#7 Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (2016)
METALLICA’s tenth album, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct contains all the core elements but the band does not sound as ferocious as METALLICA from the distant past. In fact, as the album progresses, there are times the band sounds flat-out tired, yet reinvigorated at others. The first half of the album is relatively strong all around, but the back half drops significantly in quality (except for “Spit Out the Bone”). In METALLICA’s legacy, this album will only be remembered for a couple standout tracks, but the rest will be quickly forgotten.
Highlights: “Hardwired”, “Atlas, Rise!”, “Moth into Flame”, “Spit Out the Bone”
#6 Death Magnetic (2008)
2008’s Death Magnetic is considered a return to the band’s thrash roots by many fans and critics. The album proved to include more complex compositions and multi-layered arrangements such as those found on …And Justice for All. Production has been criticized as “over compressed” and cited as a product of the loudness war but Stephen Thomas Erlewine summed up Death Magnetic best when he said it was nice “hearing Metallica sound like Metallica again“.
Highlights: “This Was Just Your Life” “The Day That Never Comes”, “All Nightmare Long”, “My Apocalypse”
#5 Metallica (aka ‘The Black Album’) (1991)
It may be controversial to place one of the most popular and ground-breaking albums of all-time at the number five spot, but it’s important to remember that popular does not always equate to the best. METALLICA’s self-titled fifth album was slower and less complicated than their previous outings. The tracks were more concise songs and the explosive production made it more accessible to broader audiences. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, has sold over 17 million albums, and has spent more than 550 weeks on the album charts. The success of this album is undeniable and catapulted METALLICA into the pop-culture stratosphere. Fans of the band’s first four albums did not appreciate the shift in sound, but METALLICA’s ‘Black Album’ contains many of their most well-known songs.
Highlights: “Enter Sandman”, “Nothing Else Matters”, “Wherever I May Roam”, “Sad but True”
#4 …And Justice for All (1988)
…And Justice for All contains arguably METALLICA’s most interesting songwriting to date. It is a masterclass in technical proficiency and each song gives the listener a lot to chew on with a more free-form composition and lots of riffs. At the time of it’s release, some critics marked this as a detractor, but most contemporary listens feel it makes the album richer and more interesting. Regardless, …And Justice for All belongs in the pantheon of greatest metal albums. So, what holds this album back? The production. It is no secret that Jason Newsted’s bass was intentionally removed from the final mix of the album. The lack of low-end leaves the production feeling flat.
Highlights: “Blackened”, “…And Justice for All”, “One”, “Harvester of Sorrow”
#3 Kill ‘Em All (1983)
METALLICA’s debut album was revolutionary in many ways. At the time of its release it was one of the fastest and heaviest albums ever recorded. The raw, aggressive, and inspired sound made them an underground sensation. For most fans, it was unlike anything they heard before. Kill ‘Em All includes impressive musical arrangements mixed with a juvenile lyrical approach to topics such as warfare, violence and life on the road. This combination gives the album what journalist Chuck Eddy called, a “naive charm“. While the songwriting doesn’t match the level of later releases and James Hetfield was still finding his voice behind the mic, Kill ‘Em All marked the beginning of a monumental shift in metal music.
Highlights: “Hit the Lights”, “The Four Horsemen”, “Whiplash”, “Seek and Destroy”
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