Metallica warn fans against fake crypto scams online
"Let’s be as clear as possible. These are scams," the band warned.
By Nick Reilly
Metallica have warned fans about fresh crypto scams which have been falsely offering giveaways for their upcoming album and world tour.
The scam comes after the metal titans announced their first album in six years, 72 Seasons, last week, as well as sharing lead single ‘Lux Æterna’ and confirming details of a world tour.
In the wake of the announcement, the pioneering group say they’ve been informed of scams existing on YouTube which encourage users to visit websites they do not operate.
“In the wake of last week’s exciting news of our new song, new album, and new tour, unfortunately the ugly side of social media made an appearance,” Metallica said in a statement.
“Many of you have let us know about YouTube channels and live streams, as well as websites, claiming to offer Metallica Crypto giveaways in conjunction with last week’s announcement.”
They added: “Let’s be as clear as possible. These are scams. They’re being streamed on fake YouTube channels posing to be ours and all pointing to websites that we do not run. Please remember — all of our official social media channels are verified. Always look for official verification before believing something wild and crazy to be true.
“We thank all of you who have been vigilant in reporting these live streams to YouTube and to us … please don’t let up!”
It was revealed last week that the group’s latest record is “a rumination of sorts on childhood, with ’72 seasons’ representing the number of seasons we live through by the time we become an adult.
Hetfield explained the album’s concept in a statement. “72 seasons — the first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves,” he said. “The concept that we were told ‘who we are’ by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are. I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is a reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry.”
Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich co-produced the 77-minute, 12-song album with their longtime producer, Greg Fidelman. The album will be available digitally, as well as on CD and double-LP vinyl in a variety of limited-edition configurations.
Coinciding with the album release, the group has lined up two years’ worth of world tour dates for a trek they’re calling M72. Metallica will play two nights in every city on the tour (with set lists that won’t repeat songs night to night), and various dates will see support from the reunited Pantera, as well as Mammoth WVH, Five Finger Death Punch, Ice Nine Kills, and Greta Van Fleet.