James Hetfield’s son, Castor Hetfield, displayed evident annoyance when fans attempted to draw comparisons between him and his father

On April 2, 2022, BASTARDANE, a new band featuring drummer Castor Hetfield, the son of METALLICA frontman James Hetfield, showcased their talents at El Rocko Lounge in Savannah, Georgia. The band’s debut album, “Is This Rage?” has recently been released, and the official highlight reel of the performance is now available.

Comprising 21-year-old Castor Hetfield on drums, Jake Dallas on vocals/bass, and Ethan Sirotzki on guitar, BASTARDANE is a hard rock trio based in Savannah. The band originated in 2019 when a group of college students, brought together by their shared love for music, started jamming in basements and backyards. Their musical style combines fast high-gain riffs, power chord grooves, heavy feedback, and clean, dissonant chord progressions.

In an interview with Savannah Morning News, Castor explained that the band members, having grown up in different places and exposed to various music genres, contribute their unique voices to create a distinct sound. Naming their genre has proven challenging, as their music draws from diverse influences.

Castor, influenced by bands like CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, OPETH, and TOOL, expressed his view on the frequent mention of his father, James Hetfield, in articles about BASTARDANE. While acknowledging that they are all their fathers’ sons, Castor emphasized the annoyance of being compared, stressing that they are individuals making their own music. Despite James Hetfield’s success, the band wants to establish its identity without riding on anyone else’s achievements.

Interestingly, BASTARDANE is not the only instance of METALLICA members’ offspring following in their footsteps. Drummer Lars Ulrich’s sons play together in TAIPEI HOUSTON, and bassist Robert Trujillo’s son Tye plays bass for OTTTO. In December, these bands, including BASTARDANE, were part of METALLICA’s “San Francisco Takeover,” a citywide celebration of the band’s 40th anniversary.

Looking ahead, BASTARDANE and OTTTO are set to co-headline a West Coast U.S. tour in late May, starting at the METALLICA-headlined BottleRock 2022 festival in Napa Valley. Castor Hetfield’s family connection to METALLICA extends to his mother, Francesca, who married James Hetfield in 1997. Francesca, originally from Argentina, used to work on wardrobe for METALLICA. The Hetfields have two other children, Cali (born 1998) and Marcella (born 2002).