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Metallica is the biggest heavy metal band of all time. They have an enduring popularity matched by very few artists, and they’ve been a massive influence on modern metal and music culture. The current incarnation of Metallica is singer and guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo. From 1981 to the present day, this amazing band has forged a singular path to the peak of heavy metal mountain.
In this article, we’ll look at 15 of Metallica’s most iconic songs. From the raw power of Kill ‘Em All to the huge commercial success of The Black Album, the songs on this list come from the biggest albums in metal history.
What Makes Metallica Songs Instantly Recognizable
When you hear a Metallica song, the recognition is immediate. From Hetfield’s gritty vocals to Ulrich’s rhythms and Hammett’s riffs, Metallica adds its own flavor to the heavy metal menu. While the raw sound and production quality of their music has changed considerably over time, Metallica’s unique and unmistakable signature can be heard on every recording.
If you had to pick one thing to define the Metallica sound, it would have to be their iconic guitar riffs. Both melodic and aggressive, Metallica plays powerful down-picked rhythms against memorable hooks. It’s not all about the riffs though — the band is also famous for their intricate guitar solos and tight percussion grooves.
Metallica covers a broad range of subjects, from standard metal themes of death and religion to war, politics, and culture. While it’s a thrash metal band at heart, it also traverses speed metal, hard rock, and alternative sounds. You can’t define Metallica’s career with a single song, but “Seek and Destroy” is a great example of their thrash roots and “Enter Sandman” is the perfect embodiment of their commercial success.
The 15 Most Iconic Metallica Songs
Let’s check out 15 celebrated Metallica songs, presented here in no particular order:
One
This haunting song was released on Metallica’s fourth album, …And Justice for All. Written by Hetfield and Ulrich, it’s an intimate portrayal of a severely wounded soldier begging God to take his life. This song and its iconic video left a profound imprint on the mind of many listeners back in 1988. “One” features spoken word samples from the 1971 film Johnny Got His Gun, and the music video includes footage from the movie.
Master of Puppets
This powerful song is the title track from Metallica’s 1986 album, their beloved third long-player. “Master of Puppets” is the only single from the album, and it made a huge impression on the heavy music world. This song is about the influence of drugs, and it makes extensive use of the down-picking guitar technique. “Master of Puppets” enjoyed a renaissance a few years back, thanks to its inclusion in the fourth season of Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Fade to Black
This song was released in 1984 on Metallica’s second studio album, Ride the Lightning. It’s famous for its manic energy and fantastic guitar work, with an acoustic section building slowly as the song gets heavier over time. This structure became a familiar trope for the band, and it paved the way for future Metallica songs like “Welcome Home (Sanitarium),” “One,” and “The Day That Never Comes.” “Fade to Black” was Metallica’s first ballad, but it’s mostly remembered for one of the best guitar solos ever.
For Whom the Bells Tolls
This Metallica song was written by Hetfield, Ulrich, and Cliff Burton — the band’s original bass player, who died two years after this release. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” comes from Ride the Lightning, and it was also released as an edited A-side and full-length B-side 12-inch. Burton wrote the intro of this track before joining Metallica, playing it as a 12-minute jam with his band Agents of Misfortune in 1979.
Seek and Destroy
This 1983 song comes from Metallica’s debut studio album, Kill ‘Em All. It was the first track the band recorded in a proper studio, with the boys adding a little polish to their raw thrash energy. “Seek and Destroy” has long been a fan favorite and a mainstay of Metallica concerts from the ’80s onward. In the 2004 documentary film Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, this song is used to highlight the band’s progression over time. It’s one of the first thrash metal songs, but it was inspired by Diamond Head’s “Dead Reckoning.”
Enter Sandman
If you asked the general public to name one Metallica song, “Enter Sandman” would surely top the list. As the lead single from their self-titled fifth album, this track was a massive commercial smash. Lyrically, “Enter Sandman” deals with the concept of childhood nightmares. Musically, one extremely memorable riff moves forward at a tempo of 123 BPM. This song references the bedtime prayer “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” and the lullaby rhyme “Hush Little Baby,” helping inspire Metallica’s popularity at the time.
Ride the Lightning
As the title track to Metallica’s celebrated 1984 studio album, this song carries a lot of weight. While the entire album marks the musical growth of the band since Kill ‘Em All, this track is a definite standout. It deals with a complex subject matter, with lyrics referencing an inmate sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit. This song is a long way from the thrash punk of Metallica’s first record, and it paves the way for the rest of their career.
…And Justice for All
This is another title track, this time from Metallica’s celebrated fourth album of 1988. “…And Justice for All” is an epic song by any measure, with diverse rhythms and musical blocks joined over 9½ minutes. The title comes from the last four words of the Pledge of Allegiance, and the lyrics reference government corruption and the ills of modern democracy.
Blackened
This song also comes from Metallica’s 1988 album, …And Justice for All. It’s another example of the band dealing with huge themes, this time nuclear warfare and the extinction of humanity. This is the first song by the band with a writing credit by Jason Newsted, who succeeded Cliff Burton on bass and stayed with the band until 2001. This is another fan favorite, and it’s a massive inspiration for many alternative rock artists.
Nothing Else Matters
“Nothing Else Matters” is a hugely popular power ballad released on Metallica’s self-titled 1992 record. Known as The Black Album after its minimal cover artwork, it remains the biggest-selling Metallica album by far. This song was the third single from the album, and it presents a slower and more accessible version of the band. “Nothing Else Matters” is a radio favorite even today, with its heavy guitars and orchestral arrangement putting Metallica in the global spotlight.
Sad But True
This song also came out on The Black Album, this time as the fifth and final single. “Sad But True” is composed in D, with the band tuning their guitars down after being inspired by Mötley Crüe’s “Dr. Feelgood.” This song was released in multiple formats, and it was often accompanied by the track “So What?”
“Sad But True” has been covered many times, including a memorable rendition by The HU from Mongolia and a not-so-memorable version by Kid Rock. If you’re looking for easy songs to learn on guitar, “Sad But True” can be a good choice.
Creeping Death
“Creeping Death” was released on Ride the Lightning in 1984 as the first and only commercial single. Guitarist Kirk Hammett wrote the lead riff from this song when he was 16, and the lyrics are written from the perspective of the “Destroyer” or “Angel of Death.”
“Creeping Death” has always held a special place in the Metallica discography. Fans absolutely love it. It’s a popular choice during live Metallica performances, and it’s one of the great metal songs of all time.
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
This song is Metallica’s second-ever ballad, following the masterful “Fade to Black” from Ride the Lightning. Released in 1986 on the Master of Puppets album, “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” presents the tale of a man trapped in a mental asylum, looking to revolt. The dark lyrics are partially inspired by the 1975 movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which stars Jack Nicholson as a mental patient.
The Day That Never Comes
This song comes from later in Metallica’s career, on their ninth studio album, Death Magnetic. It was released in 2008, and this song was the lead single. While Metallica’s post-millennium releases don’t hold the same status as their earlier work, “The Day That Never Comes” is a great example of their perseverance. The lyrics of this track are inspired by a father-son relationship, and they tackle the subject of forgiveness.
Battery
We’ll finish this list with a classic Metallica song from 1986. “Battery” was released on Master of Puppets, which represents peak Metallica according to many fans. This is a fast thrash metal classic, full of youthful vigor and raw metal power. While the lyrics refer to a violent confrontation, the band also has a historical connection to a metal club at 444 Battery Street. This is a pure head-banging classic, and it’s one of the best metal tracks of all time.
The Evolution of Metallica Songs by Era
To understand the impact and longevity of Metallica, you need to put their career into perspective. From 1981 to the present day, these four (sometimes changing) men have played a huge role in defining heavy metal music.
Metallica’s long and successful career can be split into the following eras:
Early Thrash Years
This period includes three Metallica albums: Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, and Master of Puppets. According to most hard-core fans, these early Metallica albums represent the ultimate version of the band. While Kill ‘Em All is a fantastically raw and dirty record, the two later releases balance pure metal power with complex themes and intricate guitar work. “Fade to Black” and “Master of Puppets” define this period, as they showcase two very different sides of this maturing band. If you’ve ever wondered, “what was Metallica’s first song?” it’s a great track called “Hit the Lights.”
Mainstream Breakthrough
This period includes …And Justice For All and The Black Album, an incredibly successful chapter in Metallica’s career. The first record saw the band maturing, as they experimented with new song structures and lyrical themes. While it’s not always successful, the ambition of this record is obvious from the first riff.
The Black Album is another story altogether, with the band delivering a much more accessible collection of songs. “One” is a definite standout from this period, and you can’t ignore the commercial success of “Enter Sandman.”
Complicated Phase
This period of Metallica’s career is complicated, with the quantity of music released often outweighing the quality. The albums released during this chapter include Load, Reload, and St. Anger. Even singer James Hetfield mentions that the albums were of average quality. If you’re looking for songs like “Enter Sandman,” however, this period has some great options, such as “King Nothing” and “The Memory Remains.”
Return to their Roots
This is the last period of Metallica’s long and heavy career, and it’s not over yet. The three albums released so far in this chapter are Death Magnetic, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, and 72 Seasons. Death Magnetic sees the band return to raw thrash metal, and the other two are a continuation of this raw sound. “The Day That Never Comes” is a fantastic song from this period, and “Inamorata” is a successful 11-minute opus with energy and purpose.
Final Thoughts on Metallica’s Musical Legacy
Few bands have impacted modern music like Metallica. They helped define the shape of heavy metal in the ’80s, they brought hard rocking riffs to the masses in the ’90s, and they kept on going and going in the new millennium. While peak Metallica may be in the rearview mirror, the band’s new records continue to get love from fans and critics alike.
If you want to explore Metallica’s amazing catalog for yourself, I’d recommend starting in chronological order. To test the waters and make your first heavy metal playlist, the Metallica songs mentioned above are the perfect start.
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