The video, which does not feature the band, is an alternate history narrative done in grainy mockumentary style, depicting a sequence of fictional events following the historic 1908 Tunguska event, at which Soviet scientists discover spores of an extraterrestrial organism, a small harmless thing resembling an armored worm. The music video, directed by Roboshobo (Robert Schober), debuted on December 7, 2008, on Metallica's official website.