Metallica

Formed: 1981
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre: Metal, Thrash Metal
Years Active: 1982 -
Meaning of the Name: Lars Ulrich "stole" the name from a friend who was starting a heavy metal fanzine.
Core Members: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Way of Working: Led by Hetfield and Ulrich

Essential Releases

Kill 'Em All (1983)

Debut album. Raw, technical, lay the foundation of thrash.

Ride the
Lightning (1984)

More complex. Even features a ballad.

Master of
Puppets (1986)

Intricate album of technical mastery. Rated as the pinnacle of thrash by many.

Metallica (1991)

Took the sound into the mainstream. Either a giant leap forward or a momentous betrayal depending on who you ask.

Love them or hate them, Metallica's legacy as a revolutionary band is undeniable. Emerging from the fires of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWoBHM) in 1983, they constructed the first "thrash" LP, Kill 'Em All, by combining the technicality and precision play of bands like Iron Maiden with the speed and raw aggression of hardcore punk.

While groups such as Anvil pioneered playing heavy music at speed, it was Metallica who combined pace with the various other factors that made thrash thrash: fast riffs, complex drumming, changes in tempo, progressive song structures, and the ever important hostility.

These key technical elements became more pronounced over time, thanks in no small part to bassist Cliff Burton's knowledge of classical music theory which added to the band's sophistication in the form of counterpoint (see 'Orion') and key modulations. When Cliff died on tour in 1986, it devastated Metallica both professionally and personally.

Master of Puppets, considered by many to be their creative peak released only six months prior to Cliff's death. On their subsequent album, the bass was strangely absent... as if to commemorate his loss. But from tragedy came triumph, at least commercially: in 1991, Metallica conquered the world, topping the album charts in 10 countries including major markets such as the US and the UK.

Selling out is a term rarely heard in the modern world but in the later decades of the old millennium it was pervasive, due to an ongoing conflict between capitalism and authenticity. It was considered "dirty" by many to chase money unnecessarily and a significant portion of Metallica's fanbase believed they did exactly that with their "Black Album". The song structures were basic, the technicalities simplified to appeal to a mass market. To make matters worse, the band members even cut their trademark long hair and, like Samson, lost their strength.

This perceived loss of integrity, the band now sold out stadiums, was exacerbated by their hard stance against the file-sharing site Napster in 2000. For years, the underground thrash scene thrived on people trading tapes between friends. But as Metallica grew in fame and wealth, their perspective changed. Now, they wanted people banned for doing the same thing: sharing music.

Metallica gave birth to thrash metal as a reaction to the simplistic, commercial form of the genre played by glam bands. While Motley Crüe sang of "girls, girls, girls", Metallica made 'One', about a paraplegic soldier begging God to end his life.

Their music was about social and political corruption. '...And Justice for All', the song, features the lyrics 'their money tips her scales again' (said of Lady Justice). While 'Leper Green' takes aim at televangelists who trade religion for wealth:

'Send me money, send me green, heaven you will meet. Make a contribution and you'll get a better seat.'

Did Metallica destroy their legacy in an relentless quest for riches, or did they become more mainstream because they never truly recovered from the loss of Cliff Burton? Judge for yourself by delving into their discography.

Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?

90

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.

65

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.

95

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.

70

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?

55

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.

90

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.

70

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.

85

Screaming

i Technical attributes.

90

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.

95

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?

70

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.

45

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.

70

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?

60

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.

40

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.

80

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

• Grammy Award WINNER! x9:

Certifications >>>

• Kill 'Em All: Platinum in the US, Australia & Canada; Gold in the UK
• Ride the Lightning: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany & the UK
• Master of Puppets: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany & the UK
• ...And Justice for All: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany & the UK
• Metallica: Diamond in the US & Canada; Platinum in Australia, France, Germany, Japan & the UK
• Load: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada, Japan & the UK; Gold in France & Germany
• Reload: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada, & Japan; Gold in France, Germany & the UK
• St. Anger: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada & Germany; Gold in France, Japan, & the UK
• Death Magnetic: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada & the UK; Gold in France, Germany & Japan
• Hardwired... to Self-Destruct: Platinum in the US, Australia, Canada & Germany; Gold in the UK
• 72 Seasons: Gold in France & Germany; Silver in the UK

Charts >>>

• ...And Justice for All: Number 6 in the US; Number 3 in Germany; Number 4 in the UK
• Metallica: Number 1 in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany & the UK
• Load: Number 1 in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany & the UK
• Reload: Number 1 in the US & Germany; Number 2 in Australia & Canada; Number 4 in the UK
• St. Anger: Number 1 in the US, Australia, Canada & Germany; Number 3 in the UK
• Death Magnetic: Number 1 in US, Australia, Canada, Germany & the UK
• Hardwired... to Self-Destruct: Number 1 in US, Australia, Canada & Germany; Number 2 in the UK
• 72 Seasons: Number 1 in Australia, Canada, France, Germany & the UK; Number 2 in the US

Critics >>>

• Kerrang!: Kill 'Em All - 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time: 29th
• Kerrang!: ...And Justice for All - 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time: 42nd
• Kerrang!: Death Magnetic - Best Albums of 2008: 1st
• Kerrang!: Hardwired... to Self Destruct - Best Albums of 2016: 2nd
• Melody Maker: Metallica - Best Albums of 1991: 16th
• Metal Hammer: Death Magnetic - Best Albums of 2008: 1st
• Revolver: Death Magnetic - Best Albums of 2008: 1st
• Revolver: Hardwired... to Self Destruct - Best Albums of 2016: 1st
• Rolling Stone: Kill 'Em All - 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time: 35th
• Rolling Stone: Kill 'Em All - The 100 Greatest Albums of the '80s: 35th
• Rolling Stone: Ride the Lightning - 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time: 11th
• Rolling Stone: Master of Puppets - Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 167th
• Rolling Stone: Master of Puppets - 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time: 2nd
• Rolling Stone: ...And Justice for All - 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time: 21st
• Rolling Stone: Metallica - 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time: 25th
• Slant: Master of Puppets - Best Albums of the '80s: 90th

Similar Acts

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• Anthrax
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