Perhaps Lars Ulrich finally learned the old adage, "Don't bite the hand that feeds." After infamously shaking his finger at the Internet's capabilities (file-sharing for those keeping score), the drummer is turning a new leaf in the wake of the leak of Metallica's new album, 'Death Magnetic.' The leak came to pass after a French record shop sold copies of the album nearly two weeks before it was due on shelves.

"If this thing leaks all over the world today or tomorrow, happy days," Ulrich told his local Bay Area radio station Live 105 FM. "It's 2008 and it's part of how it is these days, so it's fine. We're happy."

Among the leaked new tracks on 'Death Magnetic' are 'The Unforgiven III,' 'The Judas Kiss' and 'All Nightmare Long,' which frontman James Hetfield tells Spinner "might end up being the third release." "Metallica is very grateful to still be around because of our near-death experience with 'St. Anger,'" Hetfield says in an upcoming Spinner interview. "'Death Magnetic' has a lot to do with that near-death experience -- the reality of it, but also the gratitude that comes afterwards with where we are now, remaining together and being able to do what Metallica does best, and that is create music."

'Death Magnetic' will be available for purchase on iTunes and other download portals on September 12.