As they've done for the past two summers, metal icons Metallica--who for months have been in the studio working on a follow-up to 2003's "St. Anger"--will log some stage time during a summer run on the European festival circuit.

So far, the group has rolled out seven Euro dates that span 11 days from late May through early June. Additional dates for the outing--dubbed the "European Vacation" tour--are expected. Details are posted at Metallica's <a href="http://www.metallica.com" target="_blank">website</a>.

Meanwhile, fans continue to wait for a new album from the group. The hard-rocking quartet--James Hetfield, Lars Ulrick, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo--announced in 2006 that they were working on the set with super-producer Rick Rubin. Last year, Ulrich tipped plans for a February 2008 release, but a <a href="http://www.StereoWarning.com" target="_blank'>StereoWarning.com</a> report published yesterday (1/21) that cites unnamed sources at the group's label claims the album won't surface until September.