But whatвЂ™s hugely impressive is how each tune is its own mini-symphony with spiraling, ornate riffs, and finger-breaking solos. MetallicaвЂ™s third album is thrash-metal perfection, from the galloping aggression of вЂњBatteryвЂќ to the pile-driving pummel of вЂњDamage, Inc.вЂќ Hetfield rails against drug addiction (вЂњMaster of PuppetsвЂќ), the inequity of war (вЂњDisposable HeroesвЂќ), greedy televangelists (вЂњLeper MessiahвЂќ), and Lovecraftian monsters (вЂњThe Thing That Should Not BeвЂќ). Metallica made room for melody, too, and lead guitarist Kirk HammettвЂ™s solos became a beacon for the band, especially on the brilliant closing instrumental, вЂњThe Call of Ktulu.вЂќ Although heshers called them sellouts for playing below 220 bpm this time, the band proved its versatility with a tender song about suicide (вЂњFade to BlackвЂќ), the devastating вЂњFor Whom the Bell Tolls,вЂќ which marched along steadily enough that you could actually hear its crunching riffs, and the biblically apocalyptic вЂњCreeping DeathвЂќ and its вЂњDie! Die! Die!вЂќ singalong, perfect for campfires and war rallies. Kill вЂEm All made Metallica instant legends, but they sealed their legacy on their second LP, Ride the Lightning. The 30 Sexiest Music Videos of All Time Must-Haves Ride the Lightning (1984) 'Silence of the Lambs': 'It Broke All the Rules' Here is a guide to navigate the groupвЂ™s extensive discography, from their years pounding out aggression in San FranciscoвЂ™s Battery to ruling stadiums with вЂњEnter SandmanвЂќ and everything in between. TheyвЂ™ve influenced everyone from Slipknot to Yo-Yo Ma. Forty years after their first jam session, Metallica no longer worry about crushing speed limits their music has become more melodic and heartfelt over the years without sacrificing any of the sonic heft that propelled them to become one of the planetвЂ™s biggest bands.

They wanted their metal faster, tougher, and more intense than anything they had ever heard, so they had to invent it, introducing thrash metal to the world on their debut, Kill вЂEm All. When James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich formed Metallica in 1981, they were a couple of pimply faced, adrenaline-starved teenage outcasts obsessed with the speed of MotГ¶rhead, weightiness of Black Sabbath, and intricate riffs of New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands like Iron Maiden and Diamond Head. We also recommend key songs from other releases.

Rolling StoneвЂ™s Essential Albums guides survey an iconic artistвЂ™s discography, breaking down their finest LPs into three tiers: Must-Haves, Further Listening, and Going Deeper.

Metallica discography track listing