LISTEN: Kirk Hammett releases first music from solo EP

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has released the first song from his forthcoming EP, 'Portals.'

The instrumental track, 'High Plains Drifter', shows a different side to the guitar legend, with a Flamenco and Western sound to it. The song was inspired by Clint Eastwood's 1973 western film of the same name.

Hammett told Planet Radio:

"It initially came from a Flamenco piece I had written. It was a two-and-a-half-minute piece, and I really liked it, but it was one of those riffs that would be hard to integrate into Metallica.

"I knew I wanted to do something with it, even though it came out spontaneously... I was determined it would have a life. It would have its moment."

• Metallica's charity raises $500K for food supplies for Ukrainians.

Hammett is set to be the first current-member of Metallica to come out with a solo release. 'Portals', which will have four tracks, is out April 23rd.

Check out 'High Plains Drifter' up top, and the 'Portals' track list below.

Portals EP track-listing:

1) Maiden and the Monster

2) The Jinn

3) High Plains Drifter

4) The Incantation