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Metallica

Formed in 1981, Metallica redefined what heavy music could be — from the ferocity of Kill 'Em All to the stadium scale of The Black Album. With over 125 million records sold, they remain the biggest metal band in the world.

Play Metallica Heardle Best Songs → Albums →
Formed
1981
Origin
Los Angeles
Albums
11
Records Sold
125M+
Latest Album
72 Seasons

About Metallica

Metallica formed in Los Angeles in October 1981 after Lars Ulrich placed an advert in the local paper The Recycler looking for musicians, and James Hetfield responded. The early band drew from the aggression of British heavy metal bands like Motörhead and Diamond Head, combined with the raw energy of hardcore punk — arriving at something faster and heavier than almost anything else at the time.

The band's first three albums — Kill 'Em All (1983), Ride the Lightning (1984) and Master of Puppets (1986) — defined thrash metal alongside Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax, the four bands later known as the Big Four. These records balanced breakneck speed with genuine musical ambition: long, structured songs, classical-influenced melodies and serious lyrical themes around war, addiction and mental illness.

Tragedy struck in September 1986 when bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a tour bus accident in Sweden at just 24. His bass playing and musical vision had been central to Metallica's sound, particularly on songs like Orion and The Call of Ktulu. The band continued, releasing ...And Justice for All in 1988 — arguably their most complex and demanding album — then reached a vastly wider audience in 1991 with Metallica, known universally as The Black Album. It became one of the best-selling albums in history.

Later decades brought sonic experiments, lineup changes, and a documentary (Some Kind of Monster, 2004) that gave an unusually candid look inside the band during a difficult period. Their return to heavier territory on Death Magnetic (2008), Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016) and 72 Seasons (2023) showed a band still capable of commanding arenas and generating headlines over 40 years in.

Top 10 Metallica Songs

Ranked by critical consensus, cultural impact and lasting importance to the Metallica catalogue.

01
Master of Puppets
Master of Puppets
The definitive Metallica track and one of the greatest heavy metal songs ever written. Its eight-minute structure shifts between crushing thrash and an eerily melodic mid-section before returning with even greater force. The clean arpeggios, the tempo changes, the political anger — nothing else sounds quite like it. Cliff Burton's bass work throughout is a masterclass.
1986
02
One
...And Justice for All
Inspired by Dalton Trumbo's anti-war novel Johnny Got His Gun, One builds from near-silence into one of metal's most harrowing climaxes. It was Metallica's first major music video and first top-40 US hit. The machine-gun double bass section at the end remains one of the most viscerally intense moments in rock.
1988
03
Enter Sandman
Metallica (The Black Album)
The song that introduced millions to Metallica — and arguably to heavy metal. Built around one of rock's most recognisable riffs, Enter Sandman opened The Black Album and became a global stadium staple. Its themes of childhood nightmares are deceptively simple, which is precisely why the song works at any scale, from a car radio to a 100,000-person arena.
1991
04
Fade to Black
Ride the Lightning
In 1984, a heavy metal band writing a slow, emotional song about the desire to die was genuinely unusual. Metallica received fan letters suggesting the song had pulled listeners back from the edge. The clean guitar intro, the gradual build, James Hetfield's naked vocal — it proved Metallica's range extended far beyond speed and aggression.
1984
05
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Ride the Lightning
Cliff Burton's distinctive overdriven bass intro is one of the most recognisable moments in metal. Inspired by a Hemingway novel, the song is slower and more groove-driven than much of the era's thrash, demonstrating the band's willingness to use space and weight rather than pure speed. A near-perfect live track for 40 years.
1984
06
Battery
Master of Puppets
The opening track on Master of Puppets begins with an acoustic Spanish-style intro before erupting into full-throttle thrash — a dynamic contrast that perfectly encapsulates Metallica's range. The main riff is relentless, Kirk Hammett's solo is brilliant, and it remains one of the purest examples of the band at their most aggressive.
1986
07
Nothing Else Matters
Metallica (The Black Album)
James Hetfield wrote this ballad on his phone, one-handed, while on the phone with a girlfriend. It was never intended for the album, but became one of Metallica's best-loved and most culturally widespread songs — covered by orchestras, used in films, adored by fans who would never otherwise listen to metal. A genuinely open and vulnerable piece of songwriting.
1991
08
Creeping Death
Ride the Lightning
One of Metallica's most popular live tracks, Creeping Death is written from the perspective of the Angel of Death in the Book of Exodus. Its mid-song chant section — where crowds yell "Die!" in unison — became one of rock's great crowd participation moments. Fast, hooky and vicious in the best way.
1984
09
Seek & Destroy
Kill 'Em All
From the debut album, Seek & Destroy has been a Metallica live staple for over 40 years. Its main riff is simple and endlessly catchy — more hard rock than thrash — which partly explains its longevity. It's also the crowd-pleasing closer Metallica often turn to when they want everyone moving at once.
1983
10
Blackened
...And Justice for All
The opening track on ...And Justice for All begins with the song played in reverse, then erupts into one of the fastest and most technically impressive performances in the Metallica catalogue. Jason Newsted's basslines are buried in the mix (a deliberate choice that remains controversial), but the riffs, the tempo shifts and Lars Ulrich's drumming are extraordinary.
1988

For a longer, more detailed ranking, see the full best Metallica songs guide.

Metallica Albums: Where to Start

Every Metallica studio album, with honest notes on who each one is for.

1983
Kill 'Em All
Start Here If: you want raw, fast, early thrash
The debut is rough around the edges but historically important and still great fun. Seek & Destroy, Whiplash and The Four Horsemen show the band's immediate instinct for anthemic riffs. Less polished than what followed, but infectious energy throughout.
1984
Ride the Lightning
Start Here If: you want to hear them evolve instantly
A massive leap forward. Metallica introduced melodic ballads (Fade to Black), progressive structures and genuine emotional range alongside the thrash template. Contains four songs that rank among their greatest work: For Whom the Bell Tolls, Creeping Death, Fade to Black and the title track.
1986
Master of Puppets
⭐ Best starting point for thrash Metallica
Widely considered one of the greatest metal albums ever made. Eight tracks, each distinct, none wasted. Battery, Master of Puppets, Disposable Heroes and the instrumental Orion show a band at absolute creative peak. Cliff Burton's final album before his death.
1988
...And Justice for All
Start Here If: you want complex, cerebral metal
Long, demanding and uncompromising. The production is notoriously dry (Jason Newsted's bass was mixed almost inaudibly), but the songwriting is extraordinary — One, Blackened and Harvester of Sorrow are career highlights. Not the best starting point, but essential once you're hooked.
1991
Metallica (The Black Album)
⭐ Best starting point for new listeners
The biggest metal album ever made. Metallica simplified, slowed down and wrote shorter, groove-driven songs — and the result sold 35 million copies. Enter Sandman, Sad But True, The Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters are all on this album. You've almost certainly heard most of it already.
1996
Load
Start Here If: you want a different side of Metallica
The most divisive album in the Metallica catalogue. Shorter hair, alternative rock influences and a much bluesier sound. Many fans rejected it at the time; many others now consider it underrated. King Nothing, Fuel and Hero of the Day are worth your time.
2008
Death Magnetic
Start Here If: you want their thrash-era return
Metallica's return to longer, heavier, thrash-influenced material after years of experimenting. Produced by Rick Rubin, it brought back some of the energy of their classic era. The loudness war mastering remains controversial, but The Day That Never Comes and All Nightmare Long are genuine highlights.
2023
72 Seasons
Start Here If: you want current Metallica
Their most recent studio album. Conceptually centred on the idea that childhood shapes who we become ("72 seasons" = the first 18 years of life). Heavy, confident and surprisingly vital for a band in their fifth decade. Screaming Suicide and Lux Æterna are standout moments.

Metallica: Key Moments

1981
Formation in Los Angeles

Lars Ulrich places an advert in the Recycler newspaper. James Hetfield responds. The band forms on October 28, 1981.

1982
Dave Mustaine fired; Kirk Hammett joins

The original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine is fired on the way to New York for the band's first recording session. Kirk Hammett of Exodus flies in to replace him. Mustaine goes on to found Megadeth.

1983
Kill 'Em All released

The debut album arrives. Originally titled Metal Up Your Ass before being changed at the label's insistence. A landmark in thrash metal history.

1986
Master of Puppets; Cliff Burton dies

The band's masterpiece is released. In September, the tour bus crashes in Sweden and bassist Cliff Burton is killed at age 24. One of the most significant losses in rock history.

1991
The Black Album changes everything

Metallica releases Metallica. It enters the Billboard 200 at No. 1, stays on the chart for years, and becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time. Metallica are now a mainstream rock act.

2000
Napster lawsuit

Metallica become the first major band to publicly sue Napster over music piracy, forcing the platform to block 300,000 users. Controversial but legally significant.

2003
Robert Trujillo joins

Former Ozzy Osbourne and Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo joins after a reportedly competitive audition process. He has remained in the band since.

2009
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction

Metallica are inducted in their first year of eligibility, presented by Rick Rubin. All four former bassists — Ron McGovney, Dave Mustaine (credited as early member), Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted — are included.

2013
Metallica perform in Antarctica

The band plays a concert in Antarctica for competition winners and scientists. To avoid disturbing local wildlife, the gig is played through individual headphones — making it officially the most remote and quietest Metallica show ever.

2023
72 Seasons and M72 World Tour

Their eleventh studio album is released. The M72 World Tour sells out stadiums across multiple continents with an innovative no-repeat setlist policy — two nights in each city with entirely different sets.

Metallica Trivia Quiz

Test your Metallica knowledge. Five questions — how many can you get right?

Metallica FAQs

When did Metallica form?
Metallica formed in Los Angeles on October 28, 1981, after Lars Ulrich placed an advert in a local newspaper and James Hetfield responded.
Who are the current members of Metallica?
The current Metallica line-up is James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar) and Robert Trujillo (bass). Trujillo joined in 2003.
What is Metallica's best song?
Master of Puppets (1986) is most commonly cited as Metallica's greatest song by critics and fans. Enter Sandman is their most commercially famous and widely heard. One, Fade to Black, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Battery are also consistently ranked among their best.
What is the best Metallica album for beginners?
The Black Album (Metallica, 1991) is the most accessible starting point, featuring Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and Sad But True. For the classic thrash-era sound, start with Master of Puppets (1986).
How many records has Metallica sold?
Metallica have sold over 125 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists in history and by far the best-selling metal act ever.
What happened to Cliff Burton?
Cliff Burton, Metallica's original bassist and one of the most talented bass players in rock, was killed in a tour bus accident near Dörarp, Sweden, on September 27, 1986. He was 24. His death had a profound impact on Metallica and the wider metal world.
Can I play a Metallica guessing game online?
Yes — Metallica Heardle on RockHeardle lets you guess Metallica songs from short audio clips. Free to play, daily or unlimited.