Metal Mayhem: Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Bands of All-Time, 4: Metallica

4. Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles that formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an ad in a newspaper by Lars Ulrich which read, "Drummer looking for other metal musicians to jam with Tygers of Pan Tang, Diamond Head and Iron Maiden." Eventually, the band settled on the lineup of vocalist/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, bassist Cliff Burton, and lead guitarist Dave Mustaine. Right before the band went to record their first album, they fired Mustaine due to drug and alcohol problems and replaced him with Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett, thus establishing the classic lineup.

In 1983, the band released their first album, and only true "thrash" album Kill 'Em All which featured metal classics like "Hit the Lights," "Whiplash," and "Seek and Destroy." While raw in comparison to their later albums, Kill 'Em All has to be considered one of the great thrash albums.

The band immediately released Ride the Lightning the very next year. This album is where Metallica became more of a progressive metal band than straight-up thrash. In my opinion every track is a classic, and this could possibly be their strongest album if not for their next album, Master of Puppets.

In 1986, bassist Cliff Burton died in a bus accident in Europe. The band brought on Jason Newsted of Flotsam and Jetsam. The first album after Burton's death was . . . And Justice for All which was Metallica's most commercially successful album up to that date. It was also their first taste of heavy airplay and video rotation on MTV.

In 1991, Metallica released their self-titled album, or "The Black Album," which has caused some controversy among fans. While this album brought the band millions of new fans due to its shorter and less edgy sound, it alienated many fans who thought that they sold out. Even though its not their best effort, I always enjoyed the Black Album. I think that Metallica got a raw deal from their supposed "hardcore" fans.

This is where Metallica hit a rut . . . in my opinion.

Over the next several years, they released Load (average), Reload (average), Garage Inc. (decent), S & M (lame), fought against Napster over illegal downloads, cut their hair (oh no!), replaced Jason Newsted with Robert Trujillo (so what?), released the god awful album St. Anger, and released great documentary Some Kind of Monster.

They released a comeback album titled Death Magnetic in 2008. It was a return to their earlier style while maintaining some of their gentler material. It was a combination of the best of their earlier stuff with the best of their newer material. I loved this album! In 2011 the band released an album with Lou Reed titled Lulu which was excellent, and an EP titled Beyond Magnetic in 2012 . . . also very good.

Anyway, Metallica has been included as one of the "Big Four" of American thrash metal along with Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 where James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, the late Cliff Burton, Jason Newsted, and Robert Trujillo were all honored.

I could go further, but I will let the music talk for them. Enjoy!

Here is "Seek and Destroy."