Metallica will take a break from recording its new album to appear with classical music pianist Lang Lang at the 56th annual Grammy Awards on January 26. It is unknown what song or songs they will perform together. It's not the band's first offbeat collaboration, of course. This unusual shared performance follows Metallica's 2011 album with the late Lou Reed on 'Lulu.' It's also not their first time dabbling in the world of classical music, as fans of 1999's symphonic live album 'S&M' will remember.

Recording sessions for the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2008's 'Death Magnetic' will also be halted for a March run of concerts in South America. "When we're locked away in the studio," the band announced via its website, "we like to break out from time to time to gain some inspiration from you and all the love we feel when we go on the road."

A summer tour of Europe has already been set, as well. Metallica has already announced that a new song will be part of their set lists in 2014.

Meanwhile, the home-theater release of the recent band-curated documentary 'Through the Never' is set for January 28 release on DVD, 3D Blu-ray, digitally and video on demand via Metallica's Blackened Recordings.

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