James Hetfield & His Underrated Rock Hall Induction Speech

James Hetfield celebrates his birthday today (August 3.) While plenty will be paying tribute to him on this day, we thought we’d take a moment to look back on when he paid tribute to Black Sabbath during their 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

There is always a debate about the “best speeches” in the ceremony’s history. There have been plenty of dramatic, bombastic induction speeches. However, there’s something incredibly endearing about Hetfield’s speech, which was about half the length of the one Lars Ulrich gave to induct Sabbath.

He was funny, straight-to-the-point and vulnerable. You could tell what he was doing meant the world to him.

When describing himself as a little boy first getting into Sabbath, Hetfield said, “He was drawn to them like a magnet to metal. That’s pretty lame, yes. Okay, I’ll try again: More like a shy boy to his own loud voice. Those monstrous riffs lived inside him and spoke the feelings he could never put into words, sending chills of inspiration through him from those gloomy lyrics and outlaw chords and all. They helped crack the shell he was stuck in. Also, scaring his mom and his sister was an extra bonus.”

Hetfield’s complete remarks can be heard below beginning at the 6:40 mark. (Some NSFW language ahead.)

Metallica is one of the most revered bands of all time with a catalog any up-and-coming band could only dream of having. It’s impossible imagining the rock/metal landscape without them.

With this in mind, we did a deep dive on the mighty Metallica catalog focusing only on albums/EPs with new material (sorry, Garage Inc.) but excluding Lulu, their infamous 2011 collaboration with Lou Reed for obvious reasons (not sorry about that.)

Buckle in for a wild ride that will likely get very opinionated, because here is every Metallica song ranked from worst to best. Yeah-Yeah!

Author credits(EB) = Erica Banas(AE) = Anne Erickson(SP) = Sara Parker(ST) = Sydney Taylor

When Metallica recorded “Suicide & Redemption,” they probably felt that the track harkened back to the iconic instrumentals from early in their catalog. In reality, it’s an extremely bloated exercise that is 9:58 too long. (Note: The track clocks in at 9:58.) (EB)

“Purify” sounds like someone threw a soup can into a dryer with a microphone, and then tossed in some spare change halfway through. It makes Hetfield’s desperate pleas feel all too real: “Can’t you help me? Won’t you help me?” We wish we could, James. (SP)

Enough has already been said about the snare drum sound on ‘St. Anger,’ so we won’t beat that dead horse anymore. However, it’s especially distracting on “Shoot Me Again.” (EB)

Once again, the snare drum is awful. On the plus side, Metallica’s “My World” isn’t nearly as bad as the Guns N’ Roses song also titled “My World.” (Yes, this is a stretch and a complete grasping of straws, but this song just isn’t good.) (EB)

How ironic that one thing “Attitude” thoroughly lacks is attitude. “Reload” has some bite, but you won’t find it here. This is just half-baked, flavorless filler. (SP)

“Sweet Amber” is the closest we get to a recognizable Metallica track from ‘St. Anger.’ Clocking in at just under five and a half minutes (making it one of the shortest songs on the album -- mercifully), it opens with a somewhat catchy riff that unfortunately doesn’t really go anywhere interesting. Although the lyrics have been speculated to be about James Hetfield’s alcoholism, the book ‘The Monster Lives: The Inside Story of Some Kind of Monster’ reveals that “Sweet Amber” was actually written about tensions with their label. (ST)

We all know Metallica was going through a lot during the making of ‘St. Anger,’ but this track just lacks that oomph and energy fans love about the band. When you revisit it, the unnamed feeling you feel while listening to “The Unnamed Feeling” is just sadness. (EB)

Metallica’s 2011 EP ‘Beyond Magnetic’ consists of four roughly mixed tracks that never made it onto 2008’s ‘Death Magnetic.’ “Hell And Back,” like the rest of the songs written for ‘Death Magnetic,’ is strong and features the heavy and bombastic style that we’ve come to know from Metallica. The song seems to deal with James Hetfield’s struggle with addiction. “And when the night has fallen / It falls hard and then it all begins / When she starts her calling / I feel my darkness grow within.” (ST)

The chugging riff is rather catchy, but the lyrics to “Bad Seed” are feel less than inspired. (“Swing the noose again/Pierce the apple skin/You bit more than you need/Now you're choking on the bad seed”) (EB)

An ode to the summer tour circuit, “Lords of Summer” was given an appropriate debut: live, in concert. It’s a bold move to play a rollicking 8-minute epic for an entire stadium that’s never heard it, but Metallica does what Metallica wants. The track was recut for the deluxe edition of ‘Hardwired’ a couple years later. (SP)

There are plenty of bright spots on 2016’s 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct,' but “Murder One” just isn’t one of them. It lands with a big ol’ “meh.” The fact that the song is a tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister just makes it a total bummer, because the track just doesn’t measure up to Lemmy’s legend. Then again, what does? (EB)

Metallica’s 1991 self-titled record, commonly referred to as ‘The Black Album,’ has gotten a lot of flak over the years due to the band leaning towards a more commercial sound. The sixth track on the record, “Don’t Tread On Me” is one of the heaviest songs on the album and, surprisingly, James Hetfield’s least favorite. The most interesting and unexpected aspect of this song is the homage to Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “America” from ‘West Side Story.’ (ST)

Sure, lyrics like “Suck on the barrel/Suck on the barrel/Suck it 'til it's gone dry” are both jarring and distracting. And sure, “Just a Bullet Away” is far from a great Metallica song. But why were this track and the three others on the ‘Beyond Magnetic’ EP cut from ‘Death Magnetic,’ while “Suicide & Redemption” made the cut? What a head-scratcher! (EB)

Here’s a wild (not-so) fun fact: “Better Than You” won the 1999 Grammy for Best Metal Performance and managed to beat out Rammstein's "Du hast." Even the biggest Metallica fan in the world would admit that “Du hast” is *way* better than “Better Than You.” (EB)

The fifth track on ‘Hardwired… To Self Destruct’ kicks in with a Black Sabbath-inspired riff that fades into the grunge feel of 1996’s ‘Load’ (which as we know, most Metallica fans can live without). Although not a bad track, “Am I Savage?” is not particularly memorable. (ST)

You’d think Metallica wouldn’t even attempt “The Unforgiven III” considering how subpar “The Unforgiven II” was, but alas, they decided to give it a go anyway. Should’ve just left well enough alone. (EB)

The riff and the lyrics are uninspired and, frankly, rather boring. “Slither” could’ve just slid onto the cutting room floor, and no one would miss it. (EB)

It really feels like Metallica tried to make “What don't kill ya make ya more strong” happen like it was “Fetch!” or something. Nonetheless, now that this list is in the double digits, there’s far more meat to these songs, especially here, on the extended guitar solo following the second chorus. (EB)

While it's certainly not one of the band's best songs of all time, “Invisible Kid” does capture the lo-fi aura of what Metallica were trying to create with ‘St. Anger.’ That said, the track drags on for eight minutes, overstaying its welcome a bit. (AE)

Sure, "The Judas Kiss" off 2008's ‘Death Magnetic’ is a cool song title, but it's certainly not a stand-out in the band's repertoire. Musically, the song is a bit like a mix between "Whiskey in the Jar" and "Enter Sandman," which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not nearly as good as either of those songs. (AE)

Is the song about the devil or maybe something hornier? Perhaps that’s up to the listener to decide, but the riffs in “Devil’s Dance” sound super sleazy and really wouldn’t be out of place at your local jiggle joint. (EB)

James Hetfield takes a cold hard look at his issues with alcoholism on “Dirty Window.” While it’s one of the shorter tracks on ‘St. Anger,’ clocking in at 5:24, it could’ve easily been more effective with at least a minute trimmed off. (EB)

“Here Comes Revenge” is the flame that keeps the fire burning on the second half of 2016’s ‘Hardwired… To Self Destruct.’ The song is powered by a massive riff and covers a rather heartbreaking topic. In an interview with Marky Ramone, Hetfield said that the song was written for a couple that became fans of Metallica through their daughter whom they tragically lost in a car accident involving a drunk driver. “I was just trying to put myself in their shoes,” Hetfield said about writing the song, “It just hit me: ‘How can you guys find something positive in the world to connect you to your daughter again’ — which was Metallica, the music she loved.” (ST)

You can kind of see what Metallica was trying to do, but “The Unforgiven II” just could never measure up to the grandiose epic that was “The Unforgiven.” Let it serve as yet another reminder that not everything needs a reboot/sequel. (EB)

A doomy song, written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich with Robert Trujillo. Hetfield’s lyrics show a lack of faith in humanity (and can you really blame him?). (AE)

A song about death on an album titled ‘Death Magnetic.’ Crazy, right? Speaking of crazy, there are a lot of different elements and tempo changes to this track... almost as if the band took a variety of song ideas and just threw them together. It’s a very chaotic listen but not in a fun way. (EB)

Knock knock. Who’s there? It’s the “Hate Train” and James Hetfield’s the conductor and he’s furious! What Papa Het’s angry about isn’t quite known, however, his vocals on the chorus are rather haunting. (EB)

Metallica explored many political themes on ‘...And Justice for All,’ and in the decades since its release, many of those themes are still just as relevant today. In the case of “The Shortest Straw,” ideas around blacklisting are broached. (“Suspicion is your name/Your honesty to blame/Put dignity to shame/Dishonor/Witch-hunt, modern day/Determining decay/The blatant disarray/Disfigure”) How funny that if released today, somehow both sides of the political aisle would think the song is about their opponents. (EB)

It's hard not to immediately think of the infamous Metallica documentary of the same title when revisiting “Some Kind of Monster.” And that might frustrate some fans. However, one of the most frustrating things about this track is its lost potential. Like many ‘St. Anger’ tracks, it’s just too damn long when there was no real need for the length. (EB)

As commanding as this title sounds, the song itself is less convincing. Hetfield’s musings on witch hunts are carried by a steady stomp that harkens back to “Sad But True”. The lyrics are strong, but the delivery fails to dominate. (SP)

“Good day, how do?” We’re now in the thick of the ranking where the songs aren’t great, but they aren’t bad, per se. They’re just...fine. An above average hard rock band would probably kill for a riff like this, but Metallica is well above average, so “Wasting My Hate” is just...well...fine. (EB)

Perhaps Metallica’s way of trying to be dark and cheeky, “Prince Charming” paints a bleak picture of an unfortunate reality for the song’s protagonist despite the seemingly warm and inviting title. (“I'm the forty-five that's in your mouth, I'm a dirty, dirty whore.”) At least the solid riff and groove can distract the listener from the self-sabotage. (EB)

“Thorn Within” is a song that seemingly grapples with being your own worst enemy. There is loads (pun intended) of potential here, but a monotonous riff throughout drags the whole track down. (EB)

Lars and James’ swinging interplay throughout the track give levity to the visceral image of rust and blood congealing. James channels his inner martyr to paint the picture for us, leaning hard into his tormented snarl. (SP)

“Carpe Diem Baby” packs some big swagger that always delivers regardless of how many times you revisit the track. No need to search for a hidden meaning here. Just seize the day, motherf---ers! (EB)

“The House Jack Built” isn’t the first song about alcoholism/sobriety on this list and it won’t be the last. Even novice drinkers know which “Jack” James Hetfield is referring to, and if it wasn’t already obvious, lyrics like, “Is that you there or just another demon that I meet?" make it a bit clearer. (EB)

We’re certainly a far cry away from the magical world Maurice Sendak created in the classic children’s book of the same name. Something far more sinister lies within the realm of this Metallica tune, and it’s seemingly about how often young people are sent off to fight battles their elders started. (“So wake up, sleepy one/It’s time to save your world/You’re where the wild things are/Toy soldiers off to war”). (EB)

It’s understandable why 'Load’ pissed off so many of the Metallica faithful with its very jarring departure from metal, but for those that dig bluesy, twangy hard rock, the album had some unique standouts, like “Poor Twisted Me.” The track delivers a straight-from-the-groin groove that is hard to deny, even for the biggest haters. (EB)

Despite Metallica embracing a very different sound on ‘Load,’ one thing about the band that didn’t change was their penchant for epics. “The Outlaw Torn” is a wild jam that clocks in at 9:48, the longest track on ‘Load,’ but it was originally nearly 11 minutes long. A chunk of the jam was cut so the album could easily fit on a CD without potentially impacting playback. However you feel about ‘Load,’ “The Outlaw Torn” brings the LP to a very mighty close. (EB)

“Rebel Of Babylon” is another solid, aggressive track with a monster riff on the ‘Beyond Magnetic’ EP that makes us wonder how it didn’t make the cut on ‘Death Magnetic.’ It only leaves more questions for the band and the album’s producer Rick Rubin. (EB)

“Chasing Light” is by no means a “bad” song, but it just doesn’t stand up to many of the other songs on ‘72 Seasons’ and subsequently the rest of the Metallica catalog. On a 77-minute album, it just feels like filler. (EB)

Call it Metallica’s “Jeremy”: our titular character is bullied to the point of committing a mass shooting. Though never confirmed, it’s presumably based on actual events that occurred in Washington about a year before ‘Load’ was released. (SP)

Originally picked as the lead single for the Black Album before being beat out by “Enter Sandman,” “Holier Than Thou” brings the defiant attitude you’d expect from the band, but with an air of maturity. Rumor has it that Hetfield wrote the song about his agitation with producer Bob Rock, but he later clarified that it was a jab at the music industry at large. (SP)

"Of Wolf and Man” might just be one of the most bizarre songs in Metallica’s catalog. The track’s narrative follows a man that turns into a wolf during a full moon. Once again, it’s very bizarre, but its tight groove is a pleasant distraction from the lyrical content. Oh, and how is it that Ted Nugent hasn’t covered this song by now? That seems like a lost opportunity for the Motor City Madman. (EB)

The topic of James Hetfield’s late mother is broached a number of times on ‘Load’; “Cure” addresses both his mother and his upbringing as a Christian Scientist, which is strongly against medical treatment. (“Betting on the cure/It must get better than this/Betting on the cure/Yeah, everyone's got to have the sickness/'Cause everyone seems to need the cure/Precious cure.”) (EB)

Lars Ulrich’s military-style drums that open “The Struggle Within” add a nice touch to the closing track of “The Black Album.” In fact, the entire drum track is just killer and truly adds to the intensity of the mental health anguish explored in the song’s lyrics. (“While you struggle inside your hell-ow/(Reaching out) Reaching out/Grabbing for something you have got to feel/(Closing in) Closing in/The pressure upon you is so unreal.”) (EB)

Metallica is certainly not the band to get “softer” with age, especially when it comes to lyrical content. James Hetfield discussed the PTSD-themes in “Confusion” in an interview with the Metallica fan club zine ‘So What!’ saying, “... PTSD is everywhere, man. Things that happen to you in your childhood, or you know, sports figures, anyone who wears a uniform, who’s gone out there and portrayed a life of service, giving, or using force, power... There’s lots of different forms of PTSD, even being in a band...everything’s worked out for you...and then you get home; 'What’s my plan? What am I doing today?’ Feeling a little lost, trying to plug into your family. And they’re [saying], 'Where are you? Hello?' Everything’s taken care of. Why am I needed? I’m not needed!” (EB)

Regardless of the controversy amongst fans regarding 1996’s ‘Load’, “Hero Of The Day” is a shining moment from the album. The song was a far cry from the band’s earlier thrash metal, but is a certified radio classic and became the band’s second consecutive number one hit on the Billboard Rock charts. (ST)

The namesake of Metallica’s charity foundation comes from this final track off of ‘St. Anger.’ The nonprofit has done an incredible amount to support a wide range of organizations and causes. “All Within My Hands” caught a second wind as the single from ‘S&M2’ 16 years later, when the orchestral polish of the San Francisco Symphony made this hidden gem shine. (SP)

When listening to “St. Anger,” it’s difficult not to think back to the track’s music video filmed at San Quentin State Prison and how the song’s themes draw clear parallels to the prison’s inmates. Snare drum complaints aside, the song is still solid long after its release. (EB)

The opening track for an album sets the tone for the rest of the LP. “Frantic” did that, leading off ‘St. Anger.’ The song’s abrasive fury could inspire even the most on-edge person to say out loud, “You know what? I need to sit down and collect my thoughts for a minute.” How else are you supposed to process lyrics like, “My lifestyle determines my death style”? (EB)

Metallica is a thrash band at their core, and they really lean into that on the ‘Death Magnetic’ track "My Apocalypse." It's not the strongest track, though, largely due to Hetfield's lyrics, as he barks, "Mangled flesh, snapping spines/ Dripping bloody valentine/ Shattered face, spitting glass." (AE)

“Screaming Suicide” was one of the songs previewed in the lead-up to the release of ‘72 Seasons.’ Like many Metallica songs before, it doesn’t shy away from dark subject matter. James Hetfield said in a statement about the song, "'Screaming Suicide' addresses the taboo word of suicide. The intention is to communicate about the darkness we feel inside. It's ridiculous to think we should deny that we have these thoughts. At one point or another, I believe most people have thought about it." (EB)

Kicking off with a haunting bass riff from Jason Newsted, “My Friend of Misery” is slyly biting and brutal. (“They say the empty can rattles the most/The sound of your own voice must soothe you.”) Understandably, the track gets a bit buried by some of the monster hits on “The Black Album,” but “My Friend of Misery” packs a ton of power and deserves more attention than it gets. (EB)

Halos and fire. Heaven and Hell. Good and evil. This is the overarching theme of the longest track on ‘Hardwired...To Self-Destruct.' James Hetfield would tell the Metallica fan club zine ‘So What!’ of the track, “There’s a juxtaposition in all of us, good, evil, and when does that come out, when does it show itself? Some people portray themselves as real saints, [and] the more their darkness is, the more they have to portray themselves as saints. So, you’re basically getting away from the real ‘you,' like you’re making up for all of this [stuff] that you think is really bad.” (EB)

Simply put, Robert Trujillo’s bass on “Sleepwalk My Life Away” rules, and Kirk Hammett’s solo is killer. The song may be about how life can be monotonous, but this track is anything but that. (EB)

Metallica is known for its lengthier tunes, so “Through the Never” is always refreshing since it packs so much punch and philosophical thought in a tight 4:04. (“All that is, was, and will be/Universe, much too big to see/Time and space, never ending/Disturbing thoughts, questions pending.”) (EB)

Written at the last minute in the studio for 1984’s ‘Ride The Lightning’ — with the intent of potential radio air-play — “Escape” ranks pretty low on the list of the band’s personal favorites from their catalog. Despite only being played live once (at the band’s Orion Music festival in 2012), the song has since been covered by modern metal giants Hatebreed and Gojira and has gained a cult following amongst diehard fans. (ST)

Kirk Hammett’s solo on this track is ridiculous! Holy f---in’ s---! That’s it. That’s what we have to say about “The End of the Line.” (EB)

Written about his mother whom he lost to cancer at age 16, James Hetfield’s lyrics to “Mama Said” are as moving as they are heartbreaking. (“I took your love for granted/And all the things you said to me/I need your arms to welcome me/But a cold stone's all I see.”) The country influence is strong here, but even if country isn’t your thing, you’d have to be crazy to not embrace this ballad. (EB)

The second shortest track on ‘72 Seasons,’ “Too Far Gone?” is a wallop with a sing-a-long chorus that’s going to sound even bigger when it’s sung by a packed stadium. Sure, Metallica is known for their epics, but they can crank out a radio-friendly tune, too. (EB)

“No Remorse” was certainly Kirk Hammett’s time to shine, as the song kicks off with a forty five second long blistering lead from the band’s newest member. Dare I say, this is extremely catchy for a thrash metal tune. Like every single song on the band’s 1983 debut, “No Remorse” is yet another thrash metal classic. (ST)

Upon first listen, “Ain’t My Bitch” sounds like it could’ve easily found a decent home on “The Black Album,” but then you hear Kirk Hammett play his slide guitar and then you quickly realize this track is a completely different animal altogether, which was definitely the overarching sentiment of ‘Load.’ (EB)

James Hetfield’s struggle with the loss of his mother and his family’s Christian Science faith surfaces again on “The God That Failed.” The pain and anger Hetfield feels is palpable and devastating. (“I see faith in your eyes/ Never you hear the discouraging lies/I hear faith in your cries/Broken is the promise, betrayal/The healing hand held back by the deepened nail/Follow the god that failed, yeah.”) (EB)

The murky, Black Sabbath-inspired intro into a heavy thrash riff is quite the chef’s kiss moment to kick off “That Was Just Your Life,” which is the opening track to ‘Death Magnetic.’ It was likely a welcome sound to many fans who were let down by ‘St. Anger’ five years earlier. (EB)

Packed with incredible dark swagger, “If Darkness Had a Son” is full of struggle against inner demons. The track has a lot of heft and feels not-so-loosely inspired by James Hetfield rehab stint in 2019 and his new sobriety path. (EB)

Metallica sure does enjoy the Cthulhu Mythos, and on “Dream No More,” we find H. P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu being directly confronted via a heavy, gloomy soundtrack that also features Robert Trujillo providing backing vocals. Another solid track from Metallica’s 10th studio album. (EB)

Co-written by Dave Mustaine, who later formed the thrash group Megadeth, “Phantom Lord” is often referenced as one of Metallica’s most underrated tracks. The scorching riff sports a punk influence, as does many other songs from this record, including “Hit The Lights” and “Whiplash.” (You know what they say: Mustaine “Wrote ‘Em All!”) (ST)

One of two original tracks written for Metallica’s performance with the San Francisco Symphony (more on the other one later), “-Human” deals with themes of fighting and escaping looming mortality, which was probably an interesting change of pace for the members of the San Francisco Symphony. (EB)

“2 x 4” leans heavily into blues rock territory with a healthy dash of forefathers Black Sabbath. While most of Metallica’s biggest songs are primarily in the metal vein, “2 x 4” remains an underrated track that should really get more love. (EB)

“All Nightmare Long” opens with an interesting riff that definitely has an “Enter Sandman” vibe, but then it settles into a hard AF thrash riff perfect for a song that describes a recurring nightmare about someone being hunted. The track is rather creepy but, somehow, rather fun. (EB)

James Hetfield dips back into the well of lunacy for paradoxical lines like “You might just bury me/Or you might set me free.” The mirrored room amplifies his reflections, blurring the line between reality and insanity. The song culminates in a dizzying fun house ride of dueling guitars and double bass. (SP)

Ah, a love song. To be united in eternal damnation is the ultimate commitment: “We could live forever.” This could be one of the most romantic songs in the Metallica catalog, second only to “Nothing Else Matters”. (SP)

“Bass solo, take one.” Cliff Burton’s signature solo track takes us on a journey, moving from haunting to playful to formidable over the course of four minutes. It’s more of a showcase of his personality than his talent, and it’s compelling all the same. (SP)

One of the most notable from the band’s debut record, “Jump In The Fire” is a riff assault that served as a precursor to what we would continue to see from Metallica for years to come. Appearing on Ron McGovney’s ‘82 Garage demo, “Jump In The Fire” was one of the first original songs in the band’s history and was also co-written by Dave Mustaine; although Hetfield changed and edited Mustaine's original lyrics to be something much less sex focused. (ST)

Familial relations are a recurring topic in the Metallica catalog, and those relations don’t tend to inspire warm and fuzzy tunes. “Fixxer” is a prime example. (“But tell me, can you heal what father’s done?/Or fix this hole in a mother’s son?/Can you heal the broken worlds within?/Can you strip away so we may start again?”) It closes ‘Reload’ on a very bleak note, but everyone musically shines on the track. (EB)

Metallica has often closed out their albums with lengthy tracks. ‘72 Seasons’ is no exception. In fact, “Inamorata” is the legendary band’s longest recorded track in their history clocking in at a whopping 11:10. Despite that timestamp, the track really moves and honestly doesn’t feel like 11 minutes at all. It brings ‘72 Seasons’ to a triumphant end and marks Metallica’s best album of the 21st century. (EB)

Metallica and their fans may have prided themselves on not being part of the mainstream in the ‘80s, but the ‘90s were a different story. There’s nothing wrong with writing a kick-ass tune that’s also accessible to the masses. Exhibit A: “The Memory Remains.” The track earns bonus points for likely introducing guest vocalist Marianne Faithful to a whole new generation. (EB)

The lead track off the band’s newest release features skittish guitars, which set the tone before breaking into a confident gallop that almost immediately slows down so that Hetfield can recite his trademark rhyming lyrics, only to go full-tilt again before we get too comfortable. The blindsides continue for seven and a half minutes. Metallica’s epics can sometimes be too long, but the length of “72 Seasons” feels right. Some may disagree, but pretty much everyone can agree this opening track is incredibly bold and sets the tone for the album. (SP)

"The Thing That Should Not Be," off 1986's ‘Master of Puppets,’ makes references to H.P. Lovecraft, not unlike "The Call of Ktulu" off ‘Ride the Lightning.’ That said, this is a great example of how Metallica's '80s songs are often influenced by science fiction, taking the listener on a wild ride with a surprise ending. (AE)

The vibe the San Francisco Symphony brings to “No Leaf Clover,” an original track penned for ‘S&M’, cannot be overstated. The lushness of their playing provides a unique juxtaposition for the heft of James Hetfield’s lyrics, especially on that devastating chorus: “Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel/Was just a freight train coming your way.” (EB)

How gut-wrenching are the lyrics of "Dyers Eve," off ‘...And Justice for All?’ "Dear mother, dear father/You clipped my wings before I learned to fly," Hetfield growls as the heavy song launches. It's well known that Hetfield's father left when he was 13 and his mother passed away not long after. The personal nature of "Dyers Eve" coupled with the track's thrash assault makes it one of Metallica's most open and honest songs. (AE)

Atlas, bearer of the heavens in Greek mythology, is summoned to lead this Maiden-esque charge into battle. The lyrics are some of the best in Metallica’s latter-day catalog; you can almost hear the sly grin through Hetfield’s call to arms. (SP)

“Shadows Follow” follows the storming opening title track on ‘72 Seasons.’ One might expect the band to let up on the gas a smidge after such a massive opener, but Metallica opts to double down and somehow push the accelerator through the floor on this charging tune. All four members shine bright and are firing on all cylinders. “Shadows Follow” will certainly be a setlist highlight on future shows. (EB)

“Fuel” could be renamed “Meme,” and fans would likely know the song you’re talking about considering its intro lyric and use of Papa Het’s popular “Yeah!” Similar to “The Memory Remains,” “Fuel” is a booming tune that perhaps attracted more people to Metallica. Once again for those in the back: It’s not a sin to create art that also appeals to the masses. (EB)

"Metal Militia" is the final track off 1983's ‘Kill 'Em All,’ and it, of course, packs a punch. As the story goes, it was mainly written by Dave Mustaine when he was still in the band. What makes "Metal Militia" a stand-out is simply how fast it is; back then, Metallica were really at the forefront of thrash metal. And the song was an anthem for metal fans worldwide. (AE)

Releasing their first record since the alternative rock explosion, Metallica definitely used some inspiration from the Seattle bands of the time who were ruling the rock charts; especially Soundgarden and Alice In Chains. This influence is scattered throughout the entirety of the record, but is especially present on “Until It Sleeps.” Even with the backlash the band received due to the chopping of their hair and the upheaval of the bands image, Metallica remained as successful as ever. “Until It Sleeps” climbed to the top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts, earning the band their first number one. (ST)

Even though Dave Mustaine hasn’t played a note on a single Metallica recording, his influence and writing was prevalent on the band’s debut. Especially on this song; Metallica’s first epic. “The Four Horsemen” was originally an idea from Mustaine’s previous band, Panic, and was later also used in Mustaine’s own band, Megadeth, for the track “Mechanix.” The second song on ‘Kill ‘Em All’ is anything but predictable, flowing through a myriad of melodic sections while keeping the intensity that fans continued to crave on future releases by both Metallica and Megadeth. (ST)

The entire ‘Ride the Lightning’ album is a mark of massive growth for Metallica, especially on its title track, which deals with an inmate sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit. Musically and thematically, these were not the same punk kids we met on ‘Kill ‘Em All,’ and this evolution would carry the band through to their masterpiece third studio album ‘Master of Puppets.’ (EB)

A beautiful, yet heartbreaking tribute to late bassist Cliff Burton, who receives a songwriting credit on this nearly 10-minute epic. (The bassline was written by Burton before his untimely passing and performed by Jason Newsted on the LP.) The only “lyrics” to the song is a four-line spoken-word section with the final two lines penned by Burton: “All this I cannot bear to witness any longer. Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home?” (EB)

Some songs you’re only able to write when you’re young and hungry. “Motorbreath” is one of those songs. Packing a heavy dose of Motorhead influence and “f--- you” attitude, the track floors it out the gate and never takes its foot off the gas for the entirety of its 3:07. It’s living hard and fast in the finest way possible. (EB)

This track explores the concept of corruption, manipulation, and greed within religion. James Hetfield’s furious vocals accompany the heavy, inverted power chords perfectly. This one definitely goes down as one of the best on the record. And for ‘Master Of Puppets,’ that’s saying something. (ST)

"Bleeding Me" is one of the only Metallica songs that features a Hammond organ, giving it a vintage sound. But the lyrics hit hard: as Hetfield told ‘Playboy’ in their infamous 2001 Metallica feature, “Around the time of ‘Load,’ I felt I wanted to stop drinking. ‘Maybe I'm missing out on something. Everyone else seems so happy all the time. I want to get happy.’ I'd plan my life around a hangover: ‘The Misfits are playing in town Friday night, so Saturday is hangover day.’ I lost a lot of days in my life. Going to therapy for a year, I learned a lot about myself. There's a lot of things that scar you when you're growing up, you don't know why. The song ‘Bleeding Me’ is about that: I was trying to bleed out all bad, get the evil out. While I was going through therapy, I discovered some ugly stuff in there.” (AE)

Kirk Hammett referred to “Spit Out The Bone” as the ‘Mount Everest’ of the Hardwired album, and it’s certainly ambitious. We’re shown their full range of power here: wild solos trade off with a bass-heavy stomp, Hetfield beckons in one line and growls in the next, and Ulrich punctuates the narrative with his relentless drums. (SP)

“The Frayed Ends of Sanity” is an incredibly complex song that was never played live in its entirety until the 2014 “Metallica by Request” tour where fans voted on every setlist. After finally being performed live after being released 26 years prior, the track would surface on 11 more setlists. (EB)

We got four syllables for ya: Hurdy-gurdy! Perhaps Metallica’s most unique and most underrated ballad, “Low Man’s Lyric” is a stunning, melodic tune and one of the bright spots on ‘Reload.’ (Depending on who you ask, it’s *the* brightest spot on the entire LP.) You can safely say that no other song sounds like it in the Metallica catalog. According to Setlist.fm, the last time “Low Man’s Lyric” was performed live was back in September 1998 at a show in Chula Vista, Calif. Perhaps it’s time to throw this gem randomly on an upcoming setlist? (EB)

It’s amazing that “Eye of the Beholder” - a song about freedom of speech - hasn’t surfaced more during the 2020s with all the discourse about “cancel culture,” books being banned in schools, and other arguments related to social media. Its chorus is alarmingly relevant to this day: “Independence limited/Freedom of choice is made for you, my friend/Freedom of speech is words that they will bend/Freedom with their exception.” Like “The Shortest Straw,” the song still likely resonates on both sides of the political aisle, for different reasons. (EB)

Anyone concerned about whether Metallica is still able to churn out bangers needs to look no further than “Moth Into Flame,” a standout from their 10th studio album that was inspired by an unlikely source: Amy Winehouse. James Hetfield talked about watching the 2015 documentary ‘Amy’ and said in an interview in 2016, “Just watching that movie was extremely saddening – how her life went from being such a lively joyous person, to someone who was just trying to escape the reality of where she was... Growing up with it, how do you deal with fame? How does it affect you? At what point do you realize, ‘This might not be as healthy as I think it is for me?’” (EB)

On an album as genre-defining and monumental as ‘Ride The Lightning,’ it’s hard to keep the momentum from start to finish. But Metallica did just that. “Trapped Under Ice” kicks off side two of the album and is the blood-pumping monster needed to pick up the pace after the previous “Fade To Black.” Fills and solos from Hammett give even more power to this true thrash metal classic. (ST)

What a brutal song, from its sheer force to its narrative about a young soldier. The feverish pace at which Lars Ulrich plays the drums is so intense that you can almost feel your own pulse increase when revisiting this incredibly heavy track. And the refrain of “Back to the front!” never fails to hit you right in the gut. (EB)

"Orion" is a sentimental song for both Metallica and the band's fans, as it features late bass player Cliff Burton in a lead role. The song, co-written by Burton, kicks off with a collection of imaginative, sustained bass chords. And then there’s Burton's solo, which metal bassists continue to analyze to this day. (AE)

The lead track on Metallica’s first album in eight years makes a statement, and that statement is “Yep, still got it, motherf---ers.” These three minutes of speed-metal delirium are as sharp as any ‘Kill ‘Em All’ cut. The flippant attitude here - “We’re so f—ed! S--- outta luck!” - feels more delighted than doomed. After all, if we’re gonna go out, we might as well go out with a bang. (SP)

Don’t you just love it when the metal DROPS?! That’s what happens in the seemingly peaceful intro to “...And Justice for All,” and then comes the booming riffs and Lars Ulrich’s massive drums. If only the song’s lyrics – a critique of our justice system -- didn’t ring so true today. (EB)

"The Call of Ktulu" closes out ‘Ride the Lightning’ with an epic instrumental, offering murky riffs, sharp guitars and fiery solos. It's a true banger, with the title being a(nother) reference to H.P. Lovecraft’s story of the same title. It's well-known that Burton was a major fan of the writer. (AE)

“The Day That Never Comes” was a clear example of Metallica returning to their roots. The clean guitar intro is extremely reminiscent of “Fade To Black” from 1984’s ‘Ride The Lightning’ or “The Unforgiven” from 1991’s self-titled release. Lars’ unruly snare sound from ‘St. Anger’ is gone and Hetfield’s vocals are back on top. (ST)

“Then it all crashes down/And you break your crown/And you point your finger/But there's no one around.” Particularly scathing in its themes about perceived power and those that desire to have it, “King Nothing” is a near-flawless tune seemingly made for radio. Killer groove? Check. Bold guitar solo? Check. Massive chorus? Check. (EB)

"Harvester of Sorrow" is Metallica at their doomiest, featuring a dark undertone and thrash metal bite. James Hetfield doesn’t really spell it out for you, but the song seems to be about a man who is descending into insanity. Finally, at the end, he snaps and murders his loved ones. Creepy, yes, but also very Metallica. (AE)

A re-introduction to the band after the death of Cliff Burton, the opener of ‘Justice’ takes us on a turbulent ride. There’s enough time changes to make your head spin, and perhaps that was by design: Metallica were rising from the ashes of loss and proved how laser-focused, progressive and punishing they could be. Showy? A little, but their technical proficiency is undeniable. (And if you need a stiff drink after that whirlwind, Metallica named their branded whiskey after this track.) (SP)

“Roamer, wanderer, nomad, vagabond/Call me what you will.” Symbolic of road life for any rock band, “Wherever I May Roam” remains one of Metallica’s biggest arena-ready anthems from Lars Ulrich’s steady, yet thundering, drums to Kirk Hammett’s blistering solo to ample use of “Yeah-yeah!” (EB)

Latin for “eternal light,” “Lux Æterna” has everything there is to love about Metallica compressed into three and a half minutes. We hear a melodic guitar hook, Hammett shredding his fingertips away, and Hetfield calling out into the cosmos. The best part is that it sounds like the band is enjoying themselves, and after decades of trial and error and public scrutiny, they deserve to have a bit of fun playing this music. Heavy metal doesn’t always have to be so serious. (SP)

The lead track on their debut album, “Hit the Lights” may have been the first introduction to Metallica for some fans, and what a vigorous introduction it is! The band wastes no time telling people who they are and what they stand for. (“No life ‘til leather/We’re gonna kick some ass tonight/We got the metal madness/When our fans start screaming it’s right.”) (EB)

As previously stated, ‘Ride the Lightning’ showed that Metallica were no longer the punk kids we first met on ‘Kill ‘Em All,’ and “Creeping Death” is a perfect example. Punk kids usually don’t write songs about the Plagues of Egypt or write melodies, riffs and solos *this* sophisticated and blistering. The track is an outstanding achievement on a stellar album. (EB)

"Fight Fire with Fire" stunned fans with its acoustic intro – which was played by the late Cliff Burton. Coming off of the brutal ‘Kill ‘Em All’ album, no one expected delicate acoustics to kick off a Metallica record. But before you could get too used to the stripped-down sound, the song exploded into a full-fledged anthem, and one of metal’s greatest album openers. (AE)

If there’s one song that exemplifies Bay Area thrash, it’s “Whiplash.” Breakneck picking speed, double-time snare, banging faces against the stages: it checks all the boxes. Unabashedly self-referential, this is not only a blueprint of a genre, but the band’s mission statement: “We'll never stop, we'll never quit, 'cause we're Metallica.” (SP)

The high placement of “I Disappear” will likely upset a significant amount of people, and some angry DMs are likely in this writer’s future. (Honestly, bring it the f--- on, because you can’t please everyone.) However, “I Disappear” matters both as an undeniable hard rock treasure and to Metallica’s overall history. The track remains far more memorable than ‘Mission: Impossible 2’ thanks in part to James Hetfield’s “Hey, hey, hey” hook and Lars Ulrich’s chugging drums on the chorus. And then, of course, there’s the song’s connection to Metallica’s battle with Napster. The band may have taken significant heat during that legal fight, but never forget they were right for doing what they did. (EB)

"Nothing Else Matters" is a classic ballad; the fact that it was so unexpected made it even more powerful and moving. It appeals to both metalheads and pop fans, making it one of the band's most mainstream songs. It’s one of their few songs that appeals to non-metal fans. (AE)

Often referred to as Metallica’s first “ballad,” this track from the band’s magnum opus ‘Ride The Lightning’ (1984) is one of many that showed the band’s versatility; they could actually shift speeds from the aggressive thrash we saw on 1983’s ‘Kill ‘Em All.’ Like many Metallica songs, the lyrics dive into a rather heavy topic: the contemplation of suicide. The lyrical content has hit home for fans far and wide since its release and has remained one of the band’s greatest moments. (ST)

What’s the password? For the uninitiated in ‘91, the entry point for new Metallica fans was “Enter Sandman.” The lead single off of the Black Album opened the door of discovery, not only for the band but for an entire genre. “Enter Sandman” was a “gateway drug” for metal. Metallica’s legacy, from their underground thrash classics to their mass-appeal metal jams, has been debated to death over the past three decades. Was this ultimately good exposure for an underappreciated sound, or did Metallica just sell out? One thing is certain: that persistent, satisfying riff paired with nightmarish lyrics was the formula that sent Metallica into the stratosphere. (And that kid reciting the prayer? That’s producer Bob Rock’s son.) (SP)

“The Unforgiven” is a spiritual descendant to “Fade To Black.” The intro’s clean guitar has a western-esque feel that bleeds into a power chord heavy verse, and then simmers into a lighter chorus; breaking Metallica’s traditional song structure. It’s undoubtedly one of the most melodic songs we’ve heard from the band. It has thought provoking lyrics, aggressive *and* restrained vocals from Hetfield, melodic instrumentation from Kirk Hammett, and solid production. And no, “The Unforgiven” doesn’t hold the same aggression that you get on a song like “Whiplash,” but Metallica has always been able to incorporate a hefty dose of melody; this is a great example of that. (ST)

Grim and gripping, “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” is horrific in nature, but it’s a horror from which you just can’t look away. James Hetfield’s vivid lyrics paint a painful picture of mental suffering that is quite real and likely more common than most would be comfortable to admit. The word “heavy” gets bandied about often and is mentioned a lot on this list, but there really isn’t a better word to accurately describe the weight of this ballad. (EB)

"Seek & Destroy” remains a setlist mainstay all these years later for a reason. It is a straight-forward anthem that sounds just as fresh today as it did when it was first released in 1983. The lives of the surviving members of the band lineup from ‘Kill ‘Em All’ have changed over the years, but whenever they play “Seek & Destroy” live, all that piss and vinegar energy comes back. May they never lose that for the rest of their days. (EB)

‘Master of Puppets’ was the first (and so far, only) heavy metal album to be added to the National Recording Registry. It’s a thrash masterpiece, and our introduction to this collection of hellfire is the dizzying “Battery.” Hetfield takes the lead with the fervor of a guitar-wielding Don Quixote, and the rest of the band churns and spins around the chaos produced by his right hand. An ode to chosen family and the San Francisco scene that birthed Metallica, the song has become a rallying cry for metalheads - who can now justify a circle pit in the Library of Congress. (SP)

This is a rare Metallica track that practices restraint. There’s no complex arrangement here, and no wild deviations. It’s a different kind of swagger. Hetfield personifies every dark justification in your mind: “I'm your truth, telling lies / I'm your reasoned alibis,” fully seeping into your psyche before declaring “I’m you.” (SP)

‘Master of Puppets’ is one of Metallica's greatest albums, and the record comes to a screeching halt with the fiery "Damage, Inc." With five-and-a-half minutes of pure rigor and hard-charging heavy metal, the song is aggressive, fast and imaginative-- the perfect way to cap off such a legendary record. (AE)

With three albums under their belt by 1988, the band felt more confident in their compositions and used ‘Justice’ as an opportunity to experiment. Exhibit A is their magnum opus “One.” Hetflield’s lyrics and Hammett’s somber guitar solo set a devastating scene: a soldier begging for death after battle robs him of his limbs and senses. Metallica turn up the tension with artillery sounds and machine-gun blast beats, illustrating the horrors of war in a terrifying sonic arc. This track earned Metallica the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1990, providing just a shred of redemption for NARAS after the Jethro Tull misstep the year prior. (SP)

The remarkable growth Metallica showed on ‘Ride the Lightning’ is perfectly encapsulated in “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” It’s an absolute giant of a track that was a statement on metal’s evolution and where it was going as a genre. Its two-minute intro is the textbook definition of “epic.” If ‘Kill ‘Em All’ was where Metallica learned to crawl, then ‘Ride the Lightning’ and its strongest song “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was where the band learned to sprint. (EB)

How does one succinctly describe a song that’s not only *so* important to an iconic band but so important to the culture of a genre? Imagining metal without “Master of Puppets” is like imagining the pop world without “Billie Jean” or “Purple Rain.” Finding an entry point to describe a song as impactful as “Master of Puppets” is difficult, but perhaps the best test is really trying to think of how different the landscape would be without it and its influence. It’s hard to imagine a world without “Master of Puppets.” Thankfully, we never will. (EB)

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