37 Best Metallica Songs

Sad but True

Song Year: 1991

“Sad but True” is the 5th and last single from their 5th self-titled album. The song is one of the band’s earliest attempts to tune down their guitars and get more intellectual with the lyrics. The song is centered on schizophrenia, and dissociative identity disorder, inspired by the 1978 film “Magic “starring Anthony Hopkins.

James Hetfield performs from the perspective of an evil individual. The track dominated Finland’s musical chart and featured on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Top 20 UK Singles Chart.

Welcome Home (Sanitarium)

Song Year: 1986

“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” is the 4th single from Metallica’s 3rd album “Master of Puppets.” It was the band’s 2nd ballad after “Fade To Black.” Like the former and their subsequent ballad “One,” this song begins with a quiet guitar, followed by the drums and Hetfield’s vocals.

As with the other ballads, the chorus is heavy and distorted, quickly returning to the sorrowful and sluggish guitar part. Nonetheless, the conclusion is fast-paced and powerful, with Hetfield ranting passionately about his anguish and Hammett giving a solo. All the vocals feature a spooky echo sound throughout the entire song (probably to mimic being confined).

Nothing Else Matters

Song Year: 1991

Metallica might have baffled their casual fan base with the release of “Nothing Else Matters.” The song contrasts the “tough” imagery that had dominated Metallica’s previous decade. The sentimental ballad composed by Hetfield is about yearning for his then-lover Kristen Martinez while touring.

Nonetheless, for die-hard Metallica fans, the song represented the next natural step in the band’s evolution. From their 2nd album, Metallica started incorporating catchy hooks and melodies into their thrash sound. While Hetfield was initially shy to present this epic love song to his bandmates, it was just the breakthrough they needed.

Harvester of Sorrow

Song Year: 1988

In most of Metallica’s songs, Hetfield usually rants about his abusive childhood. “Harvester of Sorrow” isn’t any different from this viewpoint as the lyrics demonstrate a man who’s the victim of severe child abuse, which has traumatized him till adulthood. In the end, the lyrics point out that the individual loses his mind and murders his kin.

“Harvester of Sorrow” is the 6th single off Metallica’s 4th studio album. Unlike other tracks on the record that are somewhat fast-paced, this sounds quite sluggish, but still a great tune to headbang to!

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Song Year: 1984

“For Whom the Bell Tolls” is one of Metallica’s most recognizable songs. The track peaked at #18 on the US Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart. Over the years, the band has also released numerous renditions of the song featured on their compilation and live albums.

Lyrically, the song is focused on death. It borrows inspiration from Ernest Hemingway’s 1940 novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Hemingway describes the process of death in modern combat and the terrible Spanish Civil War. While the track is mid-paced and not as aggressive as other Metallica songs, it still sounds natural for the band.

Wherever I May Roam

Song Year: 1991

“Wherever I May Roam” is the 4th track of the band’s self-titled 5th album. This album marked the first time the band deviated from its previous style. Rather than the adrenaline rush and aggressive music style, the band settled for a radio-friendly style that resonated with a greater audience.

This song’s lyrics are about a vagabond. Their incorporation of an electric Sitar demonstrates Metallica’s inventiveness and creativity for the introduction, which no other metal band had ever attempted.

Moth Into Flame

Song Year: 2016

With all four members clocking 50 years, Metallica isn’t getting any younger, yet that seems irrelevant to their music. Metallica’s precision, speed, and aggressiveness on “Moth Into Flame” demonstrate that this band is far from done! The band performed this track live for the first time on “The Howard Stern Show.”

Lyrically, this song explores the not-so-fancy aspect of fame and what occurs once the spotlight fades. Hammett and Hetfield kick off with a guitar duel, interweaving a melodic riff before slamming into the verses with mechanical accuracy.

Battery

Song Year: 1986

“Battery” is the lead single off Metallica’s 3rd album, Master of Puppets. Akin to the lead tracks from their past and follow-up album, the band begins with a calm, clean guitar line. Shortly into the track, they explode into full-speed thrash.

A minimalistic riff created by James Hetfield serves as the foundation for the rest of the track. And as you might expect from the title, the song’s lyrics are all about rage and violence, or, simply put, battery and assault.

The God That Failed

Song Year: 1991

“The God That Failed” featured on Metallica’s self-titled album. The track is hidden amongst some of the record’s numerous hits, but for frontman James Hetfield, it might be the album’s most personal track. Although the track explored the deeper lower tone range, it also addressed some of James Hetfield’s more profound lyrical concerns.

Hetfield’s background inspires the lyrics in a Christian Science home. After a cancer diagnosis, his mother could have undergone care, but she chose to pray instead, per Christian Science doctrine. In light of her death from cancer, Hetfield believed that God had let her down. 

Spit Out the Bone

Song Year: 2017

“Spit Out the Bone” is the final track off Metallica’s 10th album “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct.” The band first performed this track at the famous O2 Arena in the UK. The track is considered a critic and fan favorite of all songs on the album. It featured on the WWE 2K19 video game’s soundtrack.

Critics were quick to react to this track, especially when Hetfield revealed the meaning behind its title. The lyrics are inspired by how individuals today don’t connect except through mobile gadgets. The song also highlights how everybody is becoming increasingly reliant on technology.

Ride the Lightning

Song Year: 1984

“Ride the Lightning” is the title track for Metallica’s 2nd studio album. The track features a faster, darker metal infused with infectious hooks and melodies. This song was the start of what was to come for Metallica, as it was the beginning of a revolution to give their thrash track a new edge and some new variation.

Lyrically, the song addresses the criminal justice system. The artist sings from a death-row inmate’s standpoint. The inmate is bound to undergo the electric chair. However, the singer believes that it’s unjust to take away his life despite the inmate confessing to his crimes.

Disposable Heroes

Song Year: 1986

“Disposable Heroes” is the 5th track from Metallica’s 3rd album “Master of Puppets.” Unlike the title track, which was more melodic, this song is pure thrash from start to finish. Be ready to headbang!

The song sticks with the subject of deception and helplessness, consistent throughout the entire album. Lyrically, it’s about the draft system, war, and death. James Hetfield sounds incredibly outraged as he unleashes overly harsh words that attack the military. He also highlights the repercussions that the experiences of battle have on a soldier.