California thrash metal legends Metallica are allegedly gearing up to release a new album in 2021, which would coincide with their fortieth anniversary. Few bands have the gusto to keep going as long as they have, and they’ve released an incredible body of work over the past four decades.
From the head-banging thrash bangers of Kill ‘Em All and Ride The Lightning to the melodic ballads of their self-titled album, Metallica has something for just about every type of music fan, and we’re here to count 10 of their best singles according to Spotify.
Seek & Destroy (94,838,830 Listens)
The powerful thrash epic with which the band often closes their live shows, “Seek & Destroy” was a prominent single from their first-ever release, 1983’s Kill ‘Em All. A raw, riff-driven attack, the track is a good example of the excellent dual guitar work of James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett.
Said to be the very first song the band ever recorded in-studio, “Seek & Destroy” first appeared on the band’s No Life Til Leather demo. A song that would set the precedent for the entirety of the band’s output during the 1980s, it’s one of Metallica’s most essential tracks.
Fade To Black (150,421,213 Listens)
Considered by some to be Metallica’s first power ballad—a style of music that was prominent in the genre at the time—”Fade to Black” was the first single from Metallica’s second record, 1984’s Ride The Lightning.
Said to be an anthem about suicidal feelings, the track is one of the dourest of Metallica’s early discography. Though it introduces a surging electric guitar riff in the second half, the song’s acoustic introduction and first solo are particularly melancholic. A stand-out on one of the band’s best-ever releases, the popularity of this song should come as no surprise to Metallica fans.
Sad But True (151,880,654 Listens)
The fifth and final single featured on Metallica’s most commercially successful album, their 1991-eponymous release most commonly referred to by fans as “The Black Album,” “Sad But True” is said to be an indictment of blind faith in religion, a theme Hetfield would once again on the same album in the track “Holier Than Thou,” as well as a statement on the singer’s battle with alcohol addiction.
Though it’s not quite as recognizable as some of the album’s other hits, it’s a hard rock radio staple that just about every music fan will recognize, and it’s an example of what Metallica are capable of when at their very best.
For Whom The Bell Tolls (188,832,134 Listens)
Yet another example of the exceptional quality of Metallica’s first four releases, “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” which first appeared on the 1984 album Ride The Lightning, takes direct inspiration from the Earnest Hemmingway novel of the same name.
Beginning with an ominous chime that’s actually a recording of drummer Lars Ulrich striking an anvil, “For Whom The Bell Tolls” rumbles along with one of the most famous bass lines in metal. The song is a testament to the skills of the band’s late bassist Cliff Burton, who was tragically killed in a tour bus accident in 1986.
Whiskey In The Jar (192,736,206 Listens)
Released as a part of Metallica’s 1998 Garage Inc. album, which was a compilation of cover songs that featured no original material, “Whiskey In The Jar” is a bit of an odd duck. Beginning as a traditional Irish folk song, it is now perhaps most closely associated with the 1986 single by the Irish folk group The Dubliners.
Metallica, of course, put their own spin on the classic song, infusing it with pounding, simple-but-effective guitar riffs that came to typify the band’s style in the 90s. “Whiskey In The Jar” displays the band’s versatility and indicates just how willing they were to experiment with their sound at that time.
The Unforgiven (260,421,548 Listens)
Another of Metallica’s famous power ballads, “The Unforgiven” appears on the band’s 1991 eponymous release and is by far one of their most recognizable tracks. Alongside “Nothing Else Matters,” “The Unforgiven” serves as a reprieve from some of the album’s louder, more punishing cuts.
The track is famous for its soft, brooding chorus, which contrasts sharply with the heavier choruses heard in songs like the aforementioned “Fade To Black,” “Welcome Home Sanitarium,” and “One.” Of course, it remains a powerful thrash masterpiece and seems totally unconstrained compared to certain tracks on Metallica’s following albums.
One (266,785,165 Listens)
Released on Metallica’s 1998 effort …And Justice For All, “One” is a stand-out track on what remains one of the band’s heaviest, most biting album releases. With lyrics based on the Dalton Trumbo-penned 1938 anti-war novel Johnny Got His Gun, “One” tells the story of a soldier’s suffering after the loss of his arms, legs, sight, and hearing.
Featuring one of the most iconic opening segments in the band’s discography, “One” is a slow burn. However, things pick up after the second chorus, eventually reaching a crescendo that ends with one of Kirk Hammett’s most face-melting solos.
Master Of Puppets (307,370,163 Listens)
Easily one of the most crushing tracks to have ever been composed by the band, “Master of Puppets,” the title track of the band’s 1986 album, is a blistering eight-minute epic that never lets up. From multiple screaming guitar solos to one of the heaviest opening riffs of all time, “Master of Puppets” remains a staple of Metallica’s discography.
A story of challenging personal addictions likely inspired by Hetfield’s own struggles with alcoholism, “Master of Puppets” dares listeners to face their fears head-on while taking things up yet another notch in musical extremity.
Nothing Else Matters (571, 596,163 Listens)
The third single on Metallica’s 1991 self-titled release, “Nothing Else Matters” is easily one of the most recognizable rock songs of all time. Featuring an extremely simple yet simultaneously captivating open-note acoustic guitar riff, “Nothing Else Matters” is a power ballad to end all power ballads—and, given the decline of glam metal in the early 90s, it more or less was.
Originally penned by Hetfield while on the phone with his girlfriend, the track is said to be a sort of ode to their long-distance relationship. That said, it’s a rare feel-good anthem for metal fans.
Enter Sandman (614,265,964)
The only Metallica single to crack the 600 million mark on Spotify so far, “Enter Sandman” is probably the most widely-recognized metal song in the history of the genre. Featuring one of the most blood-pumping intros in modern music, “Sandman” can get even the most staunch metal detractors to bang their heads.
Heard at least once during every sporting event since the early 90s, “Enter Sandman” was the first single on Metallica’s 1991 eponymous release. Its infectious groove and caustic lyrics are unforgettable, and we imagine that this track will continue to be relevant for decades.
