The anticipation for Metallica's new album was built over the course of eight long years. The first single released off 2008's Death Magnetic, "The Day That Never Comes," almost seemed to be a silent anthem of the collective feelings of 'Tallica fans around the world in regard to a new record. Well, the day will be coming after all as Hardwired... To Self-Destruct is set for a Nov. 18 release this year.

As we wait for the double album to arrive, it's sure to be Metallica mania over the next couple months. Sure, it has been nearly a decade since the Bay Area legends last dropped a platter of new tunes on the world, but it's not like James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo have been standing idly by, twiddling their thumbs as fans begged and pleaded for a new record. No, as one of the biggest bands in the world, Metallica have kept rather busy, pursuing other ventures and treating their fans to truly unique and special events during these last eight years.

In the gallery above, we've chronicled some of the biggest Metallica-related happenings to take place starting with Death Magnetic and eventually ending with the new album. A lot has happened in the last eight years, so let's take the time to recap it all as we look at the Metallica Timeline: From Death Magnetic Through Hardwired... To Self-Destruct.

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