The metal-heads who thought Metallica had turned into tired old wussies should sit down and shut up for three minutes, because the quartet is back with a new song that ranks as its best work in decades.

On Thursday, Metallica teased its upcoming 11th album, “Hardwired . . . to Self-Destruct” (out Nov. 18), with the ferociously heavy track “Hardwired.” It’s a no-frills rager that addresses the seemingly perilous state of the world without mincing any words.

“We’re so f - - ked/S - - t out of luck,” growls singer James Hetfield with a palpable misanthropy, while Lars Ulrich’s gunshot drums capture him in the kind of form that few thought he still had in him. It’s the righteous blast of fury we didn’t know we needed . . . until now.

Although Metallica conquered the rock world with albums like the self-titled “black album” in 1991, the 21st century has been a leaner time for the California legends. Their stripped-down 2003 album “St. Anger” was poorly received, and while 2008’s “Death Magnetic” felt like an improvement, 2011’s “Lulu” — an experimental collaboration with Lou Reed — garnered some of the worst reviews of their entire career.

Sounds like they’re about to stop the rock rot.

Watch NY Post staffers listen to the new song for the first time: