Metallica release new EP on iTunes

Metallica have released Beyond Magnetic, a four-song EP exclusively via iTunes with leftover songs from the recording of their last album, 2007's Death Magnetic.

Perhaps this is a savvy effort to win back fans disgusted by

Lulu

, their collaboration with Lou Reed released last October.

Of course, the band are putting a positive spin on the release, labelling

Beyond Magnetic

"a gift" to fans.

"During the

Death Magneti

c album sessions in 2007 and 2008, we originally recorded 14 songs. When it came time to pick the songs for the final album, we decided on 10 songs that you've all come to know over the last three years," the band statement said.

"We kept them in the vault and decided to pull them just for this special celebration, so here are the four leftover tracks from the

Death Magnetic

sessions. They are rough mixes, unfinished to their original degree of mixing from March '08."

Whatever the reasoning behind this, the tracks are in the same vein as

Death Magnetic

: Heavy, bruising and melodic...and thankfully without Lou Reed's tuneless warbling.