It’s about that time, when Metal Insider becomes Metallica Insider. It’s not that often that Metallica releases an album. In fact, it’s been eight years if you don’t count Lulu (and let’s be honest, no one’s counting Lulu, not even the table). However, many look back to a simpler time, when Metallica put out the biggest albums of their career. For many of them, especially the Black Album, Jason Newsted was the band’s bassist. It’s kind of hard to believe, but at this point Robert Trujillo is the longest-standing bass player of Metallica. Let that sink in for a minute. And while you’re doing that, know that Lars Ulrich is still talking to Newsted.

Eddie Trunk recently interviewed Newsted, when he mentioned that he liked his former band’s new single. Then he said:

“I’ve got a call with Lars coming up on Thursday here. I’ve been talking to him every couple of weeks.”

When Trunk asked if it was for business, friendship or a collaboration, Newsted said all of the above. He didn’t say anything more about it, but it’s relatively easy to deduce what’s probably happening. Earlier this year, Metallica re-released remastered versions and box sets of Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning, their first two albums. If they continue on that path, Master of Puppets and …And Justice For All would be next. Of course, Justice is the first Metallica album Newsted played on, if you don’t count the all-covers The $5.98 EP. If the band plan on re-releasing their catalog chronologically, and plan on involving all of its members, then the bassist will have a pretty busy few years, being that he played on four Metallica albums. Granted, we could be wrong, but that’s our take on the situation.

[via Metal Sucks]