Actually it will. They've said it's like a blend of ..And Justice For All and The Black Album. Also, Rick Rubin has said it's like a return to their thrash roots so I'm optimistic.
Well, if you can track down an old preview of St. Anger, the media were claiming that it was going to be harder, faster, and heavier than their earlier stuff, with some of them even citing specific albums such as Ride the Lightning and ...and Justice. I do believe the hype machine was working in overtime for St. Anger, which made it that much worse when it came out. Thus, I am skeptical about any kind of news about Metallica returning to their roots.
On the flip side, I've heard two songs that are reportedly going to be on the new album (they too can be found online under "Death is not the End" & "Vulturous") Death is not the End was performed live, and although it is most definitely
not characteristic of their early material, and James's singing is off, it was surprisingly good (Kirk even does a solo, which I was beginning to doubt he could even do anymore).
If those songs are a sign of what's to come, I would be satisfied, but James himself recently said in an interview that they are going back to the old school stuff, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Read the James interview here
http://www.rollingstone.c...eveals-latest-album-news/