Winning hearts and melting faces with
intoxicating riffs and raging solos since 1981, Metallica has grown to
become one of the most popular and influential musical ensembles in
history and undoubtedly, deserves a place alongside the spearheads of
the heavy metal subgenre. Over the years, the band has been nominated
for and claimed several Grammy Awards. In 1999, Metallica was labeled
“Billboard Rock and Roll Artist of the Year” in the Billboard Music Awards and made it to the Hall of Fame in 2003. Metallica’s latest album “Death Magnetic” won the Grammy Award for “Best Recording Package”.
The band’s fan base is vast and its tracks, exceedingly diverse. Making a list of the best or most popular Metallica songs
– one that does justice to all tastes – is a virtually impossible task,
unless the tracks on it number in the hundreds. There’s no harm in
trying though. What’s your version of the list?
Master of Puppets
“Master of Puppets” is the title track
of the Metallica album that marked the band’s ascension to the highest
tiers of critical acclaim. The lyrics indirectly condemn drug addiction
and are complimented by an aggressive riff that abruptly shifts to a
mild, mesmerizing solo and back.[Listen]
One
“One” is the fourth track from the album
“…And Justice for All”. Metallica won their first Grammy courtesy of
this musical masterpiece. In seven minutes and a half, the song
progresses from clean, calm and captivating to heavy, fast and vicious.[Listen]
Fade to Black
“Fade to Black” is the fourth song from
the band’s second album, “Ride the Lightning”. The suicide-themed song
starts with a captivating acoustic riff, gets heavier as it progresses
and ends in a long classy solo which was voted as the 24th best ever by readers of the Guitar World magazine.[Listen]
Seek & Destroy
This is the ninth track from Metallica’s
debut album, “Kill ‘Em All”. “Seek & Destroy” is frequently used as
a closing song in Metallica concerts. It kicks off with a killer riff
and shifts into overdrive towards the middle, brandishing a face-melting
solo.[Listen]
The Unforgiven
“The Unforgiven” is a slow-paced ballad
from the band’s fifth album, “Metallica” and is the first in a series of
vastly popular tracks with the same name and theme. The original along
with its two sequels are a perfect example of the diversity in
Metallica’s songs.[Listen]
For Whom the Bell Tolls
“For Whom the Bell Tolls” is the third
track from “Ride the Lightning”. The song’s lyrics are based on one of
Earnest Hemingway’s greatest books by the same name.[Listen]
Enter Sandman
“Enter Sandman” is the first track of
“The Black Album”. The song intro is a catchy amalgam of acoustic and
heavy riffs accompanied by a deep drum beat. Lead vocalist and rhythm
guitarist, James Hetfield described the track as having a “wall of
guitars”.[Listen]
Nothing Else Matters
“Nothing Else Matters” is the lightest
of all of Metallica’s songs. It is the eighth track from “The Black
Album” and perhaps the only love song by the band. The song’s clean and
captivating riff plays along at a slow and constant pace, interrupted by
a short, emotional solo towards the end.[Listen]
The Day that Never Comes
This is perhaps the most popular single
from the band’s ninth album, “Death Magnetic”. The song structure is
reminiscent of “One”. The track introduces itself with a slow and clean
riff, gradually building in momentum, closing with a lengthy
instrumental that bombards the ears with a foray of wild riffs and
solos.[Listen]
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
“Sanitarium” is the fourth track on
Metallica’s third album, “Master of Puppets”. This song too has a
similar build up to “One”, “The Day that Never Comes” and the likes and
has lyrics that are suggestive of one trapped in an asylum for the
insane.[Listen]
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