Metallica "Death Magnetic" and the new marketing o

Metallica has announced a Sept. 12 release date for its Rick Rubin-produced "Death Magnetic" album. While it will be available on conventional CD and on a two-LP set, the band is also selling it in multiple other configurations for what seem like steep prices:

A 5-LP 45rpm set is going for approximately $110 (yowsa). A coffin-style box is also fetching more than $100. And fans can get mailed a download of the record on midnight upon release, as well as two live shows for $25. But they get no physical format for that cost. Not at all like the friendly prices the New Pornographers and Stephen Malkmus charged for immediate access to their last records, which also came with extras and the promise of a physical format.

Also of note, the record will be made available as a paid download for Guitar Hero game players. No doubting the marketing here, but the cost is another matter.