Metallica Play ‘The Black Album’ Backwards, Mastodon Fills In For Opeth

Metallica played The Black Album live in its entirety for the first time Monday night at the opening of their European tour in Prague, Czech Republic. But unlike other bands doing album shows, Metallica performed it backwards. They started with the live debut of the closer, "The Struggle Within," and wrapped up with the opener, "Enter Sandman."

The start of The Black Album portion of their set came with a video of early '90s highlights.

It's been seven years since System of a Down have released any new music, and you're just going to have to wait. Singer Serj Tankian tells Billboard, "We have not made a plan to [record] as of yet. I think it's something that we'll get together at the right time when we all have that head space and do it... It hasn't been that time yet, so I think everyone will know when it is."

System of a Down will be back on the road for two weeks this August.

Mastodon played an extended set Monday night in Minneapolis after opening act Opeth had to cancel their performance at the last minute. The rumor mill has been swirling, with many sites reporting that singer Mikel Akerfeldt [pr: ACK-er-felt] was in a car accident and broke his arm. But the truth is a bit more mundane -- he simply bumped his head inside the Mastodon tour bus and had to go to a hospital to get eight metal staples to seal up the cut. Opeth plan on playing a make-up show in Minneapolis when they return to the U.S.

Akerfeldt jokingly wrote on Opeth's Facebook page, "Hi guys! I'm writing from beyond the grave. Seriously, I was not in a car crash and I haven't broken my arm."

Jane's Addiction is playing Seattle's Bumbershoot festival, which runs September 1st through the 3rd this year.