Maybe the days just have more hours in them when you're a member of Metallica.

Somewhere between suing Napster, shooting a video for a new song on the "Mission: Impossible 2" soundtrack, and preparing for a summer tour with Korn, Kid Rock, Powerman 5000, and System Of A Down, Metallica bassist Jason Newsted is finding time for more work.

Newsted is in a San Francisco studio recording an album with his own side project, a power trio called Echo Brain. For the project, the bassist is hooking up with guitarist and vocalist Dylan Dokin and drummer Brian Sagrafena.

The trio has also lined up a slate of musical guests that includes Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, former Faith No More guitarist Jim Martin, and members of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

Newsted has not yet found a record label home for Echo Brain, nor has he lined up a release date. We'll keep you posted.