Just in time for Halloween, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett is putting his voice to work on a different kind of classic. The lifelong horror fanatic has shared a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven,” bringing his love of the macabre to one of literature’s most haunting works.
Hammett’s passion for horror goes well beyond throwing on a scary movie each October. He’s spent decades collecting vintage posters, artwork, and memorabilia, showcasing his treasures in the 2012 book “Too Much Horror Business: The Kirk Hammett Collection.” His collection even made its way into the Peabody Essex Museum with the exhibition “It’s Alive! Classic Horror and Sci-Fi Art from the Kirk Hammett Collection.” Clearly, this is a man who takes his monsters seriously!
With this reading, Hammett reaches further back into the genre’s roots, revisiting Poe’s 1845 tale of a grieving man, a mysterious midnight visitor, and the dreaded refrain of “Nevermore.” Filmed and edited by Brett Murray, the video also features “Inamorata” from Metallica’s 2023 album “72 Seasons,” bringing a bit of the band’s music into the mix.
Turn the lights down, pour yourself something good, and settle in for Kirk Hammett’s reading of “The Raven” below!
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