Metallica

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Metallica posing for a photograph in front of a lightning backdrop in 1984

“Lots of people hated it at first. Fans wanted them to do Kill ’Em All 20 per cent faster”: how Metallica defied the haters and changed the course of metal with Ride The Lightning

By Jon Wiederhorn published

Metallica’s second album Ride The Lightning turns 40 on July 27 – this is how they made one of metal’s greatest records

James Hetfield onstage with Metallica in 1992

“You can stay small but, if you have something to say, you need to utilise these things”: Why James Hetfield is glad a Metallica fan spat on him in 1989

By Matt Mills published

Metallica’s singer/guitarist responded to a violent accusation of “selling out” with unbroken confidence

Jerry Cantrell

Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell announces new album I Want Blood, featuring members of Metallica, Guns N' Roses and Faith No More, shares new single Vilified

By Liz Scarlett published

Jerry Cantrell's shares details of his new solo record I Want Blood, and unveils the new single Vilified

Metallica in 1996

“Yes, we sell out – we sell out every seat in the house, every time we play!” 11 times Metallica were accused of ‘selling out’ for ridiculous reasons

By Matt Mills published

Playing acoustic guitars. Making a music video. Getting haircuts?! Here are all the times Metallica incensed heavy metal’s purists.

James Hetfield in The Thicket, firing a pistol

See Metallica’s James Hetfield get into a firefight in trailer for western thriller The Thicket

By Matt Mills published

Papa Het will appear alongside Game Of Thrones star Peter Dinklage when The Thicket comes out in September

Collage showing icons of metal

The 100 Songs That Changed Metal

By Metal Hammer published

From founding fathers like Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Judas Priest to metal's modern leaders such as Ghost, Sleep Token and Spiritbox, these are the songs that have defined a genre

Metallica's new Metal Hammer cover art

The new issue of Metal Hammer celebrates 40 years of Metallica’s Ride The Lightning and the year that thrash exploded

By Eleanor Goodman published

The cover features brand new, official Metallica artwork

Jason Newsted onstage with Metallica in 1992

“Just like anyone who plays, you find your favourites and the others need to go!” Metallica legend Jason Newsted is selling 60 of his guitars and basses

By Matt Mills published

Newsted’s instruments, including the bass that recorded classic Metallica track Until It Sleeps, will be available from July 24

Prime Day Metallica vinyl deals

Nothing Else Matters this Prime Day aside from these price drops on Metallica LPs on coloured vinyl

By Scott Munro published

Coloured vinyl pressings of albums including Ride The Lightning, …And Justice For All and the ‘Black Album’ are on sale right now for Prime Day

James Hetfield dressed as a sheriff in upcoming film The Thicket

See first photos of Metallica’s James Hetfield in new western thriller The Thicket

By Matt Mills published

The Metallica man previously acted opposite Zac Efron in Ted Bundy biopic Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile

Exterior view of the Record Plant recording studio is seen on July 27, 2005 in Los Angeles, California.

Iconic Los Angeles recording studio the Record Plant to close its doors after more than 50 years of rich rock and metal history

By Stef Lach published

Record Plant in LA has hosted Guns N' Roses, Black Sabbath, Nine Inch Nails, Fleetwood Mac and many others

Robert Trujillo in 2023, next to pictures of James Hetfield and Axl Rose in 1992

“I went out in the crowd of 40,000 people to try and beat somebody up”: Robert Trujillo compares supporting Metallica and Guns ’N’ Roses in the ’90s

By Matt Mills published

Metallica’s bassist supported two of the biggest bands in hard rock during his time in Suicidal Tendencies

Metallica in 2003

“Sometimes, I take it off after the first 10 seconds, and other times, I listen to it to the end”: Metallica’s classic producer reveals up-and-down relationship with St Anger

By Matt Mills published

Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets and …And Justice For All producer Flemming Rasmussen offers his assessment of Metallica’s controversial 2003 album

Dool, Alt Blk Era, Knocked Loose, Witch Club Satan and the Pyramid Stage

If Emily Eavis is looking for great young rock artists to play Glastonbury, look no further than the incredible modern metal scene

By Merlin Alderslade published

Metal has never been more exciting, boundary-pushing or diverse, and is packing plenty of great bands that could be appreciated at the world's biggest festival

Metallica pyro show in 2023, plus James Hetfield's impressed-looking reaction in 2024

35 years later, James Hetfield is still amazed by Metallica’s pyro before playing One

By Matt Mills published

Footage of Metallica’s singer/guitarist reacting to their stadium-sized firework show has gone viral

Metallica in 1984

"Lars smiled: 'What do you think?' 'You need more guitar solos, that’s for sure.'" How Metallica kickstarted thrash metal and changed the game forever with a "sloppy" little demo track called Hit The Lights

By Dave Everley published

With Hit The Lights, Metallica found their first signature song and a track that'd have a profound effect on heavy metal's evolution

Metallica Copenhagen 2024

"Good God!" Watch pro-shot footage of Metallica performing Ride The Lightning in Copenhagen

By Rich Hobson published

The M72 world tour thunders on but Metallica took Ride The Lightning back to where it began 40 years ago

Turnstile play live and James Hetfield and Rob Halford watch on

Watch Metallica's James Hetfield and Judas Priest's Rob Halford rocking out together while watching Turnstile at Norway's Tons Of Rock Festival this past weekend

By Merlin Alderslade published

Two heavy metal icons enjoyed watching one of modern heavy music's most exciting bands together!

Metallica posing together in 1985

“We were sleeping on the floor, stealing food, stealing bikes”: Metallica turned to “thieving” to survive the early ’80s, says James Hetfield

By Matt Mills published

While recording at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Metallica had to “borrow [things] forever” to make ends meet

Metallica onstage in 2024 with Brian Tatler

Watch Metallica cover Diamond Head’s Am I Evil? with Diamond Head’s guitarist, Brian Tatler

By Matt Mills published

Tatler joined the heavy metal superstars onstage at Oslo’s Tons Of Rock festival yesterday