Metallica- Intro
Written on January 1, 2010
Metallica
Overview
Metallica are one of the original “Big-4″ bands of thrash metal along with Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. They are also the best selling of these bands and arguably the most popular. Metallica released their debut album “Kill ‘Em All” in 1983. They followed up “Kill ‘Em All” with what most fans consider their main sequence of albums: “Ride The Lightening” in 1984, “Master of Puppets” in 1986, and then finally “…And Justice For All” in 1988. They released “The Black Album” in 1991, and although it was a departure from their thrash roots, it cemented their status as one of the premier heavy metal acts in the world. During the next 17 years, Metallica released a series of less powerful studio albums, greatest hits albums, and live albums, before returning in 2008 with “Death Magnetic,” which was a complete return to thrash metal form.
Styles and Genres
Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal
Key Band Line-Up
James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Lars Ulrich – drums
Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
Cliff Burton – bass guitar, backing vocals
Current Band Line-Up
James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
Kirk Hammett – lead guitar, backing vocals
Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals
Lars Ulrich – drums
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I used to consider Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets and …And Justice for All the “Big 3″ of Metallica’s sound. Released two years apart, they follow a similar formula- 8 tracks (9 for And Justice For All), one being instrumental. I still they define what Metallica’s sound should be remembered as, despite the large body of crappy work they have amassed in the current millinium. However, I begin to think Kill Them All might be their finest work. Am I Evil? and The Four Horsemen (co written with Dave Mustain from Megadeth when he was still in the band; Megadeth’s Mechanix on their first release is the same song with different lyrics) are masterpieces. But neither comes close to Motorbreath, which blows me away more than 20 years after first hearing it.
Mike, I agree with your analysis of Metallica. And, I think their First album could be the best. It grows on you over time, and it has a rawness that the other albums lack. I also think that’s were the original thrash metal guitar sound was founded.
I’d like to point out that Am I Evil is a cover of Diamond Head’s track of the same name. Other than that, I agree that Kill Em All is a solid thrash album.