37 Best Metallica Songs

Hit the Lights

Song Year: 1982

“Hit the Lights” is the lead single off Metallica’s debut album “Kill ‘Em All.” The song featured on Metal Massacre hugely influenced the band’s popularity.

Lyrically, there’s not much to it, as the band members were 19 and 21 years old when it was recorded. As a result, the song brims with youthful vigor and ferocity. It’s all about the excitement of performing rock music and how much the band enjoys seeing its audience go wild. If you’d like to headbang to a Metallica tune, “Hit The Lights” is the perfect pick!

Hero of the Day

Song Year: 1996

“Hero of the Day” is the 2nd single from Metallica’s 6th studio album “Load.” At this time, the band had mastered blending their thrash metal with some melody and more intellectual lyrics. This track demonstrates these elements perfectly, as the intro features clean guitars that slowly lead you into the bass drumming and power chords.

In this song, Hetfield addresses the persons seeking heroes in the entertainment and media. The lyrics assert that anybody looking for heroes is blind to the fact that they encounter heroes daily. It’s a beautiful song that’ll get you in your feelings.

Frantic

Song Year: 2003

“Frantic” is undeniably one of the standout tracks from Metallica’s 9th studio album “St. Anger.” The track peaked at #15 on the UK Singles Chart and featured on Billboard Mainstream Rock. The song begins with a quick but subpar guitar riff and builds quite well, unlike most tracks on the album.

The lyrics focus on the extreme addiction Hetfield was dealing with during that time. In fact, during its release, he was in rehab. From his words, you can feel that he’s regretful about indulging and understands that addiction might have killed him.

Here Comes Revenge

Song Year: 2016

“Here Comes Revenge” is the 9th track off Metallica’s album “Hardwired… To Self Destruct.” While the track was released in 2016, it took nearly three years before the band started performing the track live. The reason behind this, as Hetfield explained, is the heavy theme of the song.

As per Hetfield’s account, a couple would turn up to the band’s live concerts with a picture of their daughter. Upon inquiring into the matter, Hetfield learned that their daughter, a fan of Metallica, had been a victim of a drunk driving accident. As such, you’ll feel the lyrics edge on the side of vengeance, which is understandable in such a situation.

The Unforgiven

Song Year: 1993

“The Unforgiven” is the 2nd single from Metallica’s self-titled 5th album. Ever since, the track has two sequels, “The Unforgiven I” and the “Unforgiven II,” that feature on their albums “Reload” and “Death Magnetic,” respectively. Despite being among the slowest songs on this album, the chord progression makes it one of the fiercest ballads.

The track’s theme is the individual struggle against those who seek to control somebody. If you’re a Metallic enthusiast, you’re familiar with Hetfield’s troubled childhood, and that’s what he’s trying to bring out.

Enter Sandman

Song Year: 1991

A shift between two albums can be huge, which Metallica demonstrated with “Enter Sandman.” This song contrasted with their more technical tunes like “Master of Puppets” and “…And Justice for All.”

This song is one of their most tremendous successes, charting in more than 15 nations, including the US Billboard Top 100. Lyrically, it focuses on dreams or nightmares, steered by an infectious melody and Hammett’s renowned riff.

The Call of Ktulu

Song Year: 1984

“The Call of Ktulu” is the closing song from Metallica’s 2nd album “Ride The Lightning.” The tune is the album’s longest instrumental and the longest track overall. In addition, it’s the final song to include guitarist Dave Mustaine, who was expelled before recording the band’s debut album.

This track begins melodically and steadily builds in intensity as the song develops, quickly hooking you to listening till the end.

Whiplash

Song Year: 1984

“Whiplash” is the 6th track of Metallica’s debut album “Kill ‘Em All.” The track is similar to “Hit the Light,” so if you love one, you’ll appreciate the other.

Whiplash is a serious health condition that can be brought on by excessive headbanging, resulting in injuries like those sustained in a vehicle crash. As such, the song’s lyrics are simply a dedication to the band’s fans, who love headbanging during their live performances.

Low Man’s Lyric

Song Year: 1997

“Low Man’s Lyric” is the 12th track from Metallica’s record “Reload.” James Hetfield teamed up with Lars Ulrich to pen the song’s lyrics. In some renditions, the hurdy-gurdy is incorporated into the song.

This song doesn’t adhere to Metallica’s customary thrash metal sound. It resembles more of their metal ballads, such as “Nothing Else Matters.” The song reflects the sentiments of a homeless man enduring hardship and yearning for a second chance.

The Thing That Should Not Be

Song Year: 1986

“The Thing That Should Not Be” is the 3rd track from Metallica’s 3rd album, “Master of Puppets.” The Cthulhu fictional works of early 20th-century American author H.P. Lovecraft inspired the lyrics. These tales feature a terrifying monster named Cthulhu, which shouldn’t exist.

Unlike the previous tracks on the album, “Master of Puppets” and “Battery,” this track features a slightly slower tempo. However, as it builds, you can feel the effects of the band’s thrash metal, which is raw aggressiveness.

The Outlaw Torn

Song Year: 1996

“The Outlaw Torn” is the 14th and last single of the 6th album “Load.” The lyrics talk about losing somebody significant and anxiously seeking a replacement, which never materializes. You might interpret this song as referring to the band’s deceased bassist, Cliff Burton.

The track has some blues hints and is among the album’s most vocally accented tunes. Initially, the track was longer than ten minutes, but it couldn’t fit on a compact CD, so they had to cut it.

Fuel

Song Year: 1998

“Fuel” is the 3rd track off the band’s 7th album, “Reload.” It’s likely the fasted and most aggressive track on the album. The song’s composition was a collaborative effort by all band members, including Lars Ulrich.

The track received an Academy Awards nomination for “Best Hard Rock Performance.” On the charts, it was slightly successful, peaking at #6 in the Billboard Mainstream Rock category and featuring in the top 10s in Hungary, Finland, and Australia.

Ain’t My Bitch

Song Year: 1996

“Ain’t My Bitch” is the lead single from the band’s 6th album “Load.” Once released, the song became a regular in their live performances, especially during Metallica’s world tour “Poor Touring Me.”

Thanks to its title, the song quickly garnered media notoriety and attention. Later, the band’s frontman, Hetfield, clarified that they used the word “bitch” as a metaphor for an issue, not a lady. According to this interpretation, the track’s subject is a person who’s oblivious to the troubles of others.

Top Metallica Songs Ever, Final Thoughts

Metallica is one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time. Their vast catalog of 12 albums and over 65 singles is a testament to their longevity. Overall, this is the ultimate compilation of their most popular and influential songs.