Activision has announced that Metallica's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic, will be available in its entirety as downloadable content for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, day and date with the album release this Friday, September 12.

Featured on the downloadable album will be two Guitar Hero exclusive renditions of Suicide & Redemption with extended solos by James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett.

Gamers looking to shred, drum and wail away to the Death Magnetic downloadable album need only purchase the content once as it is forward-compatible and will integrate seamlessly with Guitar Hero World Tour when it launches this October.

"We've been working very closely with Metallica and we're extremely excited to offer Death Magnetic not only in its entirety, but also with the exclusive recordings of Suicide & Redemption as downloadable content to Guitar Hero fans," said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision Blizzard. "We're proud to be setting a new precedent for our two industries, making an entire new album available in two different mediums simultaneously."

Metallica's Death Magnetic album will be available on September 12, 2008, for download on Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Store.