Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist of heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. Prior to joining Metallica, he co-formed the thrash metal band Exodus in 1979. In 2023, Hammett, along with bandmate James Hetfield, was ranked 23rd on Rolling Stone's list of Greatest Guitarists of All Time. In 2009, Hammett was ranked number 15 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.
Portals is the debut solo EP of Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, released on April 23, 2022, through Blackened Recordings. The instrumental rock EP was released digitally as well as on CD and an exclusive ocean blue vinyl pressing for Record Store Day.
It consists of four instrumental tracks, described in a release as "a collection of gateways to myriad musical and psychic destinations." The songs were recorded between 2017 and 2020 in multiple locales ranging from Los Angeles to Paris to Oahu. Hammett added: "This music was created with what I describe as an Audio-Cinematic approach. They're soundtracks to the movies in your mind."
| Pressing: 1st Pressing On Compact Disc (RSD Exclusive). |
| Original Release: 2022. |
| Genre: Metal. |
| Sub-Genre: Instrumental / Heavy / Progressive. |
| Catalog No: BLCKND054-2. |
| Type: Digipak. |