Last week, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett shared a triumphant new instrumental track called "High Plains Drifter," the first taste of his upcoming debut solo EP, Portals. The full four-song project arrives tomorrow (April 23rd) in conjunction with Record Store Day, but today he's unveiled a freakishly psychedelic music video for "High Plains Drifter" that makes for an unusual accompaniment.
The track's wild west vibe is clearly influenced by composers like Ennio Morricone, and even borrows its name from a Clint Eastern western flick. However, the visual doesn't picture a single cowboy. Instead, it's a hypnotic animation of a first-person descent into a portal of madness, with various human figures from the present-day getting washed away by demons, spooky bat creatures and eventually a ghastly white being. It's all pure chaos until the ending, which wraps up the story nicely in a way that makes sense. You'll have to watch above via YouTube to see what happens.
Portals is out Saturday April 23rd via Blackened Recordings, with Record Store Day-exclusive vinyl available at local shops.
