Without even realizing it, Metallica set a new Guinness World Record. The mighty foursome played in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa in the past year, which is a feat in itself. But remember when they played in Antarctica in 2013? That’s the gig that sealed the deal.

“Last year as we hit the road, like we do most years, visiting a lot of our favorite places along with some new ones, we didn’t realize that we were on track to break a world record! Good thing someone else was paying attention as we managed to play on all seven continents in one year, becoming the first and only band to ever do so!”

Maybe now after all these “touring commitments” that Kirk Hammett spoke of back in May, the band can focus on writing a new album, their first since 2008s Death Magnetic.

In a Guitar World interview Hammett said, “we’ve all said to each other that September is gonna be the time when we buckle down.”  Lars Ulrich already said they writing and preparing for the new record, due out, “hopefully next year.”

[photo: Melinda Oswandel]