Metal news site Blabbermouth.net recounted recent interviews with Anselmo and Ulrich where the two took verbal shots at each other. 

Below is the Blabbermouth.net report: 

Canada's BW&BK recently asked PANTERA/SUPERJOINT RITUAL frontman Philip Anselmo if there was any truth to the rumor that he had challenged METALLICA to a road duel, head-to-head on any stage.

"We sure as f*** did and that was due to a conversation James Hetfield and I had years ago when I was talking to him about their new album," Philip said. "I think that was when 'Load' was out, and it kind of shocked everybody — everybody was freaked out. What they do is what they do, that's fine, but I'll never forget James (Hetfield) and Lars (Ulrich) both saying that being in heavy metal we should all stick together. From what I've seen, touring with bands like HOLE, LIMP BIZKIT and LINKIN PARK and bands like that, that's not doing anything for heavy metal. Heavy metal lies in the underground and if they're worried about... why in the hell would METALLICA be worried about ticket sales? Bring out some f***in' good bands. I know they're threatened by us easily 'cause I will go out and kill every night. I just feel that with the character that we bring, the songs that we bring... 30-45 minutes to play beforehand. That's dangerous to put SUPERJOINT RITUAL on stage for 30 minutes we're going to f***in' kick your ass. We're going to kill you. We don't play for a long time live anyway. I think that any band will get boring after over an houror something like that. We play like right at about an hour or so and f***in' get the f***, you know? It's the key to what I've always believed in, if you see what you see then and there you'll definitely want to come back and see the band when they come through again. Itleaves a lot to be seen, more to be seen."

Asked for his opinion on "St. Anger", Anselmo said, "Honestly I haven't heard the record. I've seen the live video. Really, no comment."

BW&BK also spoke with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently. His response to Anselmo's challenge? “Is he that desperate to tour?" Ulrich asked. "I love all these challenges. 'The ol' step it up...'I don't know if SUPERJOINT RITUAL needs to play in front of more people. That's fine, maybe we'll take them out one day. We are certainly all big fans of his other band DOWN. I'm 39 years old. I don't have those kindergarten grudges anymore. If [DOWN guitarist] Pepper Keenan can hang with the guy and make records with him, he can't be all bad. Although he has a tendency to talk a lot of horses*** most of the time."

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