Metallica was not shy about voicing their opposition to Napster and other file sharing services, but the band has now decided to join the digital age, albeit legally. On Tuesday, Metallica launched the Web site LiveMetallica.com, which will make each show on the North American leg of the Madly in Anger With the World tour available for download. The tour kicked off yesterday in Phoenix and a soundboard recording of each concert will be available within four days of the show. The cost is $9.95 per show for MP3 files or $12.95 for higher quality FLAC files.

"This is the next logical step in a process that began back in 1991 when we first implemented the ‘taper section’ at our shows, where the fans were encouraged to bring their own gear to record the show, and then take home their very own bootleg of the concert they had just seen," said drummer Lars Ulrich. "This technology will enable our fans to get the best possible recording of the show, without having to hold a microphone in the air for the entire night!"

Metallica promises to play a greater variety of songs from their catalog than they have in the past, switching up the set list for each show. They just started announcing dates for the third leg of the tour, which will begin in August. The dates so far are: 8/16, St. Paul, MN; 8/19, Indianapolis; 8/20, Milwaukee; 8/22, Moline, IL; 8/24, Peoria, IL; 8/25, Ft. Wayne; 8/27, Chicago; 8/30, Ames, IA; 9/24, Columbus. Check out metallica.com for updates.