Metallica

Metallica emerged from the collision of James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich in Los Angeles, 1981, after the Danish-born drummer placed a classified ad in The Recycler. Ulrich's connections to the burgeoning Bay Area scene and Hetfield's rhythm guitar prowess formed the foundation for what would become thrash metal's most commercially successful export. Early experiments with Lloyd Grant gave way to Dave Mustaine's recruitment, before the band relocated to San Francisco and embedded themselves in the underground metal community.

The formative period crystallized through relentless gigging at Ruthie's Inn and other Bay Area venues. Cliff Burton's arrival in 1982 transformed Metallica from promising upstarts into compositional powerhouses. Burton's classical training and innovative bass techniques elevated tracks like "Orion" and "The Call of Ktulu" beyond typical thrash parameters. Following Mustaine's volatile departure in 1983, Kirk Hammett's recruitment from Exodus completed the classic lineup.

Kill 'Em All (1983) on Megaforce Records established Metallica as American thrash metal's vanguard. Ride the Lightning (1984) and Master of Puppets (1986) through Music for Nations/Elektra represent genre pinnacles, combining technical precision with sophisticated songcraft. Burton's tragic death in a Swedish bus crash, 1986, marked a devastating turning point. Jason Newsted's 15-year tenure began with the complex arrangements of ...And Justice for All (1988).

The seismic shift arrived with 1991's Black Album, produced by Bob Rock. This streamlined approach yielded massive commercial success - over 16 million copies sold - while alienating purists. The 90s experiments Load (1996) and ReLoad (1997) incorporated alternative rock elements, further dividing the fanbase. Following Newsted's departure in 2001, Robert Trujillo's recruitment in 2003 stabilized the lineup through St. Anger (2003), Death Magnetic (2008), Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016), and 72 Seasons (2023).

Discography

1983 - Kill 'Em All (Megaforce Records)
1984 - Ride the Lightning (Elektra Records)
1986 - Master of Puppets (Elektra Records)
1988 - ...And Justice for All (Elektra Records)
1991 - Metallica (Elektra Records)
1996 - Load (Elektra Records)
1997 - ReLoad (Elektra Records)
2003 - St. Anger (Elektra Records)
2008 - Death Magnetic (Warner Bros. Records)
2016 - Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (Blackened Recordings)
2023 - 72 Seasons (Blackened Recordings)

Important EPs
1982 - No Life 'Til Leather (Demo)
1998 - Garage Inc. (Cover compilation)
1999 - S&M (with San Francisco Symphony)