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)

Products with “Metallica”

METALLICA · Load (Remastered) | BLACK 2LP

Heavy Metal. Released on 13/06/2025, via Universal Music. Black double 180g vinyl in gatefold sleeve with two inserts and download card. "Load" is…

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METALLICA · Load (Remastered) | DELUXE BOX SET

Heavy Metal. Box Set, released on 13/06/2025, via Universal Music. Limited and numbered deluxe box set featuring a total of 301 tracks (245…

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METALLICA · Load (Remastered) | DIGISLEEVE CD

Heavy Metal. Released on 13/06/2025, via Universal Music. Remastered edition with new digi sleeve and booklet. "Load" is the sixth studio album by…

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METALLICA · Hardwired...To Self-Destruct | FLAME ORANGE 2LP

Thrash Metal/Heavy Metal. Released on 05/07/2024, via Mercury Records. Flame orange double-vinyl in gatefold sleeve with 2 inserts. Limited edition.…

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METALLICA · Death Magnetic | MAGNETIC SILVER 2LP

Thrash Metal. Released on 07/06/2024, via Mercury Records. Magnetic silver double-vinyl in gatefold sleeve. Limited edition. Metallica's "Death…

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METALLICA · St. Anger | SOME KIND OF ORANGE 2LP

Thrash Metal/Heavy Metal. Released on 03/05/2024, via Mercury Records. Some Kind Of Orange double vinyl in gatefold sleeve. Limited edition. When…

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METALLICA · Garage Inc. | FADE TO BLUE 3LP

Thrash Metal. Released on 05/04/2024, via Mercury Records. Clear blue triple vinyl in standard cover. Metallica's "Garage Inc." stands as one of the…

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METALLICA · 72 Seasons | BLACK 2LP

Heavy Metal. Released on 14/04/2023, via EMI Music. Black double vinyl in gatefold sleeve. After six long years since "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct"…

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METALLICA · 72 Seasons | DIGIPAK CD

Heavy Metal. Released on 14/04/2023, via EMI Music. Digipak with slipcase. After six long years of anticipation, Metallica returns with their…

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METALLICA · 72 Seasons | VIOLET DLP

Heavy Metal. Released on 14/04/2023, via EMI Music. Violet double vinyl in gatefold sleeve. 72 Seasons Shadows Follow Screaming Suicide Sleepwalk My…

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METALLICA · 72 Seasons | YELLOW/BLACK MARBLED DLP (Heavy Metal Vinyl)

METALLICA · 72 Seasons | YELLOW/BLACK MARBLED 2LP

Heavy Metal. Released on 14/04/2023, via Blackened Recordings. Limited edition yellow and black marbled LP with a die-cut gatefold jacket, two…

€42.90

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METALLICA · Metallica (Remastered) | BLACK 2LP

Heavy Metal. Released on 10/09/2021, via Mercury Records. Black double vinyl. Known simply as "The Black Album" to legions of metalheads worldwide,…

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METALLICA · Metallica (Remastered) | BOXSET 3CD

Heavy Metal. Box Set, released on 10/09/2021, via Mercury. CD 1 1 Enter Sandman (Remastered 2021) 2 Sad But True (Remastered 2021) 3 Holier Than Thou…

€26.90

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METALLICA · S & M 2 [BLACK[ | 4LP

Heavy Metal. Released on 28/08/2020, via Universal Music. Four black vinyl in gatefold sleeve. Disc 1 1 The Ecstasy Of Gold (Live At The Chase Center…

€78.90

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METALLICA · ...And Justice For All (Remastered) | BLACK 2LP

Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal. Released on 02/11/2018, via Mercury Records. Black double vinyl. "...And Justice For All" stands as Metallica's most…

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METALLICA · Creeping Death | T-SHIRT

⛧ Artist: METALLICA ⛧ Genre: Thrash Metal/Heavy Metal ⛧ Label: Plastic Head Merchandise ⛧ Format: T-SHIRT ⛧ Release: 22.10.2018

€18.90

METALLICA · The $5.98 EP - Garage Days Re-Revisited [BLACK] | LP

Heavy Metal. Released on 13/04/2018, via Mercury Records. 1 Helpless (Remastered 2018) 2 The Small Hours (Remastered 2018) 3 The Wait (Remastered…

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METALLICA · Master Of Puppets (Remastered) | BLACK LP

Thrash Metal. Released on 10/11/2017, via Mercury. 1 Battery (Remastered 2016) 2 Master of puppets (Remastered 2016) 3 The Thing That Should Not Be…

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METALLICA · Hardwired...to Self-destruct | BLACK 2LP

Heavy Metal. Released on 18/11/2016, via Mercury Records. Black double vinyl in gatefold cover, 180g vinyl. After eight years of anticipation,…

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METALLICA · Hardwired...to Self-destruct | DELUXE 3CD DIGI

⛧ Artist: METALLICA ⛧ Genre: Heavy Metal ⛧ Label: Mercury ⛧ Format: DELUXE 3CD DIGI ⛧ Release: 18.11.2016

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METALLICA · Hardwired...to Self-destruct | DIGI DCD

Heavy Metal. Released on 18/11/2016, via Mercury. The new album from METALLICA. Finally the biggest band in metal history is returning to their roots…

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METALLICA · Ride The Lightning (Remastered) | BLACK LP

Thrash Metal. Released on 03/06/2016, via Mercury. Black vinyl. 1 Fight Fire With Fire (Remastered 2016 / Vinyl Master) 2 Ride The Lightning…

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METALLICA · Kill ´Em All (Remastered) | BLACK LP

Thrash Metal. Released on 27/05/2016, via Mercury Records. Black vinyl. Metallica's explosive debut "Kill 'Em All" stands as one of the most…

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METALLICA · Ride The Lightning | DIGI

Thrash Metal. Released on 15/04/2016, via Mercury. 1 Fight fire with fire (Remastered 2016) 2 Ride The Lightning (Remastered 2016) 3 For Whom The…

€17.90

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