| Metallica was formed in California in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich along with guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield. The two have been permanent members of the band while the lead guitarist and bassist have changed over the years. The band’s songs have featured in many movies, World Wrestling Championships as well as video games. Metallica released their first album called “Kill ‘Em All” with Megaforce Records in 1983, featuring Hetfield’s signature heavy vocals and aggressive guitar playing. The release established a loyal fan following for the band. A year later, Metallica cut their second album, “Ride the Lightning”, that emphasized on the lyrical and instrumental growth of the band. It featured a slower and more pensive song “Fade to Black” that distinguished Metallica from most other heavy metal bands of the day. They struck a label deal with Elektra Records in 1984 and released “Master of Puppets” which is regarded as their best work to date. The band lost one member, bassist Cliff Burton, in 1986 in a bus accident while on tour. Thereafter, Metallica released “The $ 5.98 EP: Garage Days Re-Revisited” album that tested the talents of new member Jason Newsted. In 1988, they released “…And Justice for All” that contained some of the band’s most complex music. In 1991, the “Metallica” album, also called “The Black Album” for the black and featureless cover with only the band logo and a coiled snake, was released. Featuring songs primarily written by James Hetfield, the album received intense media coverage. In 2000, Metallica did a song “I Disappear” for the soundtrack of the movie “Mission Impossible II”. Their eighth album “St. Anger”, released in 2003, debuted at number one on the album charts. The “Some Kind of Monster” album was released in contribution to the documentary, “Some kind of Monster”. |
