While they prep for the next Metallica album, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich are leaving themselves plenty of time to get out and enjoy live shows.

The proof lies in a pair of fan-shot clips from a couple of recent Bay Area events — the first of which, recorded at Hammett's own Fear FestEvil in San Jose, was kind of a gimme for a sighting of the guitarist, whom you can see in the above clip taking the stage with Meshuggah for a performance of "Bleed."

A few days later, Ulrich pulled his own live cameo act, appearing behind the drum kit during Royal Blood's April 15 performance at the San Francisco club Slim's. As NME notes, Ulrich — who joined the band for set-closing number "Out of the Black," freeing up the drummer to stage dive, as you can see below — befriended the members of Royal Blood last year, taking them on a tour of the city that included a stop at the house used during the filming of Mrs. Doubtfire.

Meanwhile, Metallica are — according to Hammett — roughly 25 percent finished with their next record, which remains without a title or release date and will presumably end up on hold this summer while the group handles its upcoming tour commitments. Saying they've compiled "well over a dozen songs" and "well over two or 300 riffs," he hinted at a long wait for fans, musing, "The songs are ever-changing at this point. Nothing is etched in stone. We still have a lot of material have to sift through."

Watch Lars Ulrich Perform 'Out of the Black' With Royal Blood

See Metallica and Other Rockers in the Top 100 Albums of the '80s

Metallica Albums Rated From Worst to Best

More From 96.1 The Eagle