Both records are still selling a massive amount of copies decades after being released
Metallica are currently trekking across North America in the third year of their monstrous M72 World Tour. The ongoing trek is in support of their eleventh studio album 72 Seasons, which arrived in April of 2023 via the band’s own label, Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman alongside frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, 72 Seasons is Metallica’s first full length collection of new material since 2016’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. The 12-track album clocks in at just over 77 minutes. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock and Top Hard Rock Albums Charts. It also topped the UK Albums and UK Rock & Metal Albums charts, and went No. 1 in several other countries around the world.
The album garnered the band a 2024 GRAMMY® Award nomination for Best Rock Album, while the lead single “Lux Æterna” was nominated for Best Rock Song. The band won the GRAMMY® for Best Metal Performance for the title track, “72 Seasons.” They beat out Disturbed, Ghost, Slipknot and first-time nominees Spiritbox.
Next year, Metallica are returning to Europe and the UK for another leg of their massive M72 World Tour. The trek will feature very special guests Gojira, Pantera, Knocked Loose, and Avatar. The trek will be hitting London, Cardiff, Dublin, Berlin, Bucharest, Athens, and more. The trek will see Metallica play 16 shows across 9 countries. They will be hitting London, Cardiff, Dublin, Berlin, Bucharest, Athens, and more. Select cities will feature Metallica’s No Repeat Weekend format across two shows.
In the midst of pushing a current chart-topping record, Metallica just earned new RIAA certifications for two of their biggest albums.
Metallica’s self-titled fifth album – The Black Album – has been certified 20x platinum for sales in excess of 20 million copies, while the band’s third full length, Master of Puppets, has been certified 8x platinum having crossed the eight million mark. The continued dominance of theses two records decades after being released is a testament to Metallica’s legacy, and the staying power of heavy music.
The Black Album‘s 1991 release not only gave Metallica its first No. 1 album in no fewer than 10 countries, including a 4-week run at #1 in the U.S., its unrelenting series of singles — “Enter Sandman”, “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters”, “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad But True” — fueled the band’s rise to stadium headlining, radio and MTV dominating household name status. The album’s reception from the press was similarly charged, building over the years from the top 10 of the 1991 Village Voice Pazz & Jop national critics poll to becoming a constant presence in the likes of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. The Black Album’s impact and relevance continue to grow with successive generations—it remains unchallenged as the best-selling album of the Luminate era, outselling every release in every genre over the past 30+ years.
Metallica’s Master of Puppets is the heaviest music album ever to be selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” Master of Puppets has long been regarded as a watershed moment in the history of rock music. The album’s peerless balance of sheer power and complex song craft would earn Metallica its first gold record, elevating the band to new heights of critical acclaim on the strength of enduring favorites including “Battery,” “Orion” and of course the title track, speaking of which…
… “Master of Puppets” recently followed “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters” as the third Metallica song to join the billion streams club, becoming the second longest song to do so. Clocking in at 8:36, “Master…” now sits between former second longest billion streamer “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (8:02) and reigning champion Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).”
Released on March 3, 1986, Master of Puppets stands as a defining album not only in Metallica’s discography but in the entire history of heavy metal. It was the band’s third studio album and their final release to feature bassist Cliff Burton, whose life was tragically cut short in a bus accident later that year. Produced by Flemming Rasmussen alongside Metallica, and released through Elektra Records, the album captured the band at the peak of their creative power, blending technical musicianship with aggressive intensity and thoughtful lyricism.
Recording for Master of Puppets took place from September to December 1985 at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. The band had chosen to work again with Danish producer Flemming Rasmussen, who had previously engineered their 1984 album Ride the Lightning. Rasmussen’s experience with hard rock and his engineering prowess allowed the band to fine-tune their evolving thrash metal sound.
The album was written primarily in San Francisco, with most of the music crafted during extensive rehearsals in a garage. James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich led the writing process, while Burton contributed his classical music sensibilities, especially on the instrumental track “Orion.”
Unlike many contemporaries, Metallica avoided mainstream rock production techniques. Master of Puppets was recorded with analog equipment and emphasized a raw, aggressive sound with minimal overdubs. The band insisted on no music videos or radio-friendly singles, a defiant stance against the commercial trends of the time.
The album’s eight tracks span nearly 55 minutes, with complex arrangements and mature themes of addiction, manipulation, war, and madness. Standouts include:
- “Battery” – A blistering opener with a classical guitar intro that erupts into full-speed thrash.
- “Master of Puppets” – The title track is a nearly nine-minute epic dealing with the theme of drug addiction, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal songs ever recorded.
- “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” – A dynamic, haunting piece inspired by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
- “Orion” – An instrumental tribute to Cliff Burton’s compositional skill and bass prowess.
Upon release, Master of Puppets received critical acclaim and was an immediate commercial success by metal standards, despite the band’s refusal to produce singles or music videos. It debuted at No. 128 on the Billboard 200, but climbed steadily due to word of mouth, relentless touring, and critical support. Eventually, it peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard 200, a remarkable feat for a thrash metal album in the mid-1980s.
Critics praised its musicianship, lyricism, and thematic depth. It was heralded by outlets such as Rolling Stone, Kerrang!, and Metal Forces as a groundbreaking metal album, solidifying Metallica’s reputation as leaders of the genre.
Despite its slow initial chart climb, Master of Puppets became a massive long-term success. It was the first Metallica album released by a major label (Elektra), giving it wider distribution than its predecessors. It remains Metallica’s best-selling album of the 1980s and their first platinum album.
The influence of Master of Puppets is vast and enduring. It is widely considered one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time and is a staple in the genre’s canon. In 2016, the album was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, an honor reserved for recordings deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Many musicians across rock and metal cite Master of Puppets as a major influence, and it remains a touchstone for metal’s evolution into more sophisticated and technical realms.
The title track is still performed regularly in Metallica’s live shows and has become a signature song for the band. Its inclusion in Stranger Things (Season 4) in 2022 introduced a new generation of listeners to the track and drove the song to chart for the first time, nearly 36 years after its release.
Master of Puppets is more than just a thrash metal milestone—it’s an artistic achievement that transformed Metallica from underground heroes into global icons. With its intricate songwriting, fierce energy, and bold refusal to compromise, the album continues to resonate with fans old and new, reaffirming its place as a cornerstone of heavy metal history.
Released on August 12, 1991, Metallica, commonly referred to as “The Black Album”, marked a pivotal moment not only for the band but for heavy metal as a genre. Coming off a string of critically acclaimed yet musically complex thrash metal albums, Metallica’s fifth studio record streamlined their sound for broader appeal. The result was a cultural and commercial phenomenon that redefined the possibilities for heavy music in the mainstream.
After the ambitious thrash epics of …And Justice for All (1988), Metallica—James Hetfield (vocals/guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), and Jason Newsted (bass)—wanted to change course. Their aim was to create a tighter, more focused sound with more groove and melody. To accomplish this, the band brought in producer Bob Rock, who had previously worked with rock acts like Mötley Crüe and The Cult. Though initially met with skepticism by the band and fans, Rock would become instrumental in crafting the Black Album’s polished yet heavy sonic identity.
Recording began in October 1990 at One on One Recording Studios in North Hollywood and stretched over eight months—much longer than Metallica had ever spent on an album. Tensions ran high during the sessions, often clashing over arrangements and production style. Bob Rock pushed the band toward a more refined and layered sound, including multitracked vocals, a beefier drum tone, and simplified song structures.
The shift in Metallica’s sound was immediately noticeable. Gone were the nine-minute political epics; in their place were shorter, hook-laden tracks that balanced heaviness with accessibility. Highlights from the record include:
- “Enter Sandman” – a riff-heavy anthem with nightmare imagery that became a defining metal song of the ’90s.
- “Sad But True” – a crushing, down-tuned groove metal track.
- “The Unforgiven” – a ballad with classical guitar elements and introspective lyrics.
- “Wherever I May Roam” – blending Eastern influences with themes of solitude and freedom.
- “Nothing Else Matters” – a surprising orchestral ballad showcasing Hetfield’s vulnerable side.
Lyrically, the album moved away from the political and social commentary of earlier records, instead exploring personal struggle, inner conflict, and identity, making the material more relatable to a wider audience.
Metallica was a massive commercial breakthrough, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for four consecutive weeks. It also topped charts in ten other countries including the UK, Canada, and Australia. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, across all genres.
Singles and Chart Positions:
- “Enter Sandman” – Peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on Mainstream Rock
- “The Unforgiven” – Reached #35 on the Hot 100, #10 on Mainstream Rock
- “Nothing Else Matters” – Peaked at #34 on the Hot 100, #11 on Mainstream Rock
- “Sad But True” and “Wherever I May Roam” also saw significant radio success
Music videos for these tracks enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV, expanding the band’s reach far beyond metal’s traditional fan base.
Upon release, Metallica received generally positive reviews, though some longtime fans and critics lamented the departure from the band’s thrash roots. Over time, however, the album has been widely recognized as a landmark record. The album has garnered much critical praise, including:
- Ranked in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”
- Winner of the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for “Enter Sandman”
- Frequently cited in “Greatest Albums of the ’90s” lists
- Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014
Beyond accolades, The Black Album has influenced countless bands in rock, metal, and beyond. It brought metal into the mainstream without sacrificing integrity, showing that a heavy band could succeed on a massive commercial level without compromising their edge.
The album was supported by the epic Wherever We May Roam Tour, which lasted nearly three years and included over 300 shows. Metallica became a dominant live force during this era, headlining festivals and stadiums worldwide.
Culturally, Metallica bridged gaps between genres, helping to open the door for harder-edged music on radio and television. It is often credited with laying the groundwork for the alt-metal and nu-metal boom of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album stands as a watershed moment in heavy music history. It redefined the band’s career, expanded the boundaries of metal, and became one of the most iconic and successful rock albums ever released. More than three decades later, The Black Album continues to be a touchstone of modern rock and metal—an enduring testament to the power of evolution without abandonment.
Recently, Metallica announced a massive reissue of Load slated to commemorate the record’s 30th anniversary. The remastered album arrives on June 13. It will be available as a Deluxe Box Set, 2-LP, 3-CD Expanded Edition, Standard CD, Cassette, and via digital download. Dubbed “The Whole Kitchen Sink,” the box set includes more than ten pounds of content across six pieces of vinyl, 15 CDs, four DVDs, a 128-page book, and reproduced memorabilia.
All versions are available for pre-order HERE.
This summer, the band is heading overseas to take part in Black Sabbath’s massive final concert in Birmingham, England.
Metallica – Master of Puppets [Elektra, 1986]
1. Battery
2. Master of Puppets
3. The Thing That Should Not Be
4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
5. Disposable Heroes
6. Leper Messiah
7. Orion
8. Damage, Inc.
Metallica – Metallica (The Black Album) [Elektra, 1991]
1. Enter Sandman
2. Sad but True
3. Holier Than Thou
4. The Unforgiven
5. Wherever I May Roam
6. Don’t Tread on Me
7. Through the Never
8. Nothing Else Matters
9. Of Wolf and Man
10. The God That Failed
11. My Friend of Misery
12. The Struggle Within