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🇺🇸 United States · 1981–present

Metallica

When you think of Metallica, a powerful, fast sound with energy that makes you want to move likely comes to mind. From their beginnings in 1981 in Los Angeles, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich laid the foundation for what would become a pillar of thrash metal. Their style, characterized by fast rhythms, intense instrumental passages, and powerful execution, positioned them as undisputed leaders of this genre, alongside other important bands. The current lineup, with Hetfield and Ulrich at the forefront, along with Kirk Hammett on lead guitar and Robert Trujillo on bass, has maintained that essence, but the band's history is also marked by those who passed through it, such as Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted on bass, and Dave Mustaine on guitar, who later founded Megadeth.

The path to wider recognition began to take shape with Master of Puppets in 1986, an album many consider a metal masterpiece. It was followed by ...And Justice for All in 1988, which earned them their first Grammy Awards nomination. However, it was with their self-titled 1991 album, also known as The Black Album, that the band experienced a significant shift. This record, which explored a more accessible sound, opened the doors to a massive audience and became one of the best-selling albums in U.S. history. After exploring different musical directions in the following years, with works like Load (1996) and Reload (1997), Metallica returned to their roots with Death Magnetic in 2008, receiving praise similar to their earlier works. Their most recent album, 72 Seasons, was released in 2023.

Heavy metal Metal Hard rock Thrash metal 1980s

4 Albums

44 Songs

5,3M Listeners/mo

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Essential songs

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Seek & Destroy

Kill ’Em All

Whiplash

Kill ’Em All · 2016

4:09 03

Motorbreath

Kill ’Em All · 2016

3:08 04

The Four Horsemen

Kill ’Em All · 2016

7:13 05

Hit the Lights

Kill ’Em All · 2016

4:17 06

Jump in the Fire

Kill ’Em All · 2016

4:41 07

(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth

Kill ’Em All · 2016

4:15 08

Phantom Lord

Kill ’Em All · 2016

5:02 09

No Remorse

Kill ’Em All · 2016

6:27 10

Metal Militia

Kill ’Em All · 2016

5:11

4 album|s · 1983 — 1996

Full discography

1996 ★ Essential

Metallica

16 song|s

1988 ★ Essential

…And Justice for All

10 song|s · Heavy metal

1986 ★ Essential

Master of Puppets

8 song|s

1983 ★ Essential

Kill ’Em All

10 song|s · Hard rock

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Related artists

Megadeth

Pantera

Iron Maiden

Black Sabbath

Ozzy Osbourne

AC/DC

Details, awards, members and more

More about Metallica

Biography

Metallica's career also includes moments beyond the purely musical. In 2000, the band led a lawsuit against the file-sharing service Napster, a milestone in the discussion about copyright in the digital age. Their creative process and internal dynamics were captured in the documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004), which focused on the production of the album St. Anger (2003). In 2009, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing their impact on music. Additionally, they have participated in cinematic projects such as the concert film Metallica: Through the Never (2013). With sales exceeding 163 million albums worldwide, and multiple Grammy Awards to their name, Metallica has demonstrated a longevity and drawing power that few artists achieve.