It's seriously turning into the war of the music franchises with both Rock Band and Guitar Hero seemingly at each others' throats in a quest to secure the biggest and best bands.

Rock Band managed to nab the likes of AC/DC and also recently announced the acquisition of The Beatles license to create some form of game, and now, "the worst kept secret in rock-n-roll" has finally been officially unveiled, with Guitar Hero being the platform of choice for a full Metallica title.

Guitar Hero Metallica allows you to play as us in either single instrument or band career game modes in your choice of some famous settings (Tushino Airfield anyone?) or new venues with in the round staging. Included are 28 Metallica songs along with a few from some of our buddies like as Alice in Chains, the Foo Fighters, Slayer, Machine Head and Queen. There is also an all new Expert+ difficulty setting featuring two bass drum kick pedals (!!!) along with all the gameplay modes from Guitar Hero World Tour.

Pretty rad they're introducing an Expert+ mode and utilising GHWT's ability to have two kick pedals. It's also pretty cool we'll be seeing more Foo Fighters, Alice and Chains and the like along with older (and better) Metallica tracks. More news will be made soon, according to the release we received, and you can expect the game sometime early 2009.

Double pedals eh?

When they include Divine Heresy or Hate Eternal to GH, I might give it a go :P

needs more Strapping Young Lad and Meshuggah too.

There is also an all new Expert+ difficulty setting featuring two bass drum kick pedals (!!!) along with all the gameplay modes from Guitar Hero World Tour.

f*** yes! Now I wonder if I can use my Axis Pedals ;)

Entices me to fork out the cash to get GH now

needs some dimmu borgir, american head charge, mudvayne... then i'll be opening the wallet...