Mission Metallica

Metallica launched a new website on April 12, 2008, "Mission: Metallica." One of the missions is to bring Metallica's digital MP3's to their fans, on their terms. In 2000, the band sued the original Napster for supplying illegal downloads of their music.

The website preceded their first album release in five years, that of Death Magnetic on September 12, 2008.

Mission: Metallica features photos, videos, contests and to the surprise of many, downloads.

Free membership includes "fly-on-the-wall" footage of the recording of the new album, and before the album's release included pre-release excerpts and a chance to pre-order the album and download it.

Members can also access media from Lars Ulrich's personal vault and enter contests.

A "platinum membership" costs $25 and comes with the MP3, CD or vinyl copy of the new album, live show downloads, extended video footage, photos, ringtones and new riffs.

Platinum members also get a $10.00 discount on merchandise.