"It's a joke, I think Metallica are just a joke," Newsted told the British magazine Rock Sound. "I don't think they have any idea. I am fan of Metallica again, I did my thing in there and felt good and I'm proud of that s*** and I am more proud than sour. But that's the integrity down the f***ing tube! Why can't they take out Strapping Young Lad, why can't they take out In Flames? What they are doing now is such an obvious cash thing and has nothing to do with the music that we're supposed to be fighting for.”

Newsted also went after recent quotes from his former bandmates concerning their forthcoming studio album, "Kirk got quoted about their new record sounding like Entombed.  How can it sound like ENTOMBED, how? Who is playing bass to make it sound like Entombed? James is a good bass player, but c'mon, dude! Lars — he hasn't practiced enough drums over the years — he let his art fall away from him, he doesn't have the same finesse as he used to have, so how is it going to sound like Entombed and have that energy? And anyway if they are speaking like that how come they are not talking Entombed out on tour? Or Meshuggah — how came they are not staying true to their words? That's what really bothers me."

Since Newsted left Metallica he has undertaken a number of musical projects and ultimately joined the Canadian metal band Voivod. 

Voivod’s new album, their first with Newsted, is set for release on March 4th on Newsted’s Surfdog Records imprint, “Chophouse Records”. The band will hit the road in support of the album on April 10th, but Newsted warns fans not to look forward to Voivod sharing the same stage with Metallica any time soon, "There is political s*** going on, they are really against us being on the same bills. Wherever METALLICA is, you won't be seeing VOIVOD."

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