Metallica Songs Ranked
Metallica is an American thrash metal/heavy metal band. The band came together in Los Angeles in 1981 and helped to invent the thrash sub-genre of heavy metal. They are well known for many of their songs, including “Master of Puppets”, “One”, “Enter Sandman”, and “Nothing Else Matters.” Here are their top songs of all time ranked.
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20. Dyers Eve (Dyers Eve, 2004)
“I really don’t know why all the megadeth and slayer fans think Metallica isn’t thrash, sure they do have 3 slower albums but the rest are hardcore. And you only have to listen to this song to understand what I am saying. I have listened to this song 330 times on my ipod and the reason why is because of the hardcore riff, bone crunching lyrics and a skull cracking solo mixed in with a very fast tempo throughout the whole song… THRASH 4 LIFE!”
19. Blackened (…And Justice for All, 1988)
“As much as I love songs like suicide & redemption, fade to black, that was just your life, and a classic SPITE OUT THE BONE. This song is what made me love the gods of metal METALLICA, Blackened is just a master piece, and love em or hate em they are the real reason why metal became so popular as well of the likes of Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Judas Priest, and so many more this is an instant classic!”
18. Orion (Master of Puppets, 1986)
“I used to skip over this song when I first listened to Master of Puppets, just because the intro was so long. I wish I could go back and slap myself, because I was missing out. Orion is an absolute masterpiece, probably the most well composed music Metallica have ever done. Awesome bass from Cliff, ridiculously heavy riffs and a beautiful winding bridge.”
17. Sad but True (Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, 1996)
“My favorite Metallica song. They have SO many great songs in there catalog but this one does it for me. The riff, the lyrics and the solo all make this song perfect “
See more: Metallica Albums Ranked
16. The Day that Never Comes (Death Magnetic 2008)
“I think everyone can agree that in general, the best Metallica songs are either from the first 4 albums or the black album (even this list suggests the same). The fact that this one is not in any of them, and the fact that it is at least on par with their best songs on their entire discography, proves that this song deserves to be in at least top 10.”
15. The Four Horsemen (The Four Horsemen, 2002)
“Their second best song ever I think, and off their first album. Simply epic. James’s screamy vocals are pretty nuts, the AW YEAH YEAH is so cool, the guitar tone is raw and rips through the production, and Cliff’s bass is perfectly produced so that it cuts through the rest of the production without being overpowering in volume, just as good bass production should be. The lyrics are sweet and the riffs are all epic and it’s just so well constructed, and is a clear precursor to Metallica’s later epics to come like the titles tracks for Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets and…And Justice For All.”
14. Disposable Heroes (Master of Puppets, 1986)
“Great picking pattern that is guaranteed to make you rock. Proof that James Hetfield did not work out in the gym but played songs like this. Try not to dislocate your shoulder or arm while you practice it. Do not attempt at home. 2 years and many dead arms later I can manage it for 1 verse. James Hetfield is a very talented alien.”
13. …And Justice for All (…And Justice for All, 1988)
“This song is really underrated. It is EPIC it’s GORGEOUS, it’s pure insanity. The whole and justice for all album kick ass, but this song (side to side with frayed ends of sanity) just kill any other you might think it is the best Metallica song. It has a complex instrumental structure, a rising atmosphere that evolves you until the end, the concept and idea in the song are masterfully worked, the solos are great, and the breakdown after the solo is just orgasmic.”
12. The Unforgiven (Metallica, 1991)
“His song touches your soul… Makes you stop.. Look back what you have done so far in your life and ask yourself, is this how you wanted your life to be be.. I listen to this song every day at least twice and has changed my life.. Love it… Should be the top song from Metallica. This song has a very deep message and killing melody which is something rare especially in nowadays music. Definitely one of Metallica’s best songs and personally my favorite.”
11. Seek & Destroy (No Life ‘Til Leather, 1982)
“The Kill em All version is 6:56 but the Ride the Lightning version is 6:41. One thing I noticed was the solo was sped up a bit, and I think the experimentation was really, really good. The only other version of this song was on St Anger. This song is one of the best on Kill Em All, but upon further evaluation, the song will be on the Ride The Lightning what if album.”
10. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (Master of Puppets, 1986)
“This song has some of the angriest lyrics Metallica ever had. “Dream the same thing every night/I see our freedom in my sight/No locked doors, No windows barred/No things to make my brain seem scarred/Sleep my friend and you will see/That dream is my reality/They keep me locked up in this cage/Can’t they see it’s why my brain says Rage/Sanitarium, leave me be/Sanitarium, just leave me alone! ” I won’t say these lyrics are meaningful because the only people that ever called me crazy were for OTHER reasons. But James seems to be really angry in this song telling people to leave him “Alone! “
9. Battery (Master of Puppets, 1986)
“Probably the best opening track on a metal album. The acoustic guitar opens the song nicely just to forcefully kick you back in your seat with the overdriven guitar taking the place of that sweet acoustic bit. Then the song just gets better from there. The vocals are some of the best delivered by Hetfield and the guitar never gets boring or annoying. And just as this song is my favorite by Metallica, Battery has my favorite guitar solo of any Metallica song.”
8. Ride the Lightning (Ride the Lightning, 1984)
“The opening is absolutely legendary. The riffs are solid the whole way through. Excellent solo. Terrifying lyrics which would horrify the toughest men on Earth. The name itself makes you want to jump on for a ride on the lightning. Not to mention the fact it appeared on one of their top 2 albums. This should be at least in the top 5 or even 3. I CAN FEEL THE FLAME!”
7. Nothing Else Matters (Metallica, 1991)
“This song is the meaning of music, the Hearts art. Angels sing this work of art to the sinners in hell, one Single time, letting the sound of Silence Echo in their souls. Far from the heart. When this piece of sky hits the Eardrum the trust you seek is found for a concise moment. A passing moment. This song is a lamentation, the funeral, and the birth of the trust in Proximity. Longing. Music is beyond time. The sound Touches me and I never care, and I know. We are forever. I found a different view. A different way of looking at people, at Distance, at the world, at life, at the spirit. And that is when I realize that nothing else matters.”
See more: Black Sabbath Albums Ranked
6. Creeping Death (Ride the Lightning, 1984)
“The best song on Ride The Lightning and while I don’t think it is their “greatest song,” in a way, I think it might be their most astonishing musical achievement. It’s a perfectly constructed song and nearly every aspect of it is perfect; every riff is incredible, James’s vocals are the best in any song he’s done, the guitar tone is full and crunchy but not compressed and limited at all, it just roars; the lyrics are fantastic; and the guitar solo is the best guitar solo Kirk Hammett ever did in my opinion. His solo in One doesn’t even really compare I think, it’s definitely flashy and fast as hell but it carries no emotional interest or powerful musical moments.”
5. Enter Sandman (Metallica, 1991)
“Quite possibly being their worst song. People are like “This is the most headbanging riff.” No! Listen to Blackened, Leper Messiah, or The Thing That Should Not Be. Those riffs headbang. If you say you listened to Metallica a whole lot and that you are their biggest fan then you would know how awful of a song this is. The solo is some of Kirks weakest material and the only thing that is redeemable about this song is the riff, which isn’t the best either.”
4. For Whom the Bell Tolls (For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1984)
“Epitome of heavy metal. Nothing forced. Speed sometimes lightens a metal song, makes it cartoonish, especially on bad mixing. The prehistoric production on this song was saved by the mid-tempo pounding of the groove.”
3. Fade to Black (Ride the Lightning, 1984)
“An incredible masterpiece. More meaningful than One or Master and it has one of the most incredible guitar solos ever. This song is incredibly deep and should be number 1. I have never heard a song so wonderfully composed to be soft and pleasant but still heavy and epic. The way it fades away at the end, it stays true to the title. The musicianship with Kirk’s shredding, Cliff’s epic bass skills, James’ Singing and Lars’ Drums, this song could not possibly be better. It takes the best of all music and combines it into one amazing song. Greatest song ever, in my opinion and Metallica should get more credit for this song than they do.”
2. Master of Puppets (Master of Puppets, 1986)
“Despite it being an 8 minute song, I could listen to this the whole way through all day. As a 13 year old kid, I seem to be the only one these days who doesn’t listen to Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Hard Rock and Metal 4 life!”
1. One (…And Justice for All, 1988)
“My 3 favourite songs of all time are One, Inside the Fire by Disturbed and Surfacing by Slipknot, but One is the ultimately best song that has ever been created in my opinion. The song is so good I can almost feel the incapacitated soldiers pain that you hear from the first half and anger that you hear from the second half, such a good job they did with the lyrics. I love beautiful guitar play in the intro, the miserable sounding verses and choruses, the fast paced, angerfull singing (nearly screaming) and there are awesome solos in this song. Have listened to it many hundred times and will hear it again thousands of more.”