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 24^th 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]

Author Sameed Khan

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