Metallica regains control of catalog

Rockers METALLICA have regained control of their impressive back catalog after striking a deal with bosses at Warner Music Group.

The Nothing Else Matters hitmakers renegotiated their contract with the record label so the band could own all its tunes and long-form videos as of Friday (30Nov12).

Band member James Hetfield says, "We would like to thank everyone at the Warner Music Group for 28 years of a fantastic relationship, particularly since 1994 where we truly felt we had partners in every aspect of our business in North America."

The group's recordings will now have a home at its new label, Blackened Recordings. The first release will be a DVD of the band's live 2009 concert in Quebec City, Canada.

A statement from the band reads, "We like to make it a point here not to bore you with the not-so-exciting business aspects of making and sharing music, but we're so psyched about our new adventure that we just had to tell you about it as we officially launch our very own record label, Blackened Recordings...

"You may have heard us say it once or twice or a thousand times before, but it's always been about us taking control of all things... Forming Blackened Recordings is the ultimate in independence, putting us in the driver's seat of our own creative destiny. We're looking forward to making more music and getting it all out to you in our own unique way."