With the need for blood at a 12-year high, Australia's national blood service has been given a boost from an unlikely source - iconic heavy metal band Metallica.

The collaboration between Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the rock band's foundation, All Within My Hands , comes as the American band is set to return to Australia in November with its marathon M72 world tour .

Metalhead donors in selected centres in the week before each tour stop, receive a limited-edition Metallica t-shirt designed by the band's artist SQUINTO.

The t-shirts will be available to donors who sign up or have previously signed up to Lifeblood's loyalty program, Lifeblood Gifts, and who donate at metro centres.

These include Perth Donor Centre from October 25 to October 31; Adelaide Donor Centre from

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