rockers The Rascals are up to more mischief, in the form of single I’ll Give You Sympathy.
The release, set to hit stores of September 29, is a hard-hitting live favourite taken from their current album Rascalize.
• Quirky Los Angeles-based five-piece Iglu & Hartly follow up their new single In This City with album And Then Boom on September 22.
As well, the group will be toruign the UK throughout September and October, including trips to Birmingham, Nottingham and Leicester.
• Emotive singer/songwriter Daniel Powter, the man behind radio-hogging single Bad Day, has released a new single.
The track, Next Plane Home, is the first to be taken from his second album, Under The Radar.
• Ashby-de-la-Zouch band The Young Knives will be heading to South America next month to carry out an ambassador’s role.
The trio have been selected to represent British musc by the British Music Council, and will be taking their eccentric brand of indie to Beunos Aires, Santiago and Sao Paulo.
• If all of this is music to your ears, you can read more from the pop world online at http://www.echoisaacashe.blogspot.com/