WATCH: Metallica's making-of video for 'Atlas, Rise!'

Filmed on location at their San Rafael HQ, the clip shows the band members piecing together riffs, drum fills, bass lines, guitar solos and vocals with the help of producer Greg Fidelman. 

Particularly interesting to see is the dynamic of Lars and Het, as they trade riff and timing ideas, trying to wrestle segments of the song into one cohesive composition. The video also reveals the song's original title as 'N.W.O.B.H.M. A.T.M.', suggesting a Maiden influence on the dual guitar melodies. Hetfield recently confessed to geeking out upon meeting Iron Maiden's Steve Harris in Canada.

Also notable is Kirk's comparative lack of time in the studio, which James Hetfield admitted to our own Paul Anthony was because, "he had a lot of life things going on".

Watch the video below:

And for comparison, the finished song:

Metallica recently streamed the final North-American show of their globe-spanning WorldWired tour on YouTube, ahead of them bringing it to the UK this October for five sold out arena shows.